2015 Around the ACC Week 5 Wrap Up

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Miami 23
Cincinnati 34

Cincinnati (3-2) allowed 53 points in a loss to Memphis and 34 in a loss to Temple but they did a solid job of shutting down Miami Thursday to open the weekend. Bearcat freshman Hayden Moore threw two touchdown passes and ran for another in the victory. Joseph Yearby was a star for Miami (3-1) and gained 113 yards on 17 carries. Brad Kaaya was okay with 255 yards, but there were no scores to be found in the passing game. These are the kinds of games that make Canes fans grumble about Al Golden. Even though Miami is still in good shape in the wacky, wide-open ACC Coastal division, the season could easily turn sour in a hurry with with ACC rival Florida State up next.

Up next for Miami: @ Florida State

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Pittsburgh 17
Virginia Tech 13

Pittsburgh (3-1, 1-0) is giving Boston College an early run at most feared defense in the conference. The Hokies (2-3, 0-1) scraped together just 100 total yards of offense, the lowest number since Frank Beamer’s first game as Tech head coach September 12, 1987. Brenden Motley had by far his worst game as a starter throwing for just 91 yards and tossing three interceptions. The Panthers allowed just nine rushing yards, or .27 yards per carry. Qadree Ollison ran all over the Tech defense picking up 122 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries. Nate Peterman got the start at quarterback and was an efficient 9 of 15 for 110 yards while Chad Voytik came in a number of times to contribute five carries for 37 yards. Virginia Tech now faces a quick turnaround for a Friday game with NC State. Pitt looks to keep the momentum building with a game against Virginia.

Up next for Pitt: Virginia

Up next for VT: NC State

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Louisville 20
NC State 13

Shadrach Thornton was kicked off the team last week, and the lack of his presence was felt in the NC State (4-1, 0-1) running game . “You deal with it all the time and you’ve got to learn how to deal with adversity and persevere,” Dave Doeren told the media. “You’ve got to approach it from a next-man-up standpoint. We’ve always talked about handling our business one play at a time and not letting things that we can’t control affect how we do things,” he said leading up to his team’s ACC debut in 2015. State managed just 45 yards on 30 carries as a team despite 68 yards and a touchdown from Matthew Dayes. Louisville (2-3, 1-1) got another wild and athletic performance from freshman Lamar Jackson who rushed for 121 yards on 19 carries with a touchdown and also threw for 103 yards and another score. Louisville managed to strike big plays a few times against the stingy Wolfpack defense, including a 79-yard touchdown run by Jackson. The Cardinals ground out 203 rushing yards as a team.

Up next for Louisville:

Up next for NC State:

Boston_College_OLD3Duke_B

Boston College 7
Duke 9

This might not look like a good win at first glance, but the Boston College (3-2, 0-2) defense has been playing lights out all season. The unit is still ranked first in the nation in total defense and has been incredible against the run holding teams to just 43.4 yards per game on the ground. Duke gained only 33 yards on 35 carries. That’s far beyond stifling. The problem is an offense that has floundered all season with a myriad of young quarterbacks. Jeff Smith was just 3 of 12 passing for 12 yards but picked up 60 yards on 11 rushes. Troy Flutie was more effective passing connecting on 5 of 8 for 129 yards and a touchdown. Thomas Sirk continues to be average himself for Duke (4-1, 2-0). He completed just 18 of 36 passes for 195 yards Saturday, and the blue Devil offense was unable to score a touchdown, instead relying on three Ross Martin field goals to fill the scoring column. Duke is out to the early lead in the Coastal, but with a middling rushing game and no scoring passing the ball there is room for improvement.

Up next for BC: Wake Forest

Up next: for Duke: @ Army

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North Carolina 38
Georgia Tech 31

It was a wild affair in this one with a number of well-executed trick plays and a great game from Marquise Williams lifting Carolina to a crucial victory. Williams threw for 134 yards, ran for 148, scored two rushing touchdowns and pulled in a 37-yard touchdown pass from receiver Quinshad Davis on a double reverse. Both teams went over 400 yards of total offense in this match up and Georgia Tech (2-3, 0-2) had solid performances from all of the backs to gain 255 yards rushing. Quarterback Justin Thomas has struggled at times this season but despite an interception, he ran for 56 yards and two touchdowns and also threw for another.The Yellow Jackets raced out to a 21-0 lead until the Tar Heels finally got on the board in the second quarter. The win gives UNC an early advantage on several conference foes including the Yellow Jackets now sitting at 0-2 in ACC tilts.

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No. 11 Florida State 24
Wake Forest 16

Kendall Hinton is quickly proving himself to be a dynamic playmaker for the Demon Deacons. Hinton picked up 48 yards rushing and 215 yards passing with a touchdown for Wake in the near upset. His impressive performance helped Wake outgain Florida State 357-329 in total yardage on the afternoon.
Dalvin Cook led Florida State (5-0, 2-0) with 94 yards, but they all came on one carry before he left with an injury. FSU rushed for just 33 yards after Cook’s departure and struggled through the air yet again. Everett Golson was 20 of 31 for 202 yards and a touchdown but the ‘Noles failed to put the game away and Wake made things interesting deep into the fourth quarter.

Up next for FSU: Miami

Up next for WF: @ Boston College

Notre_DameClemson

No. 6 Notre Dame 22
No. 11 Clemson 24

The big game of the day nationally was played in the parapets of Hurricane Joaquin, and the home-standing Tigers (4-0, 1-0) didn’t disappoint. Deshaun Watson was strong completing 11 of 22 passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns in very wet conditions. He also ran for 93 yards and a touchdown in the gigantic home win. DeShone Kizer completed 19 of 34 passes for 321 yards, two touchdowns and a pick. He also led the Irish with 60 yards rushing. Notre Dame (4-1) outgained Clemson considerably 437-296, but the Irish fumbled six times and lost three of them. Clemson capitalized on the mistakes and utilized the home crowd to stay hyped. The atmosphere was wild in Death Valley. The prospects are good for the No. 6 Tigers now. Clemson has a fairly easy schedule with a Florida State game looming, and intermediate challenges like BC and Miami. They just have to stay focused and this group seems very capable.

Dabo still talks a little too much for my liking, but he often has something interesting to say. He’s proven himself to be a big game coach and one of the top coaches in the ACC.

Up next for Clemson: Georgia Tech

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