Ga. Tech tailback out for season

ATLANTA, Sept. 23 (UPI) -- Georgia Tech tailback Tony Hollings, who was the leading major college rusher in the nation, has sustained a torn ligament in his right knee and will be out for the season, Tech head coach Chan Gailey announced Monday.

Hollings, who injured his knee in Saturday's 28-19 victory over Brigham Young, underwent an MRI Monday afternoon, which revealed a torn anterior cruciate ligament and torn lateral meniscus in his right knee. He will undergo surgery in approximately two weeks.

"Any time you lose a back the caliber of Tony Hollings, it certainly affects your team," said Tech head coach Chan Gailey. "We're all disappointed for Tony because he had basically come out of nowhere to become the leading rusher in the nation."

Hollings, a 5-11, 211-pound junior from Jeffersonville, Ga., is currently leading the nation in rushing (158.2 yards per game) while ranking second in scoring (16.5 points per game). He rushed for 189 yards and three touchdowns against BYU and was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Offensive Back of the Week.

With Hollings out and backups Sidney Ford and Gordon Clinkscale also nursing injuries, Georgia Tech (3-1 overall, 0-1 ACC) is likely to start true freshman Ajenavi Eziemefe at tailback in Saturday's game at North Carolina.

Eziemefe, 6-1 and 225 pounds, saw his first action of the season against BYU and rushed nine times for 25 yards, including a one-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.