Duke closes down Wallace Wade Stadium in style and Florida State remains undefeated in a week of hotly contested rivalry matchups.
Duke 41, Wake Forest 21
In their last game in Wallace Wade Stadium before renovations begin to remove the track that borders the field, the Blue Devils turned in a dominant offensive performance and defeated Wake Forest 41-21.
Duke never trailed in a victory that was secured when redshirt sophomore quarterback Thomas Sirk threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to redshirt junior tight end David Reeves—a play which capped off a 77-yard drive and put the Blue Devils up by 20 points with 6:02 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Redshirt senior quarterback Anthony Boone completed 19-of-31 passes for 275 yards with one passing touchdown and an interception for the Blue Devils (9-3, 5-3 in the ACC). The Weddington, N.C., native also recorded a rushing touchdown in the first quarter. For the Demon Deacons (3-9, 1-7 in the ACC), freshman quarterback John Wolford turned in a season-high three passing touchdowns and 251 yards on 24-of-36 passing.
The Duke victory completes the first pair of consecutive nine-win seasons in school history and the first pair of consecutive seasons with a winning ACC record in more than 50 years.
Virginia Tech 24, Virginia 20
Virginia Tech produced a defensive stop late in the fourth quarter Friday night to secure a 24-20 victory against in-state rival Virginia and earn bowl eligibility for the 22nd consecutive season. The victory for the Hokies was their 11th in a row against the Cavaliers.
Virginia pulled ahead 20-17 on a 20-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Greyson Lambert to senior tight end Zachary Swanson with 2:55 remaining in the fourth quarter. The Hokies responded immediately, moving down the field quickly and scoring on a 9-yard touchdown pass from redshirt junior quarterback Michael Brewer to redshirt freshman tight end Bucky Hodges with 1:48 left on the clock. The Cavaliers had one more opportunity to score on the following possession, but the outcome was decided when backup sophomore quarterback Matt Johns was sacked on fourth down.
Brewer would finish the game with 235 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception on 15-of-33 passing for the Hokies (6-6, 3-5). For the Cavaliers (5-7, 3-5), Lambert completed 15 of 32 passes for 211 yards with one touchdown and an interception.
The Virginia Tech victory continued the team’s dominance against its rival and snapped a six-game losing streak against conference opponents at Lane Stadium. Virginia Tech—at 6-6—is now eligible for postseason play; the loss for Virginia concluded the team’s season.
No. 16 Georgia Tech 30, No. 8 Georgia 24
Despite falling behind 3 points with only 18 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, No. 16 Georgia Tech managed to force overtime and emerge with a 30-24 victory against in-state rival No. 8 Georgia for the first time since 2008.
With the clock winding down in the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs put together a steady, effective drive that culminated in a 3-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Hutson Mason to junior receiver Malcolm Mitchell on fourth down. Trailing 24-21 with 18 seconds remaining, the Yellow Jackets ended up with favorable field position off of a Georgia squib kick and then redshirt sophomore quarterback Justin Thomas scrambled 21 yards to set up a 53-yard field goal attempt for sophomore kicker Harrison Butker. The Decatur, Ga., native made the kick—his new career long—to force overtime. After Georgia Tech scored a touchdown on the opening drive of overtime, an interception by junior defensive back D.J. White secured victory for his team.
Senior running back Zach Laskey led the way offensively for the Yellow Jackets—the Peachtree, Ga., native finished with 140 yards and three touchdowns on 26 carries. For the Bulldogs, Mason completed 18-of-28 passes for 194 yards with one touchdown and an interception. Freshman running back Nick Chubb rushed for 129 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries.
Georgia (9-3) lost its chance to compete in the SEC championship game when No. 17 Missouri defeated Arkansas 21-14 Friday. Georgia Tech (10-2, 6-2) will represent the Coastal Division in the ACC championship game against Florida State next weekend.
No. 24 Louisville 44, Kentucky 40
After No. 24 Louisville took the lead late in the fourth quarter, an interception by sophomore safety Gerod Holliman—his NCAA record-tying 14th pick of the season—secured the 44-40 Cardinal victory against in-state rival Kentucky.
The two teams traded scores and lead changes throughout the second half. Louisville sophomore running back Brandon Radcliff scored on a four-yard rushing touchdown with 2:47 remaining in the game. The Miami native finished with 67 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries. After starting freshman quarterback Reggie Bonnafon left the game in the first quarter with a knee injury, freshman Kyle Bolin stepped in and turned in an impressive offensive performance for the Cardinals—the Lexington, Ky., native completed 21-of-31 passes for 381 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. Perhaps the biggest offensive performance of the day for Louisville was the 180 receiving yards and three touchdowns on just six receptions from senior receiver DeVante Parker.
Freshman running back Stanley “Boom” Williams led the way offensively for the Wildcats—the Monroe, Ga., native finished with 126 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries.
The victory for the Cardinals (9-3, 5-3) is their fourth straight against Kentucky. The loss for the Wildcats (5-7)—their sixth consecutive loss of the season—makes the team ineligible for postseason play for the fourth consecutive season.
No. 23 Clemson 35, South Carolina 17
Playing on a torn ACL, freshman quarterback Deshaun Watson recorded four total touchdowns to help No. 23 Clemson win the Palmetto Bowl 35-17 against in-state rival South Carolina for the first time since 2008.
