2008 Around the ACC: Week 13

Finally, the ACC situation has cleared up. Two teams from each division
remain alive in the quest for the ACC Championship, and two games this Saturday
will decide who plays in Tampa on December 6.

If Virginia Tech beats Virginia on Saturday, the Hokies will represent the
Coastal Division. However, if UVA upsets VT, Georgia Tech will win the Coastal.

In the Atlantic, Florida State will win the division if Maryland can knock
off Boston College. However, the Eagles will head to the ACC Championship Game
if they beat the Terps at home.

Current Standings

This Week’s Schedule

Atlantic Division

Florida State (8-3, 5-3)

Florida State finished off their ACC schedule with a resounding 37-3 win at
Maryland on Saturday night. The ‘Noles now must wait on this Saturday’s
Maryland-BC game before knowing their fate. If Maryland beats BC, FSU will head
to the ACC Championship Game.

FSU
dominated Maryland in every phase of the game on Saturday night. Christian
Ponder was efficient, throwing for 143 yards and a touchdown, with no
interceptions. He also led his team in rushing with 81 yards and a touchdown,
and he was not sacked all night.

Meanwhile, the FSU defense limited Maryland to 252 yards of total offense and
forced four turnovers.

• Offensive MVP: Christian Ponder. 19-of-21 for 143 yards and 1 touchdown,
  14 carries for 81 yards and a touchdown
• Defensive MVP: Everette Brown. 5 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 3.5 sacks, 1 forced
  fumble

Up Next: Florida, Saturday, November 29, 3:30pm, ABC/ESPN2

Boston College (8-3, 4-3)

Boston College beat Wake Forest 24-21 in Winston-Salem on Saturday, and as a
result the Eagles control their own destiny in the Atlantic Division. If they
beat Maryland this Saturday, they will head to Tampa for their second straight
ACC Championship Game appearance.

The bad news for the Eagles is that Chris Crane broke his collarbone against
Wake Forest, and is likely done for around six week. Dominique Davis, a
r-freshman, came on in relief of Crane and did a solid job. His touchdown on a
quarterback sneak with 1:12 remaining in the game was the go-ahead touchdown.

Boston College will get Maryland at home on Saturday. That’s a game they
should be able to win, if they get good play from the quarterback position.

• Offensive MVP: Dominique Davis. 13-of-23, 103 yards, 1 rushing touchdown
• Defensive MVP: Mark Herzlich. 9 tackles, 2 interceptions, 1 INT returned
  for a touchdown

Up Next: Maryland, Saturday, November 29, 3:30pm, ABC

Maryland (7-4, 4-3)

Maryland controlled their own destiny in the ACC race until Saturday night,
when they were smashed by Florida State 37-3 in College Park. The Terps didn’t
play particularly well on either side of the ball, but ultimately it was four
offensive turnovers that made the game get out of hand.

The Terps have had a solid season, but they are eliminated from the Atlantic
Division race as a result of their head-to-head loss to Florida State. It
appears they’ll settle in for a middle of the pack ACC bowl.

• Offensive MVP: Da’Rel Scott. 12 carries, 82 yards
• Defensive MVP: Alex Wujciak. 11 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 pass broken up

Up Next: at Boston College, Saturday, November 29, 3:30pm, ABC/ESPN2

Clemson (6-5, 4-4)

Clemson rolled into Charlottesville and knocked off a UVA team that still had
a lot to play for. The Tigers shut down the Cavalier offense, winning 13-3. With
a win next weekend against in-state rival South Carolina, Clemson will become
bowl eligible.

Both offenses in this game were held below 200 yards. The Tigers only had 192
yards for the game, but they only had one turnover, while UVA turned the ball
over four times.

• Offensive MVP: Cullen Harper. 18-of-28 for 121 yards
• Defensive MVP: Michael Hamlin. 8 tackles, 1 interception, 1 pass broken up

Up Next: South Carolina, Saturday, November 29, Noon, ESPN2

Wake Forest (6-5, 4-4)

Wake Forest still had a shot to win the Atlantic Division, but they allowed a
late touchdown to Boston College in a 24-21 home loss on Saturday. The Demon
Deacons simply couldn’t overcome their extreme offensive line issues enough to
win the Atlantic this year.

Wake Forest couldn’t get much of a running game going against Boston College.
They managed just 65 rushing yards and 191 yards overall. The Wake defense held
BC to 234 yards of total offense, but it wasn’t enough. Riley Skinner threw two
interceptions, including one for a touchdown, and that was the difference in the
game.

• Offensive MVP: D.J. Boldin. 6 catches for 87 yards
• Defensive MVP: Brandon Ghee. 8 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 forced fumble, 1 sack

Up Next: Vanderbilt, Saturday, November 29, 7pm, ESPNU

NC State (5-6, 3-4)

NC State won their third straight game on Saturday, this time crushing
in-state rival North Carolina 41-10 in Chapel Hill. Not only did they flatten
the Tar Heels in the game, they also crushed UNC’s hopes of representing the
Coastal Division in the ACC Championship Game.

NC State’s r-freshman quarterback, Russell Wilson, continues to make a strong
claim for First Team All-ACC honors at quarterback. He passed for 279 yards and
two touchdowns against UNC, and rushed for another 50 yards. He has only thrown
one interception on the season, while tossing 14 touchdown passes.

Just like that, NC State is one win away from being bowl eligible.

