Here is an ACC Week 4 review.
Conference Games
No 3. Clemson – 26
NC State – 14
Good teams win on bad days and that’s exactly what Clemson did against NC State. The Tigers defended a slim lead for much of the night until Martavis Bryant roped in a 15 yard touchdown pass – his second score of the game – to give the visiting team a three score lead. Sammy Watkins moved the chains all night with ten catches for 96 yards.
North Carolina – 20
Georgia Tech – 28
Georgia Tech came from behind to beat North Carolina for the eighth straight time at home. David Sims had 99 yards on the ground including two scores for the Yellow Jackets as the home team broke down the Tar Heels’ defense with a persistent rushing attack. Bryn Renner again struggled to find a rhythm for the visitors despite finally hooking up with promising tight end Eric Ebron on six occasions for 108 yards.
Pittsburgh – 58
Duke – 55
Duke’s promising start to the season is beginning to unravel after losing back-to-back games to fall to .500 on the season. Four turnovers from Duke quarterback Brandon Connette meant the Blue Devils were always playing catch-up. Pittsburgh quarterback Tom Savage threw for a career-high 424 yards and six touchdowns as Panther receivers Devin Street and Tyler Boyd both topped 150 yards receiving and five touchdowns between them. Both teams combined for 1,130 yards in what was a brilliant game for the neutral.
Non-Conference Games
Savannah State – 7
No. 16 Miami - 70
Running backs Gus Edwards and Dallas Crawford had three scores apiece as Miami scored on their first seven possessions on route to an embarrassingly large victory over a shocking Savannah State. ‘Canes quarterback Stephen Morris left the game in the first quarter with an ankle injury that isn’t believe to be too serious. Tigers tailback DeQuan Daniels scored on a 75-yard run to avoid a shut-out.
Marshall – 21
Virginia Tech – 29
Logan Thomas and the Virginia Tech offense struggled for the fourth consecutive week as they stumbled past Marshall in triple overtime. A two yard Thomas run sealed the victory after Willie Byrn caught a two yard touchdown pass with little over three minutes to go to force the extra periods. In regular time Thomas threw two interceptions to take his season tally to six as freshman half back Trey Edmunds carried the load with 110 yards on the ground.
Wake Forest – 25
Army – 11
With Clemson looming on the schedule Wake Forest chalked up a timely win against a gritty Army side. Running back Josh Harris came alive in the second half to score on runs of 15 and 6 yards. Receiver Michael Campanaro continued to make an impression with four catches for 91 yards and a touchdown.
Tulane – 17
Syracuse – 52
Sophmore quarterback Terrell Hunt had his second impressive outing in as many weeks as Syracuse had the game wrapped up by half-time. Hunt – making his first career start - completed 16 of his 21 passes for 181 yards and four touchdowns as well as a 16 yard score on the ground. Legendary quarterback Joe Montana was at the game to watch his son, Nick Montana, struggle mightily against the ‘Cuse defense, completing 22 of 38 passes for 213 yards.
West Virginia – 0
Maryland – 37
Maryland routed West Virginia to stay unbeaten on the season. Terrapins defensive back A.J. Hendy had a 28-yard interception return and a pair of fumble recoveries as the home side led 30-0 at the half. In Maryland’s best start since 2001, C.J. Brown threw for 210 yards and a score to give the home side their first win over their border rivals in eight games.
VMI – 0
Virginia – 49
Virginia running backs Daniel Hamm and Kevin Parks had a field day against Virginia Military Institute, amassing 271 yards between them. Hamm went for 136 yards and two scores while Parks gained 135 yards and a pair of scores of his own. The game served as a good tune-up ahead of the Cavaliers’ ACC opener against Pittsburgh next Saturday.
Bethune-Cook – 6
No. 8 Florida State – 54
Florida State had their weakest performance of the season ahead of a seven game stretch against conference goes. Freshman quarterback Jameis Winston completed ten of 19 passes for 148 yards and two touchdowns while running back Devonta Freeman was impressive on the ground compiling 112 yards and a score on ten carries.