Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer puts his hands on his knees as he stands along the sideline after his team failed to convert a fourth down in the fourth quarter against Pittsburgh on Saturday. (AP Images) |
ACC scoreboard
Pittsburgh 35, No. 13 Virginia Tech 17: The Hokies (2-1, 1-0 ACC) had their 13-game road winning streak snapped, losing their first true road game since Oct. 17, 2009 at Georgia Tech. Hokies QB Logan Thomas had a rough day, completing 14 of 31 passes for 265 yards, a touchdown, and three interceptions. Pittsburgh (1-2, 0-1 Big East) dominated from the start and outgained Virginia Tech 538-333.
No. 5 Florida State 52, Wake Forest 0: RB Chris Thompson scored on runs of 80 and 74 yards, and Florida State (3-0, 1-0 ACC) held its first three opponents of the season without a touchdown for the first time in 48 years. Thompson ran nine times for 197 yards. The Seminoles defense held Wake Forest (2-1, 1-1 ACC) without a third down conversion until midway through the third quarter, and Florida State outgained the Deacons 613 to 125.
Miami 38, Bethune-Cookman 10: Freshman RB Duke Johnson scored four touchdowns and had 246 total yards to lead the Hurricanes (2-1, 1-0 ACC) back from an early deficit against Bethune-Cookman. Johnson tied the game on a 95-yard kickoff return, rushed for 1- and 28-yard scores, and took a screen pass 50 yards for a touchdown. Johnson led the Hurricanes in rushing (94 yards) and receiving (57 yards).
Connecticut 24, Maryland 21: Maryland (2-1, 0-0 ACC) got touchdowns from three true freshmen -- RB Wes Brown, WR Stefon Diggs, and QB Perry Hills -- but the Terrapins lost in coach Randy Edsall’s first game against his former team. Hills scored with 4:39 to play, and Maryland got the ball back down three. However, Hills threw a fourth-down interception to seal the victory for the Huskies (2-1, 0-0 Big East). Connecticut had 221 total yards compared to just 205 for Maryland.
No. 11 Clemson 41, Furman 7: WR Sammy Watkins returned from a two-game suspension and recorded his first career rushing TD on a 58-yard run to open the second quarter. The ACC Preseason Player of the Year added 52 receiving yards as Clemson (3-0, 0-0 ACC) won a tune-up before their showdown against Florida State next Saturday. QB Tajh Boyd passed for 310 yards and two touchdowns.
No. 19 Louisville 39, North Carolina 34: Louisville (3-0, 0-0 Big East) scored on all six first-half possessions and led 36-7 at the half. A North Carolina (1-2, 0-1 ACC) second-half rally fell just short as QB Bryn Renner’s four-yard pass to WR Erik Highsmith was broken up with just over a minute and a half remaining. Renner passed for 363 yards and five touchdowns, including two to RB Romar Morris, who had 149 yards receiving.
Georgia Tech 56, Virginia 20: Georgia Tech (2-1, 1-1 ACC) piled up 461 rushing yards and led 35-7 at halftime against Coastal Divison opponent Virginia (2-1, 0-1 ACC). Yellow Jackets QB Tevin Washington threw for 125 yards with a touchdown and ran for 93 yards with three touchdowns. Virginia had just 297 yards of total offense, and its running game continued to struggle with 98 yards on the ground.
Northwestern 22, Boston College 13: The Eagles had a chance despite being outgained by almost 250 yards. Boston College (1-2, 0-1 ACC) had the ball twice in the fourth quarter down 15-13, but Northwestern (3-0, 0-0 Big Ten) got its only touchdown of the game late to put the game away. Eagles QB Chase Rettig threw for 291 yards and a touchdown, but Boston College had just 25 rushing yards.
NC State 31, South Alabama 7: The Wolfpack (2-1, 0-0 ACC) led 31-0 after three quarters and cruised to a win in their home opener. NC State QB Mike Glennon completed 24 of 34 passes for 257 yards and three touchdowns. The Wolfpack forced three turnovers, including the second interception of the season by CB David Amerson.
Duke 54, North Carolina Central 17: QB Sean Renfree threw for 280 yards and four touchdowns to four receivers as the Blue Devils (2-1, 0-0 ACC) had their largest margin of victory since David Cutcliffe became head coach in 2008. Duke scored on offense, defense and special teams in dominating its crosstown rival North Carolina Central (1-2).
Play of the week: Clemson WR Sammy Watkins took a handoff in the second quarter of his team’s game against Furman and raced around the right side for a 58-yard touchdown run. For Watkins, it was his first touchdown of the season after he missed the first two games against Auburn and Ball State because of a suspension. The score put Clemson ahead 14-0.
He said what? Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer on if his team was brought back down to Earth, according to Andy Bitter of The Roanoke Times: “I don't think we were away from Earth. ... We got beat by a team that played really well."
RapidReports defensive star of the day: DE Bjoern Werner, Florida State. Werner had four tackles with 1.5 sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss against Wake Forest. Werner now has 6.5 sacks on the season which leads the nation. Werner and his Florida State defense gave up just 125 total yards to Wake Forest.
RapidReports offensive star of the day: RB Thompson, Florida State. Thompson carried the ball nine times for 197 yards and two touchdowns, scoring from 80 and 74 yards out. He did all of that in the first half. The performance had to be especially satisfying for Thompson considering he broke a bone in his back during last year’s 35-30 loss at Wake Forest. The injury forced Thompson to miss the rest of the season.
His seat is getting uncomfortable: Boston College coach Frank Spaziani needs his team to perform this year after going 4-8 in 2011, but through the first three weeks, the Eagles are 1-2 with the lone win coming over FCS opponent Maine. Now, Boston College heads into its bye week. After that, three of the next four games come against Clemson, Florida State and Georgia Tech. Barring an upset, a 2-5 start looks likely at this point.
A possible spot on the bench for: Virginia Tech’s running backs. The Hokies are plagued with inexperience at running back after David Wilson left early for the NFL last year. Against Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech RBs Michael Holmes (redshirt freshman), J.C. Coleman (true freshman), and Martin Scales combined for 22 yards on 17 carries. Holmes (9 carries, 6 yards, 1 lost fumble) and Coleman (4 carries, 0 yards) were the ones expected to carry the load this season, but Thomas hasn’t received much help from his young backfield.
Why you care about these three stat lines:
- Florida State ran for 385 yards against Wake Forest. The Seminoles were No. 104 nationally last year in rushing offense, averaging 112.1 yards per game. After their first game against FBS competition, it appears the Seminoles have a much-improved rushing attack to help take some pressure off QB EJ Manuel.
- Virginia Tech’s defense allowed 538 yards against Pittsburgh. Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster entered this season hoping he would have one of the best defenses he has had in Blacksburg. The Panthers ran for 254 yards, and the Hokies were plagued by poor tackling all game. Virginia Tech's defense looks like it has a lot of work to do.
- Georgia Tech rushed for 461 yards. The Yellow Jackets struggled offensively in the season opener, but their offense was hitting on all cylinders against Virginia Saturday. Georgia Tech scored on two of its first three offensive plays. With Virginia Tech looking less than stellar against Pittsburgh, the Coastal Division race certainly isn’t over.
Key number: 0-3. With Virginia Tech, Maryland, and North Carolina all losing on Saturday, the ACC went 0-3 against the Big East. Overall, it was not a good day for the conference.
For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis from ACC bloggers Shawn Krest and Sean Bielawski, follow @CBSSportsACC.