Sports Network
ATLANTIC DIVISION:
BOSTON COLLEGE - Cancer survivor and 2008 ACC Defensive Player of the Year
Mark Herzlich, led the Eagles onto the field in Saturday's 2010 opener and
played in his first game since 2008, as BC began the new season with a 38-20
decision over FCS foe Weber State. The Eagles began the game a bit sluggish,
but turned up the heat after the first quarter and cruised to victory. The
team racked up just over 400 yards of total offense, despite QB David Shinskie
completing just 10-of-20 passes, for 185 yards, with two TDs and two INTs.
Tailback Montel Harris had a productive outing, using 19 carries to amass 115
yards and one TD. Defensively, the team was led by All-American LB Luke
Kuechly's 11 tackles, his 10th straight game with double-digit stops. Herzlich
finished with four stops. Senior CB DeLeon Gause had the big defensive play in
the game, taking an interception back 66 yards for a score in the third
quarter. The Eagles will welcome the Kent State Golden Flashes to Chestnut
Hill this weekend.
CLEMSON - The big question coming into 2010 for the Tigers was just how well
the team would be able to assuage the loss of All-American tailback C.J.
Spiller. The answer may have come in the season-opener against North Texas, as
Clemson racked up a whopping 246 yards on almost 10 yards per carry. Both
Andre Ellington and Jamie Sharper rushed for over 100 yards and scored twice.
Ellington led the way with 122 yards and two rushing TDs, including taking
his first carry of the season 60 yards to the end zone. Harper added 102
yards, with one rushing score and one receiving score. Quarterback Kyle Parker
completed an efficient 9-of-17 pass attempts, for 170 yards and two TDs. Not
everything went well in the 35-10 victory however, as Clemson's defense was
gashed for 469 yards, including 193 yards on the ground. The Tigers will step
out of the FBS ranks this week, as they welcome Presbyterian to Death Valley
on Saturday.
FLORIDA STATE - Jimbo Fisher got win number one in impressive fashion this
past weekend, despite playing against an FCS foe in Samford, as the Seminoles
disposed of the Bulldogs in a 59-6 rout. Heisman candidate Christian Ponder
played just two quarters under center, and was an ultra-efficient 12-of-14,
for 167 yards and four TDs. In all, FSU racked up 27 first downs and 481 yards
of total offense. The rushing attack produced 185 yards, led by Ty Jones' 107
yards and one TD on eight carries. All-American return man Greg Reid continued
where he left off last season, taking a punt 74 yards to the end zone. On the
defensive side of the ball, junior LB Nigel Bradham and sophomore DT Anthony
McCloud had a team-high six tackles apiece. After a nice warm up, Florida
State will be put to the test this week, as the team travels to Norman for a
top-25 showdown with the Oklahoma Sooners.
MARYLAND - It came down to the wire, but a late goal line stop by Maryland
proved to be the difference, as the Terrapins opened the 2010 football season
with a hard-fought 17-14 victory over rival Navy in Baltimore. Kenny Tate's
big stop of Navy's Ricky Dobbs with 34 seconds remaining in the game preserved
a much-needed season-opening win for Ralph Friedgen, who seems to be on the
hot seat in College Park, after a couple of sub par seasons. Tate had a strong
all around game, finishing with a career-high 12 tackles. Maryland got the key
victory this past weekend, despite the Midshipmen holding the ball almost 19
minutes more than the Terps. Tate's play at the end wasn't the only goal line
stand the Terrapins had, as Adrian Moten made a supremely athletic play to
force a fumble deep in Maryland territory. Maryland took it right at Navy with
a solid ground attack that was responsible for 261 of the team's total 272
yards of offense. Davin Meggett led the way with 105 yards and one TD. QB
Jamarr Robinson followed with 92 yards on the ground, while Da'Rel Scott added
55 yards and one TD. The Terps will look for two straight wins on Saturday, as
they welcome Morgan State to College Park.
N.C. STATE - The Wolfpack made light work of Western Carolina in the season-
opener this past weekend, as NC State rolled to a 48-7 victory in Raleigh. It
marked the first season-opening win for Tom O'Brien in his four-year tenure
with the Wolfpack. NC State amassed 25 first downs in the game, thanks in
large part to a passing attack that churned out 351 yards. Star QB Russell
Wilson was spectacular in victory, completing 21-of-31 passes, for 306 yards
and four TDs. It marked Wilson's fifth 300+ yard passing performance, tied
with former QB Jamie Barnette for second-place in school history, trailing
only Philip Rivers (19). The top target downfield in the win over Western
Carolina was WR T.J. Graham, who finished with six receptions, for 96 yards
and two TDs. The Wolfpack hit the road for the first time this season when
they travel to Orlando this week for a clash with the UCF Knights.
WAKE FOREST - The Demon Deacons erupted for 53 points in a lopsided win over
Presbyterian, scoring the most points in a season-opener since 1941. It also
represented the most points for Wake in any game since 1990. Jim Grobe's squad
completely abused the Blue Hose on the ground, racking up a mind-boggling 415
yards, on 8.3 yards per carry. The three-headed monster of RBs Devon Brown
(junior) and Josh Harris (freshman) and QB Ted Stachitas (sophomore) was
simply too much to handle. Brown made the most of his two carries, rushing for
91 yards and one TD. Harris added 74 yards and two more scores, while
Stachitas finished with 76 yards and one TD. Wake scored six times on the
ground in the game. The Demon Deacons will try to ride the wave of momentum
into its ACC-opener this week, as the team welcomes the Duke Blue Devils to
BB&T Field on Saturday.
