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ACC football weekend review: Clemson Tigers hold off Notre Dame, earn national respect

By The Sports Xchange
Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney. File photo David Tulis/UPI
Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney. File photo David Tulis/UPI | License Photo

There's a good amount of parity showing early in the Atlantic Coast Conference season.

But the biggest fuss came at the end of the night when Clemson held off Notre Dame 24-22 to win a non-conference game between nationally ranked teams.

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This potentially moves Clemson toward the elite category.

There were five conference matchups for the week and each of the games was decided by eight points or less.

On top of that, the road team won four of the five games. Duke's home victory against Boston College was the exception, though the Blue Devils won that 9-7 without scoring a touchdown.

North Carolina pulled off the biggest comeback in school history to upend Georgia Tech 38-31.

The weekend games were largely impacted by a major weather system that dumped rain on stadiums and impacted the crowd turnouts. Those fans who showed up encountered quite a bit of drama to reward their efforts to attend.

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BOSTON COLLEGE (3-2, 0-2)

Game: Duke 9, Boston College 7. The Eagles were thwarted on two late drives into Duke territory, suffering a road loss despite holding the Blue Devils without a touchdown. K Ross Martin of Duke kicked three first-half field goals, including a 53-yarder.

Takeaway: The Eagles are showing more and more muscle on defense, but they haven't developed anything close to that on the offensive end.

They're digging deeper on their depth chart at quarterback because of injuries and they've had to work the roster more at tailback as well with RB Jon Hilliman out after undergoing foot surgery.

Boston College botched a couple of plays on special teams, including a snap-to-holder issue that messed up a scoring chance for a field goal in the first half and then a missed 45-yard field goal that would have put the Eagles ahead late in the game.

QB Troy Flutie connected with WR Thadd Smith for a 66-yard touchdown play in the third quarter.

Duke rushed for 33 yards on 35 carries. Boston College's defense allowed Duke WR T.J. Rahming to make five first-half catches and then shut him down in the second half.

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The defense has been so impressive that the Eagles haven't allowed a team to rush for 100 yards in any game this season.

Wake Forest hasn't developed much of a rushing attack in general and so the Eagles could be in for another solid outing in that department. But if the offense doesn't perk up there could be more long days ahead. Boston College has a total of seven points in two ACC games.

Next: vs. Wake Forest, Oct. 10

CLEMSON (4-0, 1-0)

Game: Clemson 24, Notre Dame 22. The Tigers led throughout the game, but they needed a stop on Notre Dame's two-point conversion attempt with seven seconds remaining to claim the home victory. QB Deshaun Watson threw for two first-quarter touchdowns for Clemson, which yielded 19 fourth-quarter points, and later ran for a touchdown.

Takeaway: The Tigers have had difficulty putting away a couple of opponents but they seem capable of stepping up in big moments.

The rousing victory against Notre Dame gives the Tigers a significant result on the national stage and it sets up Clemson for countless possibilities moving forward.

It was an unusual setup in many ways because Clemson failed to reach the 300-yard mark in total offense. There could have been some conservative moments along the way because of some wet conditions.

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If not for four Notre Dame turnovers, the Tigers might have not liked the result by the end. But the Clemson defense deserves some of the credit for those developments. There will be a need to tighten up some of the pass coverages because Notre Dame receivers were picking up too much yardage late in the game.

Next: vs. Georgia Tech, Oct. 10

DUKE (4-1, 2-0)

Game: Duke 9, Boston College 7. K Ross Martin made three first-half field goals and Duke's defense made those hold up in an ACC home victory. Duke fended off two Boston College advances in Blue Devils territory in the fourth quarter, benefitted from a missed 45-yard field goal at the end of the first of those two possessions.

Takeaway: The Blue devils have played half of their ACC home schedule and they've come away victories despite some offensive malfunctions that might not be getting any better.

The offense has become a sore point in the second halves of both conference victories. This time much of those problems extended throughout the game as the Blue Devils manage only 33 rushing yards on 35 carries.

QB Thomas Sirk completed 18 of 36 passes, but despite a rather mundane percentage he didn't throw an interception. Duke was turnover free in the Boston College game.

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Duke's defense rose to the occasion throughout the game, preventing a completed pass for Boston College during the first half.

Duke is 4-1 in consecutive seasons for the first time since the 1960s. That's another sign that despite some of the struggles in games, the Blue Devils have learned what it takes to pull out victories.

Next: at Army, Oct. 10

FLORIDA STATE (4-0, 2-0)

Game: Florida State 24, Wake Forest 16. Florida State DB Tyler Hunter intercepted a pass in the end zone with 21 seconds left as the Seminoles won the ACC road game despite not scoring in the final 22 1/2 minutes. RB Dalvin Cook had a 94-yard touchdown run in the first quarter but left later in the quarter with a leg injury and didn't return.

