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ATLANTIC DIVISION:
BOSTON COLLEGE - For the first time since October 8, 1998, the Eagles found
themselves shut out, dropping a 17-0 decision to Virginia Tech at home this
past weekend. It was certainly a frustrating afternoon for BC, which was
intercepted in the end zone and stopped at the goal line, keeping the team
scoreless in its ACC-opener. The Eagles really struggled offensively, managing
a mere 250 yards of total offense, including just 70 on the ground. Tailback
Montel Harris did rush for 111 yards, but the effort was hampered by six sacks
on BC quarterbacks. Defensively, sophomore LB Luke Kuechly extended the
nation's longest streak of games with double-digit tackles (12) with his 16
stop performance against the Hokies. The Eagles will conclude a four-game
homestand to start the season when they welcome Notre Dame to Chestnut Hill
this weekend.
CLEMSON - The Tigers enjoyed a much-needed bye week after falling for the
first time this season back on September 18th, a heart-breaking 27-24 overtime
loss at nationally-ranked Auburn. Clemson returns to action this week, when
the team welcomes nationally-ranked Miami-Florida to town for the Tigers' ACC-
opener.
FLORIDA STATE - The Seminoles opened ACC play in impressive fashion this past
weekend, shutting out a potent Wake Forest team, 31-0. It was the team's first
shutout since 2008 and its first in conference play since 2003. The defensive
effort was superb, with FSU allowing a mere 185 yards of total offense to the
Demon Deacons. It marked the second straight game that an FSU opponent was
held under 200 yards of offense. Senior LB Kendall Smith led the team with
seven tackles, but sophomore Brandon Jenkins stole the show on defense,
finishing with a career-high two sacks, career-best three TFLs, and six
tackles altogether. Offensively, QB Christian Ponder had a nice showing,
completing 24-of-37 passes, for 243 yards, with two TDs, both to sophomore
Willie Haulstead. The Seminoles will continue ACC play this weekend when they
travel to Charlottesville to take on the Virginia Cavaliers.
MARYLAND - With QB Jamarr Robinson sidelined with a sore shoulder, Danny
O'Brien got his first career start and the 6-3 freshman made the most of it,
passing for 250 yards and two touchdowns, leading the Terrapins to a 42-28
victory over FIU this past weekend. It marked the first freshman to start a
game under center for Maryland since 1999 (Latrez Harrison). O'Brien got help
from tailback Da'Rel Scott, who rumbled for 103 yards and two scores, as
Maryland amassed 419 yards of total offense. With 193 all-purpose yards,
Torrey Smith now ranks second all-time in career all-purpose yardage (4,127).
He is only the second player in school history to reach the 4,000-yard plateau
(Lamont Jordan 4,960 yards from 1997-00. Maryland will finally begin ACC play
this weekend, when the team welcomes the Duke Blue Devils to College Park.
N.C. STATE - The Wolfpack find themselves in the top-25 for the first time since
2003, following their fourth straight victory to begin the 2010 season,
knocking off defending ACC champion Georgia Tech this past weekend, 45-28.
Quarterback Russell Wilson had a career-performance, throwing for 368 yards
and three TDs in ACC-opener for NC State. The Wolfpack rolled up 527 yards of
total offense and scored the most points in the series with Tech. The team's
4-0 start is its best under Tom O'Brien and the best since the team opened the
2002 campaign with nine straight victories. The Wolfpack return home for a
pair of games starting with this weekend's clash with Virginia Tech.
WAKE FOREST - This past weekend's matchup with Florida State was delayed for
42 minutes in the third quarter due to weather, but it could not stop the
inevitable, as Wake Forest was shutout in Tallahassee, 31-0. With the loss,
Wake falls to an even 2-2 on the season and 1-1 in conference play. Not much
went right on either side of the ball for the Demon Deacons. Quarterback
Tanner Price completed just 6-of-12 passes for 35 yards before leaving the
game due to injury, and Ted Stachitas went 5-of-5 for 47 yards in relief duty.
Wake managed just 12 first downs in the game, with 10 of those coming on the
ground. In all, Wake finished with a mere 185 yards of total offense, while
allowing FSU to tally 485 yards. The Demon Deacons will attempt to rebound
from the humbling loss this weekend, as they return home to welcome defending
ACC Champion Georgia Tech to Winston-Salem.