• Offensive MVP: Russell Wilson. 17-of-28 for 279 yards and 2 touchdowns, 50
  rushing yards
• Defensive MVP: Willie Young. 4 tackles, 3 TFL, 2 sacks, 1 interception

Up Next: Miami, Saturday, November 29, Noon, Raycom

Coastal Division

Georgia Tech (8-3, 5-3)

Georgia Tech gave themselves a chance in the Coastal Division race by blowing
out Miami 41-23 on Thursday night in Atlanta. The Yellow Jackets are depending
on the outcome of the Virginia-Virginia Tech game. If the Hoos upset the Hokies,
Georgia Tech will go to the ACC Championship Game.

The Jackets put on a clinic against Miami on Thursday. They racked up 472
rushing yards, and All-ACC running back Jonathan Dwyer didn’t play at all in the
second half. Three Georgia Tech players had at least 93 yards rushing.

This game wasn’t as close as the final score indicated. The Yellow Jackets
led 41-10, but Miami scored two late touchdowns against the backup defense.

• Offensive MVP: Jonathan Dwyer. 10 carries for 128 yards and 2 touchdowns,
  all in the first half
• Defensive MVP: Michael Johnson. 1 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 interception returned
  for a touchdown, 2 passes broken up

Up Next: at Georgia, Saturday, November 29, Noon, CBS

Miami (7-4, 4-3)

Miami got smacked by Georgia Tech 41-23 on Thursday night, and they are
eliminated from the Coastal Division race. They could still technically tie for
the top of the standings, but they would lose any and all tiebreaker
possibilities at this point.

Miami was shredded on the ground by the Jackets, giving up 472 rushing yards.
This game was so out of hand that Georgia Tech had all their starters out by the
end of the third quarter. 600 yards rushing would have been attainable, had the
Jackets left their starters in the game.

The ‘Canes are playing for a decent bowl bid at this point. They’ll take on
red hot NC State this weekend in Raleigh.

• Offensive MVP: Dedrick Epps. 4 catches for 57 yards and a touchdown
• Defensive MVP: None

Up Next: at NC State, Saturday, November 29, Noon, Raycom

Virginia Tech (7-4, 4-3)

The Hokies are back to controlling their own destiny in the Coastal Division
race following a 14-3 lackluster home win over Duke on Saturday night. If Tech
beats UVA in Lane Stadium this Saturday, they will head to Tampa to play for the
ACC Championship.

The first half of the Duke game didn’t go particularly well for the Tech
offense. The Hokies turned the ball over five times in the first half, and
eventually called in r-senior quarterback Sean Glennon off the bench. Glennon
threw a touchdown pass to Jarrett Boykin right before the half, and it was
Virginia Tech’s first touchdown by a wide receiver this season.

The Tech defense held Duke to just 136 yards of total offense. The Blue
Devils completed only two passes against Bud Foster’s defense.

• Offensive MVP: Darren Evans. 24 carries for 111 yards, 3 catches for 16
  yards
• Defensive MVP: Macho Harris. 2 interceptions, 1 INT returned for a
  touchdown

Up Next: Virginia, Saturday, November 29, Noon, ESPN

North Carolina (7-4, 3-4)

North Carolina was completely pummeled on both sides of the ball by NC State
in a 41-10 home loss on Saturday. The loss eliminates North Carolina from
contention in the Coastal Division, despite being hyped as the division’s best
team for most of the season.

The Tar Heels brought back starting quarterback T.J. Yates, who hadn’t played
since the Hokies knocked him out of action back in September. Yates had a rough
day, throwing an interception and completing less than 50% of his passes. Cam
Sexton also played, and he threw two interceptions.

The Carolina defense was gashed for 466 yards by the NC State offense. It was
complete domination by NC State. Now Carolina must rally in a hurry to get ready
for their final game against Duke.

• Offensive MVP: Hakeem Nicks. 4 catches for 56 yards
• Defensive MVP: Mark Paschal. 13 tackles

Up Next: at Duke, Saturday, November 29, 3:30pm, ESPNU

Virginia (5-6, 3-4)

Virginia was still in the running for the Coastal Division as well. However,
thanks to a 13-3 home loss to Clemson, the Cavs now must beat Virginia Tech this
Saturday in Blacksburg to even qualify for a bowl game.

The UVA offense only mustered 190 yards in this game, and quarterback Marc
Verica threw three costly interceptions. The Cavalier defense held Clemson to
192 yards, but only forced one turnover. Turnover margin ended up being the
difference in the game. Virginia also had a game-tying touchdown called back due
to a penalty.

• Offensive MVP: Kevin Ogletree. 6 catches for 73 yards
• Defensive MVP: Jon Copper. 7 tackles, 1 TFL

Up Next: at Virginia Tech, Saturday, November 29, Noon, ESPN

Duke (4-7, 1-6)

Duke hung in there with the Hokies on Saturday night in Lane Stadium, but
ultimately fell 14-3. The Blue Devils were without starting quarterback Thad
Lewis, who is arguably the best player at his position in the ACC.

With the loss to Virginia Tech, Duke is now eliminated from bowl contention.
However, they still have the opportunity to knock off in-state rival North
Carolina next weekend.

• Offensive MVP: None
• Defensive MVP: Michael Tauiliili. 9 tackles, 0.5 TFL, 0.5 sacks, 1
  interception, 3 passes broken up

Up Next: UNC, Saturday, November 29, 3:30pm, ESPNU