Takeaway: The Seminoles have allowed their defense to carry the bulk of the load in two ACC road victories. Now they're done with half of their conference road assignments, but they're still in search of consistency and more explosive plays on offense.

The defense has been good enough for the Seminoles, though they hadn't allowed a touchdown to Wake Forest in the previous three years. That streak ended in the second quarter of the latest meeting.

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If Cook's absence is long term, there will have to be others ready to step into more productive roles. He was hobbling after making a pass reception and it appeared to be a non-contact injury.

RB Johnathan Vickers seems to be the most likely candidate for more opportunities if Cook is out of the lineup. He ran for a 9-yard touchdown against Wake Forest, but he had only 10 carries in the game.

One of the troubling issues for Florida State was having only 52 snaps on offense.

Florida State has won 26 consecutive games against ACC competition.

Next: vs. Miami, Oct. 10

GEORGIA TECH (2-3, 0-2)

Game: North Carolina 38, Georgia Tech 31. Georgia Tech surrendered 21 consecutive points in the second half as it was unable to protect an early 21-point lead in what became the largest comeback in the North Carolina' program's history. QB Justin Thomas had a pair of 1-yard touchdown runs and a touchdown pass but that couldn't prevent the Yellow Jackets' third consecutive loss.

Takeaway: The Yellow Jackets can identify lots of shortcomings in a miserable second half against North Carolina, but the problems began before that.

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North Carolina's 14 points in the final 90 seconds of the first half set the tone for what was to come. Without created a ball-control offense that dictates a game's tempo, Georgia Tech has learned it's not equipped to handle so many defensive assignments.

A pair of turnovers was particularly costly for Georgia Tech, while it didn't do much to help itself with some plays on special teams either. Thomas fumbled one play before North Carolina took its first lead of the game.

For all the attention that Georgia Tech's rushing attack receives, it was outgained on the ground by North Carolina (231 yards to 225). The Yellow Jackets scored only three points in the game's final 25 minutes.

Next: at Clemson, Oct. 10

LOUISVILLE (2-3, 1-1)

Game: Louisville 20, N.C. State 13. QB Lamar Jackson ran for 121 yards, including a 68-yard sprint for a touchdown for the game's first points, as the Cardinals never trailed in toppling previously undefeated N.C. State. The first true road outing was successful for Louisville largely becomes of a defense that held the Wolfpack to 45 rushing yards.

Takeaway: The Cardinals mixed up their quarterbacks a few times, but mostly it was Jackson at the controls and he has proven to have the ability to make big plays.

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On top of the positive result at N.C. State, the Cardinals dealt with a road environment and some miserable conditions as the rain and wind were factors.

It added up to an impressive outing for a team that was desperate to have a noteworthy accomplishment on its ledger.

QB Reggie Bonnafon gave the Cardinals a different look in the backfield at times, but it was mostly Jackson who seems to have a good grasp on the first-team spot even if at times coach Bobby Petrino seemed perturbed by some of the decisions.

The Cardinals will have a week to add to their playbook before playing Florida State. That might be a more comfortable break in the schedule while coming off back-to-back victories and seeming to have established a better plan with the offensive personnel.

Next: at Florida State, Oct. 17

MIAMI (3-1, 0-0)

Game: Cincinnati 34, Miami 23. The Hurricanes went sour in the second half on offense, producing only three points in the road loss. QB Hayden Moore of Cincinnati threw for two touchdowns and rushed for another in his first career start.

Takeaway: The Hurricanes couldn't take advantage of some of Cincinnati's injuries and lost for the first time this season.

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Even when Miami is moving well on offense, there tends to be untimely glitches. K Michael Badgley kicked three field goals against Cincinnati, giving him eight across a two-game period.

QB Brad Kaaya racked up some good numbers for Miami, but his 24 completions (on 39 attempts) didn't include a touchdown pass.

Losing these types of games is troubling for a Miami program that can't seem to get back close to the level of its glory days. Cincinnati lost two games in September, yet Miami couldn't pounce on a team that might have been wobbling.

It's unclear at this point what will fully define the Hurricanes. They'll have a chance to make amends right away because their next game comes against undefeated Florida State.

Next: at Florida State, Oct. 10

NORTH CAROLINA (4-1, 1-0)

Game: North Carolina 38, Georgia Tech 31. QB Marquise Williams ran for two touchdowns and was on the receiving end of a go-ahead pass play in the fourth quarter as the Tar Heels won in Atlanta for the first time in 18 years. They overcame a 21-0 deficit in posting the largest comeback for victory in program history.

