The “ACC Fab Five” takes the previous Saturday’s ACC outings and reviews the top five games. There is no order, nor does the perspective ACC team have to win a non-conference game. If there is a loss in a non-conference affair, the team we mention must have threatened to win the game, but took the ‘L’.
No. 22 Wake Forest 31, @ No. 23 Florida State 21 – Demon Deacons quarterback Sam Hartman orchestrated three consecutive first-half touchdown drives and Wake took a 21-7 halftime lead in route to a rebound performance after last week’s double-overtime loss to Clemson.
Hartman completed 22 of 34 passes for 234 yards as he hit A.T. Perry and Donovan Greene for scores in the first half.
The Demon Deacons rolled up 405 total yards while converting 10 of 18 third down opportunities. Running back Justice Ellison rushed 18 times for 114 yards as the 171 yards rushing was WFU’s most for the season.
FSU quarterback Jordan Travis hit Mycah Pittman with a 13-yard touchdown pass on the game’s first drive. It gave the Seminoles a 7-0 lead before Wake Forest reeled off 21 points in a row.
“They did a good job of mixing up the run and pass game,” said FSU head coach Mike Norvell. “We knew that’s something that they do. We have got to win one-on-one matchups, in the running game and the passing game.”
@ No. 5 Clemson 30, No. 10 NC State 20 – Clemson quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei continued his high-level play as he passed for 209 yards and led the Tigers in rushing with 73 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries.
Ced Seabrough caught a two-yard touchdown pass from Wolfpack QB Devin Leary as NC State took a 10-6 lead with 1:51 to play in the first half. Uiagelelei then drove Clemson 75 yards on eight plays as he scored on a one-yard run to give the Tigers a 13-10 lead just before halftime.
Leary completed 28 of 45 passes for 245 yards and a score, but NCSU was minus-3 in turnover margin as the Pack lost two fumbles and Leary threw one interception.
The Tigers lost to the Wolfpack, 27-21, in Raleigh last season and Saturday night’s win pushed coach Dabo Swinney to 19-9 in rematches after losses in the previous season. The victory was Clemson’s 37th in a row at home as that number ties the ACC record.
“This team is getting better,” said Swinney. “We’re not perfect and I thought we left a lot out there. No turnovers on offense, no sacks. We haven’t lost a game since 2011 when we’ve had no sacks.”
Georgia Tech 26, @ No. 24 Pitt 21 – It was a tough week for Georgia Tech football as head Geoff Collins and athletic director Todd Stansbury were fired, but the end of the seven days saw the Yellow Jackets upset the Panthers.
Interim head coach Brent Key enjoyed the win as Georgia Tech turned over Pitt three times, while Hassan Hall rushed for 157 yards on 20 carries for the Jackets.
In the fourth quarter, Georgia Tech QB Jeff Sims hit E.J. Jackson with a 21-yard touchdown pass and Sims scored on an 18-yard run to pace the Yellow Jackets.
Pittsburgh quarterback Kedon Slovis had a solid night as he completed 26 of 45 passes for 305 yards and three touchdowns.
“I’m just happy for the kids,” said Key. “They’ve been through a lot these past few years.”
@North Carolina 41, Virginia Tech 10 – Tar Heels quarterback Drake Maye had another impeccably solid game as he completed 26 of 36 passes for 363 yards and three TD tosses. In addition, he rushed 13 times for 73 yards and scored twice.
Carolina took a 21-3 lead when Maye hit Antoine Green with a 16-yard touchdown pass midway through the second quarter and the Heels were never threatened.
Carolina rolled up 527 yards against a Virginia Tech defense that went from allowing 4.07 yards per play to 4.83 yards.
Josh Downs leads UNC with 22 catches and he has posed 230 receiving yards, seven fewer than tight end Bryson Nesbitt for the season.
Virginia Tech continues to struggle on offense as the Hokies are 111th in college football as they have only two offensive touchdowns in the last two games.
“Josh might be our best player,” said North Carolina head coach Mack Brown of Downs. “He’s so quick and it’s amazing what he’s been able to do, not being able to practice.”
@Boston College 34, Louisville 33 – The Eagles took the win as Cardinals quarterback Malik Cunningham was knocked out of the game in the third quarter with a hit to the head.
Cunningham had already rushed for 62 yards on 15 carries and three touchdowns and was 19-of-28 passing for 186 yards and a touchdown.
BC quarterback Phil Jurkovec completed 18 of 21 passes for 304 yards and three touchdowns. He set up a pair of Connor Lytton field goals in the fourth quarter for the come-from-behind win.
“We got to do a better job of getting free and getting open, including the last drive when Malik wasn’t in there,” said Cardinals coach Scott Satterfield.
