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ATLANTA (Ticker) -- Fresh off his inspiring performance against Florida State last weekend, Joe Hamilton ran for two touchdowns and threw for a score to lead 13th-ranked Georgia Tech to a 41-10 rout of Central Florida. Central Florida (0-3) led 7-0 just under four minutes into the contest but Georgia Tech scored 41 of the next 44 points. Hamilton, who advanced his Heisman Trophy hopes with a strong effort in last week's 41-35 loss to the top-ranked Seminoles, completed 12-of-18 passes for 161 yards and carried 12 times for a career-high 100 yards against the Golden Knights. Tailback Sean Gregory, filling in for injured starter Joe Burns, also set a career high with 150 yards on 22 carries. He scored twice in the opening half for Georgia Tech (2-1), which has scored 125 points in three contests. The Yellow Jackets have averaged just under 37 points per game over their last 19 contests. "We've got a deep backfield," Gregory said. "I was just happy to get my opportunity. It was a blessing to be able to play. I hate that Joe Burns went down like he did, but I came to Division I to play." "We always had confidence in Sean that if someone got hurt he would step in and do the job," Hamilton said. "We have a lot of backs and really couldn't use Sean the way we needed to, but he came in and did the job that we asked him to." Joe Manget had field goals of 32 and 37 yards in the second half for Georgia Tech, which opened its home campaign. The Yellow Jackets have an open date next weekend the begin Atlantic Coast Conference play with a nationally televised Thursday home game against surprising Maryland (3-0). "Overall it was a good win and now we have a week off before we play Maryland," Georgia Tech coach George O'Leary said. "There were a lot of good spots and a lot of spots we have to improve on. But we did get a chance to play a lot of young players, and anytime you can do that and win, I think you're ahead." Hamilton, who leads the nation in passing efficiency by a wide margin, he scored on a nine-yard run 2:44 into the second quarter to give Georgia Tech the lead for good. He opened the second half with an eight-yard scoring toss to backup tight end Russell Matvay and added a six-yard scoring burst just under three minutes into the fourth quarter. Hamilton became just the second quarterback in school history to rush and pass for 100 yards in the same contest. Donnie Davis accomplished the feat against Duke in 1995. "He is a great quarterback," Central Florida coach Mike Kruczek said. "Just look at him. He cuts on a dime and makes people miss. He is a great player and great players make great plays. Joe does it on a continuous basis ... he is tough to stop. I don't see anyone stopping him all year." Edward Mack got the Golden Knights off to a good start by capping a 10-play, 80-yard drive to open the game with a 14-yard scoring burst 3:52 into the contest. Gregory offset that score with a seven-yard touchdown run with 2:40 remaining in the opening quarter. Hamilton's nine-yard score gave Georgia Tech its first lead of the contest but Javier Beorlegui converted a 39-yard field goal with 7:50 to go in the half to draw Central Florida within 14-10. It was Beorlegui's first field goal of the season. Gregory scored on a two-yard run with just over four minutes left in the half to extend the Yellow Jackets' advantage to 21-10. Hamilton's touchdown pass to Matvay and Manget's 32-yard field goal pushed Georgia Tech's cushion to 31-10 entering the fourth quarter. The meeting was just the second between the teams, with Georgia Tech posting a 27-20 victory over the Golden Knights and Daunte Culpepper on October 26, 1996.
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