Takeaway: With all the chatter about the quarterback position, it looks like Williams re-established himself with a strong second half.

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The Tar Heels really turned the game around with a 14-point burst in the final 90 seconds of the first half.

North Carolina rolled up more than 400 yards of offense, so that had to be a good feeling for an offense that sometimes has been a bit uneasy.

Williams was benched in the second half of a game a week earlier against Delaware, but his response was something to applaud.

The Tar Heels take a four-game winning streak into an open week on the schedule. They've already had two significant responses this season because they've recovered from a frustrating season-opening loss to South Carolina along with the comeback against Georgia Tech.

Next: vs. Wake Forest, Oct. 17

N.C. STATE (4-1, 0-1)

Game: Louisville 20, N.C. State 13. The Wolfpack had problems getting on track offensively and was harmed by two turnovers in the home loss to open its ACC schedule. QB Lamar Jackson ran for a touchdown and threw for a touchdown for Louisville, which was playing its first true road game.

Takeaway: The Wolfpack had been rolling past overmatched opponents, so it was expected there would be more resistance in the ACC opener.

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But a lack of ability to run the ball had to be the most disturbing part. N.C. State was listed with 45 rushing yards, with that total hindered because of QB Jacoby Brissett's lost yardage on three sacks.

N.C. State's offense came unglued too often, particularly considering one of the team's two touchdowns came with the need to go only 5 yards after a long kickoff return.

Brissett wasn't as sharp as usual, completing only 16 of 28 throws after entering the game with the country's best completion percentage of above 77 percent.

The offensive line has been hampered by a couple of injuries and those absences became more critical when the level of competition rose.

RB Matt Dayes had eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark in each of the first four games. He was limited to 68 yards on 19 carries, though one of those went for a 3-yard touchdown.

N.C. State's offense will be without RB Shadrach Thornton for the rest of the season. The senior was dismissed from the team following another in a series of arrests. He played in the team's third and fourth games after beginning the season serving a suspension.

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Next: at Virginia Tech, Oct. 9

PITTSBURGH (3-1, 1-0)

Game: Pittsburgh 17, Virginia Tech 13. QB Nate Peterman threw for a touchdown pass and the Panthers never trailed in the ACC road victory. The defense came up huge time and time again, holding the Hokies to 100 yards of total offense.

Takeaway: If the word leaked out that the Panthers would have to rely on defense, it's a good thing that the defenders received the message.

The offense has been sloppy at times in the first month of the season as the Panthers sort out several areas, not to mention finding more reliable running backs.

There also have been questions about the quarterback position, but perhaps Peterman is putting some of those to rest. He was efficient if nothing else against Virginia Tech.

Still, there's the matter of making defenders respect the passing attack with Peterman at the controls. The Panthers have received a boost from RB Qadree Ollison, who picked up 122 yards and scored a touchdown in the Virginia Tech game.

The Panthers figured to have worked on some new material for the offense during the open week on their schedule. The wet conditions might have limited some of any new-found creativity, so perhaps that can be used for another day.

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Next: vs. Virginia, Oct. 10

SYRACUSE (3-1, 1-0)

Game: Didn't play this week.

Takeaway: The Orange probably needed the break after a 34-24 loss to LSU.

The game was closer than many observers predicted, but that left the Orange wondering if a few more plays went in a favorable direction what the outcome could have been.

The Orange needs time to figure out its quarterback situation. Walk-on transfer Zach Mahoney has done a commendable job for the last two games, but the return of freshman Eric Dungey would give the team more flexibility.

Dungey guided the team to two victories before he was injured with a concussion in the team's third game. He missed the LSU game, but with the open week that could be enough time to get him back into playing condition. Syracuse coach Scott Shaffer has been noncommittal regarding Dungey's status.

The visit to South Florida will be Syracuse's first road game of the season. It's a matchup with a former Big East Conference opponent.

With a rugged slate in the ACC's Atlantic Division awaiting, a victory in this non-league venture could be crucial to the Orange's postseason hopes.

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Next: at South Florida, Oct. 10

VIRGINIA (1-3, 0-0)

Game: Didn't play this week.

Takeaway: The Cavaliers have taken time to regroup from a brutal stretch that included losses to currently ranked teams UCLA, Notre Dame and Boise State.

The open week might have been refreshing as Virginia prepares to embark on eight consecutive conference games.

"Conference games start and there is a level of confidence of guys that know that they've played and they have played against some of the best teams in the country," coach Mike London said. "Now it's up to us to execute what we need to do to be very, very competitive and win games."

