Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) -
ATLANTIC DIVISION
BOSTON COLLEGE: Quarterback Chase Rettig completed 19-of-31 passes, for 264
yards and two touchdowns, but it wasn't enough, as the Eagles' struggles
continued in a 37-17 loss to Georgia Tech this past weekend. Boston College is
now just 1-6 overall and winless within ACC play. The Eagles, who have dropped
five straight games, are still in search of an FBS-level victory this year,
with the lone win in 2012 coming against Maine on Sept. 8. BC managed just 296
yards of total offense in the loss to Tech, with a mere 32 yards coming on the
ground. Wideout Alex Amidon continues to be one of the only bright spots
offensively for the Eagles. With seven catches. for 118 yards and one TD last
time out, Amidon now has 48 receptions, for 806 yards and five touchdowns.
Amidon ranks second in the ACC in both receptions (6.9 per game) and receiving
yards (115.1 ypg). The Eagles will try to end their current skein this weekend
with a matchup against Maryland in Chestnut Hill.
CLEMSON: In a rare role reversal, it was the Clemson defense that propelled
the Tigers to a 38-17 win over Virginia Tech this past weekend. The usually
explosive Clemson offense was stifled much of the game, managing a mere 295
total yards. The defense however, made several big plays in the game,
highlighted by a 74-yard interception return for a score in the second quarter
by Jonathan Meeks, who actually had two picks in the frame. The win improved
Clemson to 6-1 overall and 3-1 in conference play. The win in Death Valley was
the 11th straight for the Tigers, tying the school-record set in 1991.
Quarterback Tahj Boyd moved into second place on Clemson's all-time passing
list, going 12-of-21 passing, for 160 yards in the win. He now has 6,065
career passing yards. Tailback Andre Ellington finished with 96 yards and one
TD on the ground, while wideout DeAndre Hopkins scored his ninth TD of the
season and finished the game with three catches, for 68 yards. It is a short
week for the Tigers, who will travel to Winston-Salem for a Thursday night
affair against Wake Forest.
FLORIDA STATE: The Seminoles had the chips stacked against them at Miami this
past weekend, but found a way to erase a 10-0 deficit and pick up a 33-20 win
at Sun Life Stadium to move to 7-1 overall and 4-1 in-conference. Florida
State lost tailback Chris Thompson early on to injury and committed an
abundance of penalties (12 for 121 yards), but still managed to roll up 447
yards of total offense, while holding the Hurricanes to a mere 258 yards.
Devonta Freeman picked up the slack in the backfield, with 70 yards and two
TDs, while EJ Manuel threw for 229 yards in the win. Place-kicker Dustin
Hopkins, already the ACC's all-time leading scorer, had another standout
performance, kicking four field goals and converting three extra points,
moving within 24 points of tying the NCAA's all-time scoring mark. The
Seminoles return home this weekend to play host to the surprising Duke Blue
Devils.
MARYLAND: Tailback Wes Brown carried the ball 25 times for 121 yards and one
TD, but it wasn't enough, as Maryland dropped a close 20-18 loss to NC State
this past weekend, as the Wolfpack delivered on a 43-yard field goal with just
32 seconds left in the game. Brown's efforts marked the first 100-yard rusher
for the Terps this season. Maryland almost overcame the loss of starting
quarterback Perry Hills to injury in the second quarter, as backup Devin Burns
came in and rushed for 50 yard and one TD. Maryland had great balance
offensively, with over 200 yards both on the ground (206) and through the air
(256), earning its most yards (462) all season. Linebacker Demetrius
Hartsfield matched a season high with 13 tackles. Linebacker Darin Drakeford's
1.5 sacks now give him a team-high six this season. Maryland (4-3, 2-1) looks
to get back to its winning ways this weekend when the team travels to Chestnut
Hill to take on the struggling Boston College Eagles.
NC STATE: The ACC's leading passer, Mike Glennon (284.0 ypg) kept up his pace,
throwing for 307 yards and two touchdowns, in a thrilling 20-18 victory over
Maryland this past weekend. Glennon led a drive in the waning moments of the
game, setting up a Niklas Sade 43-yard field goal with 32 seconds remaining to
give the Wolfpack the win on the road and move the team to 5-2 overall and 2-1
in the ACC. The win brought an end to an extended 16 straight road losses to
Atlantic Division foes. Wide receiver Bryan Underwood scored on 68-yard TD
strike from Glennon in the third quarter and has now scored in seven straight
games. Underwood finished with six receptions, for a career-high 134 yards and
the one TD. Junior All-American David Amerson recorded his 17th career
interception to take sole possession of the school-record. The Wolfpack will
stay local this week and take on rival North Carolina in Chapel Hill.
WAKE FOREST: The Demon Deacons continued to shore up their rush defense,
limiting the Virginia Cavaliers to a meager 48 yards in a 16-10 win this past
weekend. Despite two straight strong performances against the run, the Demon
Deacons are still allowing a generous 183.7 yards per game rushing, so the
turnaround is certainly a welcome sight heading down the stretch. There wasn't
much offense to speak of on either side of the ball, as Wake managed just 213
total yards, compared to Virginia's 301. Tailback Josh Harris rushed for 55
yards and Wake Forest's only touchdown, while freshman Chad Hedlund added
three field goals in his first collegiate action. Now 4-3 on the season and
2-3 in-conference, the Demon Deacons welcome the Clemson Tigers to Winston-
Salem for a Thursday night affair.
