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Auburn hopes for healthy Irons at South Carolina

Sep 26, 2006 - 9:08 PM No. 2 Auburn (4-0) at South Carolina (3-1), 7:30 pm EDT

COLUMBIA, South Carolina (Ticker) - Auburn did not need Kenny Irons against Buffalo. The second-ranked Tigers hope the star running back will be 100 percent for their Southeastern Conference clash at South Carolina on Thursday.

Irons, who leads the SEC in rushing at 107.3 yards per game, sat out the Tigers' 38-7 victory over Buffalo last Saturday with a sprained ankle and toe.

Freshman Ben Tate ran for 114 yards in the fourth quarter alone for Auburn (4-0, 2-0 SEC West), which has won 19 of its last 20 conference games, including the 2004 league championship tilt.

South Carolina (3-1, 1-1 East) also is operating on a short week following a non-conference matchup. The Gamecocks routed Florida Atlantic last Saturday, 45-6.

Syvelle Newton matched a school record with five touchdown passes. All five went to Sidney Rice, who set a single-game program record for TD receptions and matched the mark for TDs in a game. Rice was named the SEC Offensive Player of the Week.

Auburn is 5-1-1 all-time against South Carolina. The Tigers have not visited Columbia since a 23-6 win in 1997.