COLUMBIA — South Carolina football's season opener against Old Dominion in Williams-Brice Stadium on Saturday was far from a cakewalk but ultimately, the Gamecocks pulled out the 23-19 Week 1 win.

The Monarchs (0-1) took the 19-16 lead with 9:54 in the fourth, leaving the game in the hands of redshirt freshman LaNorris Sellers, who made his first career start for the Gamecocks (1-0). After true freshman Dylan Stewart forced a fumble recovered by DeAndre Jules in the red zone, Sellers delivered. He rushed in the three-yard touchdown with six minutes to go. With 1:29 to play, Jalon Kilgore intercepted Grant Wilson, sealing the win.

South Carolina now shifts focus to its first SEC game of the year, with a highly anticipated match up against Kentucky in Lexington on Sept. 8.

Watch South Carolina football vs Old Dominion on ESPN+ (subscribe today)

South Carolina vs Old Dominion score updates

South Carolina 7-0, Debo Williams forces a fumble, South Carolina capitalizes | 13:22 in 1st quarter

Rocket Sanders scores his first touchdown for the Gamecocks, running it in from the 1-yard line after a fumble recovered by Debo Williams on Old Dominion's first drive of the game. Alex Herrera's kick was good, South Carolina strikes first.

Old Dominion strikes back but South Carolina up 10-7 | 6:09 in 1st quarter

After the Gamecocks first score of the game, the Monarchs came back with a 72-yard touchdown to tie things 7-7. On the next drive for South Carolina, Herrera's 40-yard field goal is good to take the 10-7 lead.

South Carolina 10, Old Dominion 7 | end of 1st quarter

The Gamecocks fail to connect on a few receptions on the final drives of the 1st quarter. LaNorris Sellers sacked in final seconds but South Carolina still leads. Kyle Kennard has three solo tackles, all three for a loss and two sacks in the opening quarter.

LaNorris Sellers fumbles but O'Donnell Fortune saves for South Carolina | 12:35 in 2nd quarter

LaNorris Sellers fumbled on a drive at the 44 yard line, Old Dominion recovered and was at the 9 yard line. Then, Grant Wilson throws an interception in the end zone on the next play, giving the ball back to the Gamecocks. O'Donnell Fortune came down with the ball.

South Carolina vs. Old Dominion game suspended for weather, 30 minute delay | 11:42 in 2nd quarter

Lightning was spotted within six miles of Williams-Brice Stadium, game will be delayed for at least 30 minutes. Score at the break is still 10-7, South Carolina up with 11:42 in the second quarter.

South Carolina vs Old Dominion | Game resumes at 5:58 p.m., 11:42 in 2nd quarter

Following the weather delay, the game resumed at 5:58 p.m., with the first play being a 1st and 10 for South Carolina.

Dylan Stewart picks up 2nd sack | 7:49 in 2nd quarter

Dylan Stewart sacked Old Dominion quarterback Grant Wilson for a loss of 10 yards, the second sack of the day for the true freshman. A play later, Nick Emmanwori nearly picked off Wilson at the 35. The Monarchs punt, South Carolina still up 10-7.

Fake punt doesn't play out for South Carolina | 13-7 Gamecocks with 4:02 in 2nd quarter

Kai Kroeger faked a punt on fourth down and threw a pass to Brady Hunt, who fought off his defender to score the touchdown. Before fans could finish celebrating, the play was called back for ineligible player downfield. Herrera comes in to kick the field goal, and South Carolina goes up 13-7 with four minutes to play in the first half.

South Carolina 13, Old Dominion 7 | end of 2nd quarter

South Carolina leads by six at the half. The Gamecocks have five sacks so far in the season opener.

Old Dominion scores, South Carolina blocks kick | 16-13 with 4:57 in 3rd quarter

The Monarchs make it a ball game with 4:57 to play in the third quarter. Grant Wilson runs in a 36 yard touchdown, but South Carolina's DeAndre Jules blocks the extra point. South Carolina up three.

South Carolina 16, Old Dominion 16 | tied up at end of 3rd quarter

Old Dominion ties it with 14 seconds left in the third, with a 40-yard field goal.

Old Dominion 16, South Carolina 16 | end of 3rd quarter

Dylan Stewart goes down for South Carolina | 12:53 left to play

South Carolina true freshman Dylan Stewart went down with an unidentified injury with just under 13 minutes to play in the game. Stewart, an edge rusher, has been huge for the Gamecocks on Saturday, logging three tackles and two sacks.

