ATLANTA (AP) -- Still upset about losing to No. 1 Florida State, Georgia Tech took out its frustration on another team from the sunshine state Saturday night.

Joe Hamilton rushed for a career-best 100 yards and two touchdowns, passed for 161 yards and a score and guided the Yellow Jackets (No. 13 ESPN/USA Today, No. 12 AP) to a 41-10 rout of Central Florida.

	Georgia Tech quarterback Joe Hamilton, left, had a career day Saturday with 100 rushing yards and 161 passing yards.

"I don't think Central Florida knew what they were getting into," Hamilton said. "We needed a win. We needed the taste of victory in our mouths again. Unfortunately for them, they were the next team in the way."

Sean Gregory, Tech's third-string tailback a week ago, made his first college start because of injuries and rushed for 150 yards and two touchdowns.

The Yellow Jackets (2-1) piled up 318 yards on the ground against Central Florida (0-3), the second time this season they have surpassed 300 yards.

The previous week, Hamilton passed for 387 yards and four touchdowns -- both career highs -- and rushed for a TD against the Seminoles. It wasn't enough to prevent a 41-35 loss.

"Last week was such a bitter pill," he said. "We were so eager to get a win tonight. There was nothing Central Florida could do."

Hamilton scored on runs of 9 and 6 yards, sandwiched around a 6-yard touchdown pass to Russell Matvay. The senior quarterback rushed 12 times and completed 12-of-18 before leaving the game early in the fourth quarter.

Gregory, a sophomore, was inserted in the lineup after Tech's top two runners went down. Joe Burns suffered a season-ending broken leg against Florida State and Phillip Rogers didn't play because of a bruised shoulder.

"It's good that we have some depth to get that done," coach George O'Leary said. "But the key factor is the offensive line that's blocking for them. And, obviously, there's Joe Hamilton. He makes plays."

It didn't matter who was running for the Yellow Jackets, whose massive offensive line (average weight: 300 pounds) thoroughly dominated Central Florida's defensive front.

"They were drooling out there," Hamilton said. "They wanted to run the ball. They wanted to stay out on the field. Any time they're like that, you want to run the ball."

Gregory handled most of the load, carrying 22 times and scoring on runs of 7 and 2 yards. Freshman Mike Kitchen, playing his first game, had 63 yards on eight carries.

"We're clicking together and we've got good chemistry," tackle Jon Carman said. "It all seemed to come together tonight."

Central Florida has one game left in what has to rank as the most brutal opening schedule in college football. The Golden Knights came to Atlanta after losses to No. 14 Purdue and No. 4 Florida and return to the state next weekend to meet No. 11 Georgia.

"Tech beat us in every phase of the game," coach Mike Kruczek said. "I can finally make that statement about our opponent. In our first two games, we gave the game away. Tech is a better all-around team."

The Golden Knights got off to an impressive start, driving 80 yards in 10 plays after the opening kickoff. Vic Penn completed six straight passes and Edward Mack scored on a 14-yard run, bursting through a gaping hole in the center of the Tech line without being touched.

Tech, averaging 42 points per game, had to punt on its first two possessions but finally evened the score after a line-drive punt and Marvious Hester's 16-yard return set up the offense at the Central Florida 21. Three plays later, Gregory scored his first TD from the 7.

Tech began to pull away in the second quarter. Hamilton scored his first touchdown from the 9, breaking one tackle and dragging three defenders into the end zone. After Javier Beorlegui kicked a 39-yard field goal for Central Florida, Gregory gave the Yellow Jackets a 21-10 lead at halftime with a 2-yard run.

Hamilton accounted for two more touchdowns in the second half, passing to the wide-open Matvay in the third quarter and running in from the 6 with 12:02 remaining, his final play of the game. Freshman Luke Manget added the first two field goals of his career, from 32 and 37 yards.