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ATLANTIC DIVISION:
BOSTON COLLEGE - It wasn't pretty at times, but the Boston College Eagles
moved to 2-0 on the young season, with a 26-13 decision over Kent State this
past weekend. It marked the third straight year that BC has topped the Golden
Flashes. Quarterback Dave Shinskie had his ups and downs in the contest and
was actually taken out of the game due to his lack of production. However, the
sophomore returned to the field in the second half and threw a pair of third-
quarter TD passes to give the Eagles the victory. Tailback Montel Harris had a
streak of 14 100-yard performances snapped with 80 yards on 29 carries against
KSU. Linebacker Luke Kuechly kept his streak going though. With 10 tackles, he
has now recorded double-digit stops in 11 straight games (leads the nation).
The Eagles will have this week off but will continue a four-game homestand to
start the season on September 25th, as they welcome the reeling Virginia Tech
Hokies to Chestnut Hill in the ACC-opener for both squads.
CLEMSON - The Tigers moved to 24-0 against FCS opponents with a rather easy
58-21 romp over Presbyterian this past weekend. Quarterback Kyle Parker had a
short outing, as he threw for 114 yards and two TDs in just four possessions.
It was an opportunity for Dabo Swinney to empty his bench, as top tailbacks
Jamie Harper and Andre Ellington were used sparingly as well. The Tigers used
64 players in the first half, including a whopping 57 in the first quarter
alone. In all, Clemson racked up 414 yards of total offense on the outmanned
Blue Hose, getting 212 on the ground and 202 through the air. Typically a slow
starter, Clemson is now 2-0 for the first time since 2007 and just the 12th
time in the last 40 years. The Clemson offense is clearly running on all
cylinders right now. The team has scored 93 points in the first two games,
marking the most over a two-game span since 2000. Clemson will attempt to keep
it going this week, when the team goes on the road to take on a top-25 foe in
Auburn.
FLORIDA STATE - It was nothing like the national title game in 2000, when
Oklahoma was able to outlast Florida State in a defensive struggle. The result
was the same, an OU victory, but this time, the young Seminoles took it on the
chin, getting blasted in Norman on Saturday, 47-10. Jimbo Fisher got his first
career victory in the season-opener, but now must rally his troops after his
first loss. All-American candidate Christian Ponder had his Heisman campaign
derailed in this one, as he threw for a mere 113 yards, with two
interceptions. FSU did a great job stopping Oklahoma's vaunted rushing attack
(93 yards), but it came at the expense of the pass defense, which was torched
for almost 400 yards (394) and four TD passes. It is a quick turnaround for
the Seminoles, who must find a way to forget this loss in a hurry, as a
talented BYU team comes to Tallahassee this weekend for an intriguing non-
conference affair.
MARYLAND - A short week proved to be no problem for the Terrapins, as they
blasted Morgan State over the weekend, 62-3. Maryland won an emotional game
against Navy on Labor Day, but showed no ill-effects just four days later,
moving to 2-0 for the first time since 2007. Almost everyone got in the act,
as Maryland scored eight TDs (seven offensively, one defensively). Freshman
tailback D.J. Adams got some work in the second half and made the most of it,
leading the team with 70 yards rushing a two TDs. QBs Jamarr Robinson and
Danny O'Brien combined to throw for just 149 yards, but did combine for five
TD passes, including two to standout WR Torrey Smith, who with his 64 all-
purpose yards in the game, moved into fourth place on the school's all-time
list (3,692). Getting a third straight win to begin the 2010 season won't come
easy though, as the Terps make the trip to Morgantown this weekend to take on
rival West Virginia.
N.C. STATE - Fueled by an opportunistic defense, the Wolfpack were able to
record a 28-21 win over UCF this past weekend to move to 2-0 on the young
season, the first time under Tom O'Brien. NC state benefited from five UCF
turnovers, including a long interception return for a TD by C.J. Wilson to
earn the win. NCSU quarterback Russell Wilson struggled, completing just 10-
of-30 passes, for 105 yards and one TD. In all, the Wolfpack managed a mere
239 total yards of offense, but the defense held the Knights to just 308
yards. Wilson wasn't the only defensive star, as LB Audie Cole registered 12
tackles, including 3.5 TFLs and an interception. NC State's 2-0 mark is the
best opening record since 2002, when the team won nine games behind star QB
Philip Rivers. There is no rest for the Wolfpack, who will return to Raleigh
this week for a Thursday night affair against Cincinnati.
WAKE FOREST - In one of the most interesting games of the young season, Wake
Forest was able to run its current win streak to 11 games against Duke, with a
54-48 decision. The game represented the second highest scoring affair between
two ACC programs, fueled by a second quarter that saw these teams combine for
49 points. The Demon Deacons amassed 500 yards of total offense in the game.
Ted Stachitas got things going with a 23-yard TD run early in the first
quarter and led the team with 77 yards rushing in the game. However, true
freshman Tanner Price replaced Stachitas, who suffered a contusion on his non-
throwing hand. The young Price provided balance with a strong passing game,
completing 12-of-19 passes, for 190 yards and three TDs. Wideout Chris Givens
certainly made the most of his four receptions in his season-debut, going for
159 yards and one score. Marshall Williams caught the other two TD strikes.