COASTAL DIVISION:
DUKE - The Blue Devils turned the ball over four times, leading to 28 points
for Army in a 35-21 loss in Durham this past weekend. Duke, which managed just
85 yards in the first half, did rally a bit with 220 yards of offense in the
second stanza, but it was wasted in the team's third straight loss. Wide
receiver Conner Vernon continued his strong play, finishing the game with
eight catches, for 129 yards and one TD. It marked Vernon's third 100-yard
performance of the season and sixth in his career. Quarterback Sean Renfree
had his moments, completing 17-of-30 passes, for 261 yards, with two TDs, but
his three INTs were obviously a key to the loss. Senior LB Abraham Kromah
recorded a career-high in tackles with 13 stops, including 1.5 TFLs. The Blue
Devils (0-1 in ACC play) will get back to conference action this weekend, as
they travel to College Park to take on the Maryland Terrapins.
GEORGIA TECH - Not much went right for the defending ACC champs this past
weekend, as the team never got going in a humbling 45-28 loss to NC State. It
marked the first time since 2007 that Georgia Tech (2-2) has lost a pair of
games in the month of September. The loss also snapped a seven game ACC
winning streak and a six-game ACC home winning streak. As usual, Tech was able
to move the ball on the ground (247 yards), but the lack of balance was
costly. Quarterback Joshua Nesbitt rushed for a team-high 95 yards in the
setback, but completed just 5-of-18 passes, for 116 yards and one TD.
Defensively, the Yellow Jackets were torched for 527 yards, including 368
through the air. The Yellow Jackets will attempt to get right back into the
win column this week with a trip to Winston-Salem to battle Wake Forest.
MIAMI - Nothing much changed in the Miami/Pittsburgh rivalry. As was
the case most of the time when they were both Big East members, the Hurricanes
dominated the Panthers on both sides of the football, rolling to a 31-3 rout
last Thursday in Pittsburgh. The 'Canes got a solid performance from QB Jacory
Harris, who threw for 248 yards and two TDs, with WR Travis Benjamin coming up
big, hauling in six balls, for 96 yards and a TD. Tailback Damien Berry added
87 yards and one TD on the ground, while the Miami defense did the rest. The
Hurricanes allowed Pitt to amass just 232 yards of total offense, including a
mere 104 yards passing, while recording five sacks. The Miami defense leads
the nation in TFLs this year (11.3 per game) and added to their total with
nine stops behind the line of scrimmage against the Panthers. The Hurricanes
get a couple of extra days to prepare for their ACC opener, as they hit the
road to take on the Clemson Tigers this weekend.
NORTH CAROLINA - Quarterback T.J. Yates led the Tar Heels to their first
victory of the season, as UNC topped Rutgers over the weekend, 17-13. Yates
was 22-of-30, for 204 yards and a TD, but the offense as a whole was held
under 300 yards in the game. Making up for that was the play of a depleted
defense, which held the Scarlet Knights to a meager 244 yards of offense. All-
American candidate Bruce Carter was particularly solid, as an interception and
blocked punt by the talented LB led to a pair of UNC scores. The defense,
which is without a great deal of star power, will have to wait even longer for
a pair of All-American type DBs to get back into the lineup, as both Kendric
Burney (six games) and Deunta Williams (four games) have been handed
suspensions for receiving improper benefits. Head coach Butch Davis will once
again try to get the players he does have available to perform at a top level,
as the Tar Heels take on East Carolina this weekend in Chapel Hill.
VIRGINIA - It got out of hand in a hurry, but Mike London's Cavaliers still
put in a hard day's work, blasting FCS foe VMI this past weekend, 48-7. The
Cavaliers, now 2-1 on the young season, got three first half TD passes from QB
Marc Verica, who finished with 224 yards passing on 16-of-23 efficiency.
Freshmen Michael Rocco and Ross Metheny each threw a touchdown pass as well,
as the five total TD passes were the most for Virginia since 2002. Wideouts
Kris Burd (eight receptions, for 119 yards, one TD) and Dontrelle Inman (five
receptions, for 72 yards and two TDs) had impressive outings as well. The
Virginia defense did the rest, limiting the Keydets to just 179 yards of total
offense, including a mere 46 yards on the ground. The Cavaliers will close out
a brief two-game homestand this weekend, as they open up their ACC slate
against Florida State.
VIRGINIA TECH - The Hokies were supposed to be one of the favorites in the ACC
this year, but following a shaky start that saw the team lose to Boise State
and FCS foe James Madison in consecutive weeks, it was starting to look like a
rebuilding season in Blacksburg. However, Tech has now won two straight games
and opened up league play in impressive fashion this past weekend, shutting
out Boston College in Chestnut Hill, 19-0. It was Tech's first shutout since
2006 and the team's first win in Alumni Stadium since 2002. The last time
Virginia Tech posted a shutout of Boston College was 1998. The defense came to
play again this past week, limiting the Eagles to just 250 total yards,
including a mere 70 on the ground. Tech will attempt to make it three wins in
a row when the Hokies travel to Raleigh to take on the undefeated NC State
Wolfpack.