COASTAL DIVISION:
DUKE - David Cutcliffe needed to replace one of the ACC's most productive
players under center this season and early returns are good. The Blue Devils
were able to knock off FCS foe Elon in the season-opener, 41-27, thanks in
large part to the passing efforts of QB Sean Renfree. The 6-5 sophomore
completed 31-of-39 passes, for 350 yards and two TDs, while getting the most
out of WRs Conner Vernon and Donovan Varner, as the pair combined for 17
receptions and 152 yards. Renfree became the fourth Duke signal-caller to
throw for over 300 yards in his debut. In all, the Blue Devils were able to
churn out 542 yards, the most under Cutcliffe. Another bright spot had to be
the ground game, which managed 192 yards. Duke's RBs combined for three
rushing scores, surpassing last year's group which managed a mere two in 12
games. The Blue Devils will open up ACC play this weekend, as they welcome
Wake Forest to Durham.
GEORGIA TECH - The Yellow Jackets may have lost several offensive stars from
2009, but the ones that returned to Atlanta made a huge impact in the season-
opening 41-10 rout of South Carolina State. Quarterback Joshua Nesbitt, who
made his 26th career start, led a ground assault that amassed 372 yards, as he
racked up 130 yards and three TDs on 16 carries. Tech scored six rushing
scores in the game and proved that the team would not miss talented tailback
Jonathan Dwyer. The Yellow Jackets have employed a rush-happy offense under
Paul Johnson. The season-opener marked the 13th time in 28 games under Johnson
that Tech has eclipsed 300 yards on the ground. The Yellow Jackets will take a
jump up in competition this week, as they travel to Lawrence to take on the
Kansas Jayhawks.
MIAMI - The Hurricanes couldn't have played much better in their
season-opener, as they made light work of the Florida A&M Rattlers on both
sides of football, blanking their FCS foe this past weekend, 45-0. Randy
Shannon's squad rolled up an even 155 yards rushing and passing in the win and
got solid play from QB Jacory Harris, who completed 12-of-15 passes, for 210
yards and three TDs, before sitting out the second half of the game. Wideout
Leonard Hankerson was unstoppable, hauling in six passes for 115 yards and two
of the three TDs. The defense did the rest, limiting the Rattlers to
just 52 yards on the ground and through the air. Big plays were numerous on
that side of the football, including an interception return for a TD by Ray
Ray Armstrong and 3.5 sacks by Olivier Vernon. In all, Miami recorded eight
sacks, the most in a game since 2007. It also marked Miami's first shutout
since 2006 and first under Shannon. The team will have a much tougher time on
both sides of the football this coming weekend, when Miami invades Columbus to
take on the Ohio State Buckeyes.
NORTH CAROLINA - The Tar Heels almost pulled off the unthinkable, as their
second-half rally from 20 points down came up just short in a 30-24 setback to
nationally-ranked LSU. UNC's defense is the strength of the team this year,
but the Tar Heels, without the services of All-American candidates Marvin
Austin and Robert Quinn up front due to suspension, were gashed for 162 yards
rushing, on 4.5 yards per carry. Despite the porous rush defense, UNC only
yielded 11 first downs to LSU and 313 yards of total offense. On the offensive
side of the ball, quarterback T.J. Yates got off to a fast start, completing
28-of-46 passes, for 412 yards and three TDs, with no interceptions. Jheranie
Boyd had the biggest impact downfield, as his six receptions, resulted in 221
yards and one TD. Butch Davis' squad will get this week off before beginning
ACC play on September 18th in Chapel Hill against defending ACC champion
Georgia Tech.
VIRGINIA - The Cavaliers ended a four-year losing streak in season-openers and
got the Mike London era off on the right foot with a 34-13 win over Richmond
this past weekend. London became the first Virginia coach to win his debut
game since Bill Elias in 1961. Tailback Keith Payne certainly had a big part
in the victory, as he rushed for 114 yards and four TDs, pacing a Virginia
ground game that racked up 205 yards, on nearly six yards per carry. Perry
Jones had a solid effort on the ground also, adding 73 yards on 8.1 yards per
carry. Quarterback Marc Verica was impressive with his arm as well, completing
24-of-35 passes, for a career-high 283 yards and one TD, hooking up with WR
Kris Burd seven times, for 122 yards and the one score. The Cavs will get a
much stiffer challenge this week, as the travel across the country to take on
nationally-ranked USC in Los Angeles.
VIRGINIA TECH - The Labor Day showdown between top-10 teams Virginia Tech and
Boise State definitely lived up to the hype. After allowing the Broncos to
jump out to a 17-0 lead early on, Frank Beamer's Hokies settled down and
actually held the lead until dropping a 33-30 decision to the resilient
Broncos. All-American candidate Ryan Williams didn't erupt for a gaudy rushing
total (44 yards), but was responsible for three scores (two rushing and one
receiving). Quarterback Tyrod Taylor had a huge game however, throwing for 186
yards and rushing for a team-high 73 in a slugfest. The special teams play,
which is usually a strength for Virginia Tech, had issues on Monday. A blocked
punt, a running-into-the-kicker penalty, kicking the ball out of bounds and
missed field goals, all contributed to the loss. The Hokies will look to
rebound this week, as they welcome James Madison to Lane Stadium for the
team's home opener.