Wake Forest will now hit the road, crossing the country this week to take on
nationally-ranked Stanford.
COASTAL DIVISION:
DUKE - Sophomore QB Sean Renfree continued his torrid pace, completing 28-
of-44 passes, for 358 yards and four TDs, but it wasn't enough in the team's
ACC-opener, falling in a shootout against Wake Forest, 54-48. Tailback Desmond
Scott was effective on the ground, averaging 11.1 yards per carry and
finished with 122 yards and one TD. Wideout Connor Vernon was unstoppable on
the outside, hauling in eight balls, for 181 yards and two scores. Replacing
one of the ACC's best ever gunslingers (Thaddeus Lewis), Renfree has certainly
delivered, completing over 70 percent of his passes, for 708 yards and six TDs
thus far. Vernon has been the most productive receiver, posting 18 receptions,
for 310 yards and averaging 155 yards per game. Now at 1-1 on the young
season, the Blue Devils will be hard-pressed to earn win number two this week,
as they welcome the defending national champion and top-ranked Alabama Crimson
Tide to Durham.
GEORGIA TECH - After opening the 2010 season with one of the worst losses in
school history, rolling over Kansas wasn't supposed to be a problem for
Georgia Tech. However, the Jayhawks stunned the top-25 Yellow Jackets, as Tech
dropped a 28-25 decision in Lawrence. Tech's ground game was once again
lethal, managing 291 yards. Tailback Anthony Allen led the way with 89 yards
on just over eight yards per carry. Quarterback Joshua Nesbitt, who scored
three TDs on the ground in the season-opener, added another two TDs in the
setback. He now has 30 career rushing touchdowns, ranking fourth in Tech
history, just one shy of Joe Burns for third place. The loss was just the
second in the first road game of the season for Georgia Tech in the last seven
seasons. The Yellow Jackets will stay on the road this week and open defense
of their ACC championship when they take on the North Carolina Tar Heels in
Chapel Hill.
MIAMI - Facing one of the biggest challenges of his collegiate career,
Miami QB Jacory Harris came up short, as he completed 22-of-39 passes, for 232
yards, with one TD and four interceptions, in a 36-24 setback to second-ranked
Ohio State in Columbus. Two of Miami's three TDs came on kick returns and the
'Canes amassed 342 yards of offense in the game. However, the team was unable
to contain OSU QB Tyrelle Pryor and could not overcome the turnovers. Redshirt
freshman RB Lamar Miller once again made his presence felt, returning a
kickoff 88 yards for a TD in the first quarter. Junior WR Travis Benjamin had
a 79-yard punt return for a score in the second quarter. All-ACC punter/kicker
Matt Bosher extended his streak to 97 consecutive PATs. He also broke the
school record for consecutive field games made with his 14th straight in the
second quarter. The Hurricanes will have this weekend off before continuing
their current three-game road trip with a stop in Western Pennsylvania on
September 23rd to battle the Pittsburgh Panthers
NORTH CAROLINA - After starting the new season with a tough 30-24 setback to
LSU due in large part to the suspension of a plethora of star performers, the
Tar Heels were forced to sit idle this past weekend. UNC will get back to work
this weekend with or without its best players, when the team welcomes the
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets to Chapel Hill for the ACC opener for both squads.
VIRGINIA - Mike London's Cavaliers made the trip across the country this past
weekend and certainly showed the nation that they are a much different team,
as they gave the 16th-ranked USC Trojans all they could handle in a 17-14
loss. Virginia actually managed more offense in terms of yards (340) than USC
(329), thanks in large part to the rushing exploits of Perry Jones (77 yards,
5.5 ypc) and Keith Payne (57 yards, one TD, 4.8 ypc). Virginia definitely
benefited from 13 USC penalties (140 yards). Star cornerback Ras-I Dowling
was in uniform, but sat out his second straight game with a hamstring injury.
Missed opportunities haunted the Cavs, who failed on two of their four red
zone
chances at USC. The Cavaliers failed on only two trips inside the red zone in
2009 (ninth nationally). The Cavaliers will be idle this weekend before
getting back to work next week against FCS foe VMI in Charlottesville.
VIRGINIA TECH - Losing a hard-fought narrow decision to the third-ranked team
in the country in the season-opener was tough to swallow, but acceptable
nonetheless. However, Virginia Tech hit a new low with Saturday's 21-16 home
loss to James Madison. It halted a 32-game home winning streak against non-ACC
foes and leaves Frank Beamer, his staff and team wondering how things could
have gotten this bad in such a short period of time. The Hokies committed
three costly turnovers and allowed sustained drives by the Dukes when it
counted the most. For the Dukes' it is the first win over an FBS school since
1990. Tech now joins Michigan (2007) as the only top-25 teams to lose to an
FCS program. The Hokies will need to figure things out in a hurry, as they
welcome the East Carolina Pirates to Blacksburg this weekend, before embarking
on ACC play at Boston College a week later.