Kick is good, Old Dominion takes its first lead of the game | 9:54 in 4th

Old Dominion goes up 19-16 with just under 10 minutes to play in the season opener.

Old Dominion fumbles in the red zone | 6:48 in 4th quarter

Dylan Stewart, comes back from being injured to force a fumble at the 6-yard line.

LaNorris Sellers scores, South Carolina 23, Old Dominion 19 | 6:11 to go

Sellers runs in his first touchdown of the 2024 season and the Gamecocks reclaim the lead after a huge fumble recovery by DeAndre Jules.

Jalon Kilgore intercepts the ball with 1:29 to play

Kilgore comes up with a huge interception to give the ball back to South Carolina with the 23-19 lead and less than two minutes to play.

FINAL: South Carolina 23, Old Dominion 19

South Carolina pulls out the Week 1 win.

South Carolina vs Old Dominion time today

• Date: Saturday, Aug. 31

• Time: 4:15 p.m. ET

• Location: Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina

What channel is South Carolina vs Old Dominion game on today?

• TV channel: SEC Network

• Streaming: Fubo, ESPN+

• Radio: Gamecock Sports Network, Sirius/XM channel 106 or 190

South Carolina vs. Old Dominion will be on SEC Network. Dave Neal and Aaron Murray will call the game from the booth at Williams-Brice Stadium with Ashley ShahAhmadi reporting from the sidelines. Streaming options for the game include FUBO, and ESPN+ which offer a free trial to new subscribers.

South Carolina vs. Old Dominion history

• Series record: South Carolina and Old Dominion have not played each other

• South Carolina's last win: 17-14 over Kentucky on Nov. 18 (Week 11)

• Old Dominion last win: 25-24 win over Georgia State on Nov. 25 (Week 12)

South Carolina vs Old Dominion predictions

South Carolina 28, Old Dominion 10: It'll be a big test for Sellers and while it's expected he has a few rocky moments, it's also expected he pulls out the win. In his game against Furman in 2023, he showed no signs of nerves even as a true freshman and completed a 50-yard touchdown pass. If South Carolina's run game isn't frazzled by Old Dominion's defense, led by linebacker Jason Henderson, the Gamecocks can start the season with a win.

South Carolina vs Old Dominion betting odds

Game lines and odds from BetMGM as of Saturday:

• Spread: South Carolina (-21), Old Dominion (+21)

• Over/under: 52.5 -110

• Moneyline: South Carolina (-1600), Old Dominion (+900)

South Carolina vs Old Dominion injury updates

South Carolina:

• Aaryn Parks, r. SR, offensive line out with ankle injury

• Jakai Moore, sixth year, offensive line out with undisclosed injury

Old Dominion:

No injuries

South Carolina vs Old Dominion weather update

Forecast in Columbia for kickoff is 92 degrees.

South Carolina football 2024 schedule

• Aug. 31: vs. Old Dominion

• Sept. 7: at Kentucky

• Sept. 14: vs. LSU

• Sept. 21: vs. Akron

• Oct. 5: vs. Ole Miss

• Oct. 12: at Alabama

• Oct. 19: at Oklahoma

• Nov. 2: vs. Texas A&M

• Nov. 9: at Vanderbilt

• Nov. 16: vs. Missouri

• Nov. 23: vs. Wofford

• Nov. 30: at Clemson

Buy South Carolina football tickets this season with StubHub.

Old Dominion football 2024 schedule

• Aug. 31: at South Carolina

• Sept. 7: vs. East Carolina

• Sept. 14: vs Virginia Tech

• Sept. 28: at Bowling Green

• Oct. 5: at Georgia State

• Oct. 19: vs Texas State

• Oct. 24: vs Georgia Southern

• Nov. 2: at Appalachian State

• Nov. 16: vs James Madison

• Nov. 23: vs Marshall

• Nov. 30: at Arkansas State

South Carolina football news

• This will be the first career start for LaNorris Sellers, a redshirt freshman from Florence, South Carolina

• Arkansas transfer running back Rocket Sanders will play his first game for South Carolina

• Alex Herrera was named the Gamecocks' starting kicker on Monday

• Shane Beamer is in his fourth year with South Carolina. The Gamecocks have won every home opener under Beamer so far

• Seven of the 12 teams South Carolina faces this year were ranked in the USA TODAY preseason poll

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This article originally appeared on Greenville News: South Carolina football vs Old Dominion: Highlights from Week 1 game