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Etienne leads No. 1 to easy ACC victory

The Associated Press

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Travis Etienne ran for a career-high 205 yards and three touchdowns, including one from 90 yards out, and No. 1 Clemson overpowered Georgia Tech 52-14 Thursday night for its 16th straight victory.

On an offense filled with stars, it was Etienne who shone brightest for the defending national champions. His 90-yard score tied for the longest rushing TD in Tigers history. Etienne added scoring runs of 14 yards and 48 yards as Clemson opened a 35-0 lead and was never pressed by the Yellow Jackets in the season opener for both Atlantic Coast Conference teams.

Buffalo rolls

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Matt Myers, the first freshman quarterback to start a season opener for Buffalo in 28 years, accounted for three touchdowns and the Bulls beat Robert Morris, 38-10.

Myers was 5-of-10 passing for 69 yards with two touchdown throws to Zac Lefebvre. Myers also ran for 47 yards and a touchdown. Cliff Scott started under center for the Bulls as a freshman in the 1991 opener.

Jaret Patterson added 90 yards rushing and a touchdown run for Buffalo.

Cincy downs UCLA

CINCINNATI — Junior running back Michael Warren II scored one touchdown on the ground and caught one of sophomore quarterback Desmond Ridder’s two scoring passes as the University of Cincinnati Bearcats beat the UCLA Bruins 24-14 on Thursday in the teams’ season-opener.

Ridder also connected with graduate-transfer tight end Josiah Deguara for a touchdown, senior kicker Sam Crosa added a 44-yard field goal and sophomore safety Ja’von Hicks came up with a fumble recovery and an interception for the Bearcats.

UConn survives

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. — UConn’s running back tandem of Kevin Mensah and Art Thompkins combined for 235 yards and two touchdowns and the Huskies opened their season by holding off Wagner from the Championship Subdivision 24-21.

Mensah rushed 36 times for 144 yards and a 4-yard touchdown. Thompkins had 91 yards on 17 carries and a 5-yard score, as the Huskies matched their win total from last year.

Dymitri McKenzie rushed for 115 yards and two touchdowns, including 55-yard score for the Seahawks. He also capped a 92-yard fourth-quarter drive with a 7-yard touchdown to give Wagner its final points.

UConn got the ball back with just over 3 ¢ minutes left and was able to run out the clock.

Transfer Mike Beaudry, who led West Florida to the Division II national championship game in 2017, threw for 158 yards in his UConn debut. He completed 14 of 21 passes, with the one interception.

UConn’s only win last season also came against an FCS opponent, a 56-49 win over Rhode Island.

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