Zachary J. Irwin writing samples for October 6, 2012

UGA/SOUTH CAROLINA

SOUTH CAROLINA DESTROYS GEORGIA

                The sixth-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks routed the fifth-ranked Georgia Bulldogs 35-7.  The Gamecocks dominated the Bulldogs in the battle of top-10 teams in S-E-C play.

                Georgia Quarterback Aaron Murray threw for only 109 yards on 11 of 30 passing with no touchdowns and an interception.  South Carolina held the Georgia’s freshman duo of Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall to a combined 76 yards on the ground.

                South Carolina Quarterback Connor Shaw fared much better with 162 yards passing on six of ten attempts and two touchdowns.  Shaw ran for 78 yards and a touchdown as well.

                South Carolina improves to 6-0, 4-0 in S-E-C play while the Bulldogs suffer their first loss of the season (5-1, 3-1 in the SEC).  South Carolina has a huge one game lead in the S-E-C East and a leg up in competition to play in the S-E-C Championship game in Atlanta on December 2^nd.

                Georgia will have a bye next week before they take on Kentucky (1-5, 0-3 SEC) in Lexington while South Carolina has to rest up quickly and take on fourth-ranked L-S-U (4-1, 1-1 S-E-C) in Baton Rouge next week.

GEORGIA TECH/CLEMSON

CLEMSON BEATS TECH BY AIR AND LAND

                15^th-ranked Clemson had a monster day on offense while Georgia Tech’s defense was just plain offensive.  The Tigers rolled up 601 yards as they beat the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 47-31.

                Accounting for nearly 75 percent of the Tiger offense, Quarterback Tajh Boyd passed for  397 yards and two touchdowns and also ran for 63 yards and a touchdown.  Boyd’s two touchdown passes on the day helped him set a new school record for 51career touchdown passes, breaking Charlie Whitehurst’s old mark of 49.

Georgia Tech (2-4, 1-3 ACC) has lost three in a row and needs four more wins just to become bowl eligible.

Clemson (5-1, 2-1 ACC) has won their last two games and it will have next week off before facing Virginia Tech at home on October 20^th.  Georgia Tech will also have next week off before it hosts Boston College at Bobby Dodd Stadium on October 20^th.