COASTAL DIVISION
DUKE: The Blue Devils continued their magical 2012 season, using an 87-yard
drive in the final three minutes of the game to post an improbable 33-30 win
over North Carolina this past weekend in Durham. The win earned Duke its sixth
win of the season and made the team bowl eligible for the first time since
1994. It was also the first win over North Carolina in Durham since 1988. Duke
put up 510 yards of total offense in the game and got surprising balance with
234 yards rushing and 246 passing. Quarterback Sean Renfree completed 23-of-36
passes, for 276 yards and one TD, with the ACC's all-time leader in
receptions, Conner Vernon, pacing the team with six catches, for 124 yards.
Josh Snead (99 yards), Jela Duncan (74 yards) and Juwan Thompson (64)
spearheaded the ground attack. David Cutcliffe's squad hits the road this week
to take on Florida State in Tallahassee.
GEORGIA TECH: Tech got strong play from its two quarterbacks, ending a three-
game losing streak in besting Boston College this past weekend in Atlanta,
37-17. Tevin Washington ran for a pair of touchdowns and Vad Lee added a 24-
yard TD run and threw a 45-yard TD pass, as Georgia Tech moved to 3-4 overall
and 2-3 in conference play. The Yellow Jackets were once again paced by a
devastating ground attack that contributed 391 yards to the team's total of
563 yards. Despite the team's recent losing streak, Tech has eclipsed 400
yards of offense in six straight games. The team's 407 yards in the first half
against Boston College marked just the third time since 1975 that the team has
accomplished that. Zach Laskey led the ground game with 101 yards on 17
carries. Washington matched those 17 carries, going for 63 yards, while Lee
added 62 yards in the win. The Yellow Jackets will take a break from
conference play this weekend when they play host to BYU.
MIAMI-FLORIDA: The Hurricanes led 10-0 early on, but could not sustain their
play, falling to rival Florida State last weekend at Sun Life Stadium, 33-20.
Miami struggled to move the football, finishing with just 258 yards of total
offense. The real problem came on the ground, where Miami managed just 29
yards on 21 carries. Stephen Morris completed 25-of-43 pass attempts, for 223
yards and one touchdown in the setback, which dropped Miami to 4-4 on the
season and 3-2 in conference play. Mike James had a touchdown run to open up
the scoring for the Hurricanes, who lost freshman tailback Duke Johnson in the
second half to injury. Despite losing three straight games, Miami still
controls its own destiny in the Coastal Division with games still remaining
against Virginia Tech, Virginia and Duke. The Hurricanes will be idle this
week before taking on the Hokies at home on Nov. 1.
NORTH CAROLINA: Despite getting 143 yards and a touchdown from star running
back Giovani Bernard, the North Carolina Tar Heels dropped a heart-breaking
33-30 decision to rival Duke this past weekend, losing for the first time in
Durham since 1988 and ending a four-game win streak in the process. North
Carolina finished the game with 414 yards of total offense, but allowed 510 to
the Blue Devils. Quarterback Bryn Renner completed 19-of-32 passes, for 198
yards and two TDs in the setback. Bernard meanwhile, posted his third straight
100-yard game and has now rushed for 2,048 yards in his career, good for 11th
in school history. He has rushed for 795 yards in six games this year and
leads the ACC with 132.5 yards per game. Casey Barth connected on three field
goals in the game, extending his school-record career mark to 64 made field
goals. The Tar Heels will return to Chapel Hill this weekend for an ACC
showdown with rival NC State.
VIRGINIA: The recurring themes continue to haunt the Cavaliers, as once again,
costly turnovers and the offense's inability to put points on the scoreboard
led to a 16-10 loss to Wake Forest this past weekend. The setback to the Demon
Deacons dropped Virginia to 2-6 overall and kept Mike London's squad winless
in league play at 0-4. The defense played well, limiting WF to a mere 213
total yards, the fewest allowed by the Cavaliers in loss since 2008. Virginia
fumbled the ball five times, losing two and Phillip Sims threw for 253 yards
and one TD, but was guilty of one interception as well. Virginia ranks 11th in
the conference in scoring (21.5 ppg), despite netting over 400 yards of
offense per game (407.9). The ACC's active leader in career tackles with 320,
Steve Greer led the charge against Wake Forest, finishing with 14 tackles. The
Cavs are off this week, but will take a six-game losing streak with them on
the road on Nov. 3 when they take on NC State in Raleigh.
VIRGINIA TECH: Logan Thomas passed for 207 yards and one TD and rushed for
another 99 yards and another score, but it wasn't enough, as Virginia Tech
dropped a 38-17 loss to Clemson in Death Valley this past weekend. With the
loss, Tech dropped to 4-4 overall and just 2-2 in the ACC. Tech's defense held
Clemson's vaunted offense to a mere 295 total yards and despite posting 406
yards of offense, still finished way short on the scoreboard. The defense
sacked Clemson's Tahj Boyd five times and intercepted him once. The Hokies are
idle this week before getting back to work on Thursday Nov. 1 against Miami-
Florida.
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