Freshman Murray leads Texas A&M in 35-28 win over South Carolina

Highly touted freshman quarterback Kyler Murray ran for 156 yards and threw for 223 yards more in his first start for Texas A&M, as the Aggies ended a two-game slide with a 35-28 win over South Carolina on Saturday.

Tra Carson added 122 yards rushing and a touchdown and Donovan Wilson had a 60-yard interception return for the Aggies (6-2, 3-2 SEC), who played the first of three consecutive home games.

Brandon Wilds ran for 128 yards and two scores for the Gamecocks (3-5, 1-5) in their second game under interim coach Shawn Elliott since the resignation of Steve Spurrier. They won Elliott’s debut 19-10 over Vanderbilt two weeks ago before an open date.

Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin re-opened the competition for the starting quarterback job this week, and Murray was named the starter Friday. Murray completed 20 of 28 passes with a touchdown, and ran 20 times with the go-ahead score.

Murray led Allen High to three consecutive Texas state championships and went undefeated as a starter in the Dallas-area school.

The game was tied three times before Texas A&M went ahead 28-21 on Allen’s 1-yard keeper on fourth down. He faked a hand off to Carson and then swept left, scoring untouched on the Aggies’ opening drive after halftime.

Less than 2 minutes later, Wilson’s pick-six interception put the Aggies up 35-21.

On the second play of the game, Murray gained 14 yards on a quarterback draw play. He had another 14-yard run and a 13-yard pass as the Aggies got to the 2 before the drive stalled. Taylor Bertolet was wide right on a 25-yard field goal attempt.

Murray threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Josh Reynolds on the second drive, when he completed all four of his passes for 55 yards and had a 5-yard run.

The Gamecocks led 14-7 early in the second quarter after former walk-on quarterback Perry Orth rolled right on an option play. As linebacker Shaan Washington drifted toward the running back, Orth cut up the field and scored untouched from the 6.

Freshman quarterback Lorenzo Nunez, lined up at receiver, scored on a 7-yard reverse for South Carolina.

This story was originally published October 31, 2015 at 4:54 PM with the headline "Freshman Murray leads Texas A&M in 35-28 win over South Carolina."