September 12, 1998

ATLANTA (AP) - Delaunta Cameron returned a fumble 25 yards for a touchdown and intercepted a pass to set up another score, helping Georgia Tech's beleaguered defense redeem itself in a 42-7 victory over New Mexico State on Saturday night.

The Yellow Jackets (1-1) had three new defensive starters after a 41-31 loss to Boston College in the opener. The new lineup, led by freshman linebacker Matt Uremovich, shut down New Mexico State (0-2), which scored 36 points in its first game.

Charles Wiley had three touchdown runs, but it was defense and special teams that put Tech in control.

Charlie Rogers' 69-yard punt return set up the first touchdown, a 2-yard run by Wiley just 3:34 into the game. The Yellow Jackets blew it open by scoring three times in a 3-minute, 8-second span of the second quarter.

Wiley capped off Tech's only long drive of the first half with a 1-yard TD run, powering over with 13:37 remaining in the second period. Joe Hamilton's 30-yard pass to David Powell on third-and-13 sustained the drive, which covered 62 yards on 10 plays.

Less than two minutes later, New Mexico State quarterback Ty Houghtaling dropped back to pass and was crunched by Jesse Tarplin, coughing up the ball at the Aggies 25. Cameron scooped it up and ran untouched to the end zone, giving the Yellow Jackets a 21-0 lead.

Cameron wasn't through. On New Mexico State's next possession, the senior linebacker stepped in front of a Houghtaling pass, returning the interception 7 yards to the New Mexico State 27. Two plays later, Hamilton hooked up with Dez White on a 24-yard touchdown pass.

New Mexico State, which showed promise offensively in a 66-36 loss to Texas a week earlier, was held to one score by Tech. Houghtaling threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Joey Dozier late in the third quarter.

The Aggies had two other prime chances, but both ended when passes by Houghtaling were intercepted deep in Georgia Tech territory. Uremovich picked off a throw at the 6; Travares Tillman came up with an interception at the 2.

In all, New Mexico State had five turnovers - three interceptions and two fumbles.

Wiley's third touchdown, a 14-yard run, and freshman Joe Burns' 13-yard TD scamper turned the game into a rout in the final quarter.

Hamilton made the most of his few completions, going 5-of-14 for 127 yards. He also ran six times for 52 yards and gave Tech its biggest scare when he suffered a bruised finger on his left hand while running the option in the second quarter. The injury wasn't serious.

Denvis Manns, trying to become only the third NCAA Division I-A running back to rush for more than 1,000 yards in four straight seasons, had 112 yards on 21 carries.