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By JEFFREY COLLINS
Associated Press Writer

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – Corey Jenkins threw two touchdown passes and ran for two other scores as South Carolina beat Temple 42-21 on Saturday night.

Jenkins was 18-for-23 for 198 yards, and the Gamecocks (2-2) solved their turnover problem. After giving the ball away 12 times in their first three games, South Carolina had just one against Temple, while picking off two passes.

Tanardo Spikes gained 143 yards on 21 carries for the Owls (1-3), but left the game at halftime with a broken tooth.

Senior fullback Andrew Pinnock, South Carolina’s second-leading rusher behind Jenkins, never touched the ball Saturday after fumbling twice inside the 5-yard line last week.

Instead, coach Lou Holtz handed the ball to two freshmen. Daccus Turman had 39 yards on six carries, and Kenny Irons carried the ball nine times for 30 yards.

South Carolina put the game away in the third quarter as the Gamecocks got nine first downs and gained 140 yards to Temple’s 12 yards and one first down.

After Temple punted to start the second half, Jenkins marched the Gamecocks 56 yards to take a 35-14 lead. The drive ended with Jenkins rolling left and hitting Troy Williamson on a 24-yard touchdown pass. Williamson finished with four catches for 75 yards.

South Carolina took a 42-14 lead when Jenkins, who also had a 1-yard touchdown pass to Turman and a 1-yard scoring run, dashed 7 yards untouched midway through the third quarter.

Quarterback Cory Jenkins, right, scores a touchdown as Temple’s Mark Miller attempts to stop him during the first quarter.

Temple’s Mike McGann was 9-for-23 for 78 yards, while Zamir Cobb caught seven passes for 58 yards and two touchdowns for the Owls.

Temple dominated the Gamecocks in the first quarter, outgaining them 146 to 78, but Deandre Eiland’s 69-yard interception return tied it at 14 for South Carolina. The teams combined for 11 penalties in a sloppy quarter, including three during one extra-point attempt.

After the teams traded punts to start the second quarter, Jenkins went 4-for-4 on a 49-yard drive that put South Carolina ahead 21-14.

On the next drive, Temple’s Mike McGann threw his second interception of the game to Dunta Robinson, who returned it to the Temple 7. The Gamecocks would make it 28-14 two plays later on Jenkins 1-yard pass to Turman.

Temple controlled more than half the second quarter with a 19-play drive, but Cap Poklemba’s 31-yard field goal went wide right, and the Owls trailed 28-14 at half.

The Owls final touchdown came on a 17-play, 98-yard drive that ended with a 4-yard touchdown pass from backup quarterback Mike Frost to Cobb.