Despite being nagged by a series of injuries this season, Watson was firing on all cylinders Saturday. The Gainesville, Ga., native completed 14-of-19 passes for 269 yards with two passing touchdowns. On the ground, he added 13 yards and two touchdowns on just five carries. Freshman running back Wayne Gallman also had a big day for the Tigers (9-3, 6-2)—the Loganville, Ga., native rushed for 191 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries. The Clemson defense allowed 339 total yards—more than the 252 yards they entered the game averaging—but provided two crucial stops on fourth down in the second half and held the Gamecocks to their lowest point total of the season.
For the Gamecocks (6-6), senior quarterback Dylan Thompson led the way offensively. The Boiling Springs, S.C., native completed 21-of-39 passes for 249 yards with one passing touchdown. Thompson’s effort against Clemson may not have produced a victory for his team, but it did bring him to 3,280 total passing yards on the season—a school single-season record.
The Tigers finished the regular season 9-3 with a 6-2 conference record, good for second in the Atlantic Division behind undefeated Florida State.
Boston College 28, Syracuse 7
Boston College sophomore running back Myles Willis returned the game’s opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown, and the Eagles never looked back in an easy 28-7 victory against Syracuse at Alumni Stadium Saturday.
Following Willis’ touchdown return, the Orange responded with a 4-yard touchdown run by freshman quarterback AJ Long to even the score, but this would be the team’s last points of the game. The Lebanon, Tenn., native completed 7-of-18 passes for 59 yards with an interception. The Syracuse offense finished with only 128 yards of total offense.
Senior quarterback Tyler Murphy was efficient for the Eagles—the Wethersfield, Conn., native completed 13 of 17 passes for 160 yards with one touchdown. Murphy added 20 yards rushing on 11 carries, which brought him to 1,079 total rushing yards on the season—a new ACC single-season record for rushing yards by a quarterback.
The loss for the Orange (3-9, 1-7) was their fifth straight. The victory for the Eagles (7-5, 4-4) concludes their second consecutive seven-win regular season and makes the team eligible to play in a bowl game.
N.C. State 35, North Carolina 7
Stifling defense and 388 rushing yards helped N.C. State crush in-state rival North Carolina 35-7 at Kenan Stadium Saturday. A consistent ground attack allowed the Wolfpack to control the pace of the game and maintain possession, and the team’s defense held the Tar Heels scoreless until the end of the fourth quarter.
N.C. State junior quarterback Jacoby Brissett completed 9-of-11 passes for 66 yards with three touchdowns. The West Palm Beach, Fla., native contributed perhaps even more with his legs—he rushed for 167 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries, setting a single-game school record for rushing yards by a quarterback. Junior running back Shadrach Thornton added 161 yards and a touchdown on 28 carries. The Wolfpack (7-5, 3-5) defense produced four sacks and 10 total tackles for loss to assist in the winning effort.
The Tar Heels (6-6, 4-4) struggled to advance the ball throughout the game, producing only 207 total yards of offense. Junior quarterback Marquise Williams completed 11-of-22 passes for 97 yards with an interception. The Charlotte, N.C., native was sacked three times, the third of which sent him to the locker room to be evaluated for injury in the third quarter.
N.C. State finished the regular season fifth in the Atlantic Division of the ACC. North Carolina finished third in the Coastal division. Both teams are eligible for postseason play.
No. 1 Florida State 24, Florida 19
Despite sophomore quarterback Jameis Winston throwing a career-high four interceptions, No. 1 Florida State held on to defeat in-state rival Florida 24-19 Saturday at Doak Campbell Stadium. The victory capped off back-to-back undefeated regular seasons for the first time in school history and extended the Seminoles’ winning streak to 28 games.
Along with his four interceptions, Winston threw for a career-low 125 yards and two touchdowns on 12-of-24 passing. Seminole freshman running back Dalvin Cook picked up the slack for his struggling quarterback—the Miami native rushed for a career-high 144 yards on 24 carries.
For the Gators, freshman quarterback Treon Harris completed 13-of-32 passes for 169 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. Sophomore kicker Austin Hardin missed two crucial field goals in the second half, both of which would have given Florida the lead.
Saturday’s contest was Florida head coach Will Muschamp’s final game with the team. The Gators (6-5) are eligible to compete in a bowl game, but if they do, Muschamp will not be at the helm. The Seminoles (12-0, 8-0) will look to defend their conference title against Georgia Tech in the ACC championship game next Saturday.
Pittsburgh 35, Miami 23
A record-setting night for sophomore running back James Conner lifted Pittsburgh to a 35-23 victory against Miami Saturday at Sun Life Stadium. The Panthers’ win—their first against the Hurricanes since 1997—earned them bowl eligibility for the seventh consecutive season.
Conner finished the game with 75 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries. The Erie, Pa., native’s performance set new single-season school records for rushing touchdowns, total touchdowns and points, all despite Conner playing with a sore hip.
For the Hurricanes (6-6, 3-5), freshman quarterback Brad Kaaya led the way offensively. The West Hills, Calif., native completed 22-of-45 passes for 296 yards with two touchdowns. Junior running back Duke Johnson rushed for 89 yards on 18 carries, enough to make him the school’s all-time leading rusher.
Miami finished the season eligible to compete in a bowl game, but the Hurricanes limped through the end of their schedule—the loss against Pittsburgh was the team’s third straight to conclude the regular season. Pittsburgh finished fourth in the ACC Coastal Division and is eligible to compete in a bowl game.
Get The Chronicle straight to your inbox
Signup for our weekly newsletter. Cancel at any time.