Boston College did all they could to upset the apple cart with a stellar performance at Clemson. Maryland also bounced back from a humiliating defeat last time out against Florida State by triumphing over a sorry Virginia. Here is a round-up of Week 7 in the ACC.
Conference Games
Boston College – 14
No. 3 Clemson – 24
Clemson had to fight off a stiff challenge from Boston College to retain their unbeaten record and setup a showdown with Florida State next week.
A 69-yard touchdown reception from Alex Amidon gave the Eagles a 14-10 lead entering the fourth quarter. However, a touchdown run from Tajh Boyd and a 13-yard fumble return by the Tigers’ defense ensured the two premier ACC teams would meet undefeated in Week 8.
Boyd finished with 334 passing yards and a touchdown while receiver Sammy Watkins had seven catches for 101 yards and a touchdown. Amidon was the Eagles’ stand-out player, finishing with six catches for 121 yards and a touchdown.
Pittsburgh – 9
No. 24 Virginia Tech – 19
Logan Thomas and the Virginia Tech offense are still searching for an offensive rhythm, despite winning their sixth straight game.
Virginia Tech took the opening possession and quarterback Logan Thomas marched the offense down the field. The senior capped the drive with a 27-yard touchdown pass to freshman tight end Kalvin Cline. From then on out it was damp squib for the Hokies’ offense as they settled for four field goals from the leg of Cody Journell, three coming from over 40 yards.
The Hokies have won five games by ten points or less as the offense continues to be propped up by a defense that sacked Panthers quarterback Tom Savage eight times. Virginia Tech will climb the ranking once again while they head into a bye-week.
Virginia – 26
Maryland – 27
A 12-yard touchdown pass from Caleb Rowe to Dave Stinebaugh lifted Maryland over Virginia in a tense encounter.
Rowe threw for 332 yards while filling in for C.J. Brown who missed the game with a concussion. Virginia moved into Terrapins territory but Alec Vozenilek couldn’t kick his 15th point of the game as his 42-yard field goal attempt missed wide right with ten seconds remaining.
The Cavaliers’ running game had a lot of success with Kevin Parks and Khalek Shepherd combined for 193 yards from 38 carries. On the other side of the ball Brandon Ross had two rushing touchdowns for Maryland.
Syracuse – 24
NC State – 10
Syracuse improved to .500 behind hundred yard performances from running backs Jerome Smith and Prince-Tyson Gulley
Smith rushed for 140 yards including a one-yard score to open the game while Gulley totalled 132 yards with an 18-yard run to give the Orange a 16-10 lead midway through the fourth quarter. Syracuse’s quarterback Terrel Hunt sealed the win with an eight-yard scramble four minutes later.
David J. Grinnage caught a 21-yard touchdown pass from Pete Thomas who endured another sloppy afternoon under centre. Freshman cornerback Jack Tocho was the Wolfpack’s star man with two interceptions.
Non-Conference Games
Georgia Tech – 20
BYU – 38
A pair of fourth quarter turnovers sealed the fate of Georgia Tech as they lost their third game in a row.
Entering the fourth quarter Georgia Tech found themselves just 11 points down despite a lot of misfiring from the offense. With the Yellow Jackets looking to rally Vad Lee committed the cardinal sin when he picked out a BYU defender who raced 51 yards untouched for a pick-six. David Sims put the ball on the ground on the Cougar 31 to wash away any hope of a great escape.
Navy – 7
Duke – 35
Anthony Boone returned to the starting line-up and threw three touchdown passes to lead Duke to their fourth win of the season.
Brandon Connette, who played very well in Boone’s absence, was due to start but tweaked an ankle in warm-ups. Boone completed 31 of 38 passes for a career-high 295 yards. The junior threw strikes of 27 and 18 yards to Isaac Blakeney while the third went three yards through the air to Max McCaffery.
Running backs Jela Duncan and Shaquille Powell added a score each on the ground as the Blue Devils recorded a comfortable win ahead of next week’s ACC contest against Virginia.