2015 Around the ACC Week 6 Wrap Up

Note: Home teams on the right.

North_Carolina_St_JVirginia_Tech

Virginia Tech 28
N.C. State 13

The Hokies fell behind 10-0 in the first quarter but rallied in the second with three touchdown connections between Brenden Motley and Isaiah Ford. Motley threw for 158 yards and rushed for 44 more while showing plenty of toughness all night. The biggest difference for Tech (3-3, 1-1) was an effective ground game that picked up 200 yards on the evening. Travon McMillian got the majority of the carries and finished with 96 yards, including a 57-yard touchdown that sealed the game.

N.C. State (4-2, 0-2) must return to the drawing board after really struggling on defense and looking listless on offense outside of the first quarter. They did finish a perfect 3-for-3 in the red zone, but Jacoby Brissett had his worst game of the season, as he completed only 12 of 25 passes for 113 yards and an interception — his first in 241 attempts. State may attempt to rally behind a surprisingly effective rushing attack with Matt Dayes and exciting talent Jaylen Samuels.

Up next for N.C. State: @ Wake Forest

Up next for Virginia Tech: @ Miami

Duke_BArmy

Duke 44
Army West Point 3

This one was never really in doubt as Duke (5-1, 2-0) dominated Army on the road. The Blue Devil defense played a big role and was able to recover three botched pitches on option runs that Duke was able to convert into points. Thomas Sirk threw for 197 yards and a touchdown plus added 54 rushing yards, but running back Jela Duncan really stole the show. Duncan had just eight carries but ran for 78 yards and two scores, including a blazing 43-yard touchdown that helped seal the end result before halftime. Duncan’s return from injury has been a nice boost to a unit that has been pretty inconsistent so far this season.

Up next for Duke: @ Virginia Tech

Virginia_OLD5Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh 26
Virginia 19

Pitt was able to hold off a late comeback by Virginia to squeak out another close victory. The Panthers (4-1, 2-0) got steady play from quarterback Nate Peterman, who completed 17 of 24 passes for 222 yards and a touchdown to Tyler Boyd. Chris James led the Panther ground game with 94 yards and last week’s hero Qadree Ellison chipped in 49 yards and a touchdown, but he also fumbled at the UVA 1 to keep the Cavaliers (1-4, 0-2) alive in the fourth quarter.

The ‘Hoos had some positive moments, including an unlikely conversion on fourth-and-25 with a minute remaining in the game, but quarterback Matt Johns struggled most of the day. Kwontie Moore intercepted a pass for Virginia’s first forced turnover of the season. The Cavaliers are now sixth-worst in the country in turnover margin.

Up next for Virginia: Syracuse

Up next for Pittsburgh: Georgia Tech

Wake_ForestBoston_College_OLD3

Wake Forest 3
Boston College 0

This game may have set football back a few decades. The teams combined for six turnovers, 18 punts, 18 penalties, and converted on just 4-of-29 third downs. Wake Forest (3-3, 1-2) only rushed for 33 yards on 28 carries as a team, while Boston College (3-3, 0-3) used two quarterbacks to complete 6-of-20 passes for just 74 yards and an interception.

BC’s Colton Lichtenberg missed two kicks in the game (26 and 31 yards) and Wake’s Mike Weaver missed one as well. Demon Deacon linebacker Brandon Chubb made the play of the game to recover a fumble at the Eagles’ 5. After losing two yards, Weaver nailed a 26-yarder that proved to be the difference. These teams both have strong defenses, so the offensive woes, while incredible, weren’t completely unexpected. BC still ranks first in the nation in total defense and Wake now ranks 20th. The Deacs hadn’t forced a turnover prior to this game.

Our friends at BC Interruption handled the result as you might expect.

Up next for Wake Forest: @ North Carolina

Up next for Boston College: @ Clemson

Georgia_TechClemson

No. 6 Clemson 43
Georgia Tech 24

Georgia Tech is in free-fall right now, while Clemson (5-0, 2-0) is firing on all cylinders. DeShaun Watson threw for 265 yards and Wayne Gallman recorded his third consecutive 100-yard rushing performance to help the Tiger offense rack up 537 total yards in yet another rainy affair. The vaunted Yellow Jacket rushing attack completely fell apart, gaining just 71 yards on 42 carries against Clemson.

Georgia Tech (2-4, 0-3) simply can’t convert on third down, and it was paramount in this game. The Yellow Jackets were just 1 for 12 on third downs, and the stifled run game is the culprit. Most seasons, the triple option is good for at least a couple yards on first and second downs which reduces third-and-long situations. When you force Georgia Tech to pass, they struggle, and right now the struggle is real.

“I’ve never experienced a year like this in my coaching career, being as inept as we are,” Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson said afterward. “It’s one thing to be physically dominated. It’s another thing to not even give yourselves a chance.”

Up next for Georgia Tech: Pittsburgh

Up next for Clemson: Boston College

Syracuse_ESouth_Florida_G

South Florida 45
Syracuse 24

Just when it looked like the Orange were starting to come into focus, they muddled the picture even more. South Florida (2-3, 0-1) blew the game wide open in the second half with five total touchdowns, including three in the third quarter. The defense has been the strength of Syracuse (3-2, 1-0) to this point, but they were gouged for 540 total yards and 281 yards on the ground. Marlon Mack led that effort with 184 yards and two touchdowns. Eric Dungey returned at quarterback for ‘Cuse and played pretty well as he completed 21-of-34 passes for 232 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. The Orange really needed this win to keep them in the hunt for a bowl bid. Now that road is a lot tougher.

Up next for Syracuse: @ Virginia

Miami_FLFlorida_St

No. 12 Florida State 29
Miami 24

The latest chapter in this rivalry was yet another instant classic, with the folks from Tallahassee getting a close win. Dalvin Cook went off for FSU with 222 yards and three touchdowns, including the ultimate game-winner with just under seven minutes remaining. He becomes the first Florida State (5-0, 2-0) back since Greg Allen in 1981 to post two 200-yard games in a season and he now has 792 yards on the season, good for sixth in the nation.

Brad Kaaya played great for Miami (3-2, 0-1). He completed 29-of-49 passes for a career-high 405 yards and three scores. Stacey Coley caught seven of those passes for 139 yards and a touchdown that gave Miami the lead before Cook’s final score. Rashawn Scott also scored once and pulled in six passes for 108 yards. The trouble for the Canes came when they tried to run the ball. FSU held Miami to just 20 yards on 19 carries.

Up next for Miami: Virginia Tech

Up next for Florida State: Louisville

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