Oct. 1, 2005

Final Stats

AUBURN, Ala. (AP) – Brandon Cox threw for 245 yards and a touchdown, and Auburn scored on five of its first seven possessions in a 48-7 win over South Carolina on Saturday night.

Cox showed no ill effects from the stomach virus that caused him to miss last week’s win over Western Kentucky, completing 19 of 29 passes.

South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier, the former coach at Florida, has now lost three straight Southeastern Conference games for the first time in his career.

The Tigers held South Carolina (2-3, 0-3) to seven first downs and shut the Gamecocks out until Sidney Rice caught a 45-yard scoring pass from Antonio Heffner with 6:14 to play.

Auburn running backs Brad Lester and Kenny Irons ran for two touchdowns each. Carl Stewart also had a touchdown rushing for the Tigers (4-1, 2-0).

Lester ran 13 times for 53 yards, while Irons rushed 11 times for 27 yards. Irons was also Auburn’s leading receiver, catching four passes for 40 yards.

Heffner, starting instead of the injured Blake Mitchell, struggled until the fourth-quarter touchdown. He finished 15-of-23 for 133 yards.

A swarming Auburn defense held South Carolina to two first downs and 78 yards total offense in the first half. It was the fourth game in a row that Auburn held its opponent scoreless in the first half.

Auburn took a 31-0 lead when Ben Obomanu caught a 15-yard scoring pass from Cox with 22 seconds remaining in the second quarter. It was Obomanu’s 16th career touchdown catch and moved him into third place on Auburn’s all-time touchdown receptions list.

John Vaughn kicked field goals of 36 and 39 yards for Auburn.