NINETY SIX — The Abbeville Panthers and junior fullback Dureal Elmore are off and running.

Elmore ran 24 times for a career-high 321 yards and four touchdowns Friday night to lead the Panthers to a season-opening 40-16 victory over Ninety Six.

Elmore scored on runs of 43, 37, 10 and 2 yards to power an Abbeville offense that compiled 411 of its 430 yards on the ground. The Panthers only attempted two passes.

Abbeville, coming off a 12-1 season, held Ninety Six (1-1) to 234 yards.

The Panthers might have handed the ball off to Elmore, but he handed off the credit to his teammates and coaches.

“The offense line was tremendous,” he said. “The coaches do a great job putting us in position to allow good things to happen.”

Abbeville Coach James Nickles gave credit where credit was due.

“Nobody works harder than Dureal Elmore,” Nickles said. “He deserves a lot of credit, along with our line.”

Abbeville led 21-10 at halftime. After stalling on their first possession, the Panthers took the ball 60 yards in three plays for the opening score. On the second play of that drive, quarterback Jay Thackson threw a 19-yard pass to James Power. The pass set up Elmore’s first score, as he busted up the middle for a 43-yard TD run.

After exchanging punts, Abbeville scored again on Elmore’s 37-yard run off left tackle to take a 14-0 lead.

Ninety Six answered quickly as quarterback Parker Hite scored from 7 yards out to cut the deficit to 14-7.

Abbeville scored next on a 4-yard run from Jeffery Ford to give the Panthers a 21-7 lead.

Ninety Six closed the first-half scoring with a 29-yard field goal by Blake Roller.

The second half started with Ninety Six driving before a fumble gave Abbeville the ball at midfield. On the fourth play of the drive, Ford broke loose for a 56-yard touchdown run.

Ford ran 11 times for 93 yards.

Ninety Six (1-1) was coming off a 49-7 victory over Whitmire.