London's status has been much-discussed given that the Cavaliers seem to be in a rut and this has been considered a crucial season in terms of his job security.

Some of the practice time during the open week was dedicated to special teams because those are areas that could give the Cavaliers boosts if there's improvement evident.

Next: at Pittsburgh, Oct. 10

VIRGINIA TECH (2-3, 0-1)

Game: Pittsburgh 17, Virginia Tech 13. The Hokies managed only 100 yards of offense in the home loss to begin ACC play. QB Brenden Motley was sacked seven times and intercepted three times.

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Takeaway: The Hokies were dreadful on offense and not all of that had to do with miserable playing conditions in the loss to Pittsburgh.

Virginia Tech has lost in back-to-back weeks and there's a short turnaround for the next game that comes on a Friday night.

Two long field goals from K Joey Slye were all the Hokies could manage in the second half. Their passing attack has taken a hit with second-stringer Motley called upon in the wake of QB Michael Brewer's injury. But this doesn't mean the rushing component of the offense had to go completely off the tracks.

The latest setback left the Hokies in a particularly surly mood and it has put them in an uphill climb in the ACC's Coastal Division right from the get-go.

Sacks cost Virginia Tech a total of 57 yards, leaving the Hokies with a paltry 9 yards of rushing offense. Even without the negative plays, there wasn't enough push from the offensive line to generate enough to keep the Panthers honest.

The Hokies sputtered frequently last year and they could be headed back to that trend unless they find ways to unleash the offense.

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Next: vs. N.C. State, Oct. 9

WAKE FOREST (2-3, 0-2)

Game: Florida State 24, Wake Forest 16. Wake Forest battled back with a pair of fourth-quarter field goals from K Mike Weaver before a last-possession effort ended with an interception in the end zone. QB Kendall Hinton, a true freshman, completed 27 of 42 passes in starting an ACC game for the first time.

Takeaway: The Demon Deacons could see their progress but they were frustrated by the result in the home loss to nationally ranked Florida State.

A year ago, Wake Forest lost by 40 points to the Seminoles. So this was a much improved situation even though they lost for the ninth time in 10 ACC games across two seasons under coach Dave Clawson.

"They went head-to-head with the team that won the ACC the last three years," Clawson said of his team.

Aside from the result, there was quite a bit to take pride in from the Wake Forest perspective. The Demon Deacons had more first downs (27-14) and more yards of total offense (357-329) than Florida State.

Hinton showed more flashes that he's a weapon on offense. The question for his status could come with QB John Wolford likely to be ready for full duty after an ankle injury kept him out of one game entirely and most of the Florida State game.

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Clawson has indicated that if Wolford's fully healthy that he would be back in the role as the starter.

Next: at Boston College, Oct. 10

NOTES, QUOTES

--Nothing might have been more precious for the ACC collectively as Clemson's victory against Notre Dame.

ACC teams have come up short in an array of non-conference assignments and so the Tigers' ability to knock off a Top 10 team served as a level of validity. It was particularly important because it came at home.

"By far the best team that we've seen in a while," Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said of Notre Dame.

Clemson remained undefeated, keeping that status along with Florida State. The ACC lost two teams from the unbeaten ranks during the past week, with Miami tumbling at Cincinnati and North Carolina State faltering in its ACC debut against Louisville.

So barely into October, it's down to two unbeaten ACC teams. Miami and Virginia have yet to start ACC competition, but they'll have a heavy dose of that the rest of the way.

Teams are settling into mostly a routine of conference games, so there won't be many more chances for breakthrough victories until a weekend late in the season. Because of that, it made Clemson's conquest valuable to the ACC as a whole.

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--The ACC is looking surprisingly defensive through slightly more than one-third of the season for most teams.

Defenses appear ahead of offenses for a bunch of the teams, with clearly Boston College, Duke, Florida State, Louisville, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest falling into that category.

For Duke, which won its first two ACC games, it's a source of pride for the defense.

"We have a full, collective team," linebacker Dwayne Norman said. "We don't have to depend on one unit to win a game."

Duke didn't score a touchdown and still defeated Boston College. Florida State went more than 86 consecutive minutes -- mostly against ACC opposition -- without yielding a point.

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney rattled off some of the defensive-oriented teams in the ACC and figures it has been a growing trend.

"It's just getting tougher and tougher each year," Swinney said. "I think you've got to be strong on defense if ultimately you're going to be one of those better teams out there."

--Among the trends within the ACC could be some conservative tendencies, particularly late in games.

ACC teams seem more inclined to simply hang on. Consider that during the past weekend that Duke, Florida State, Louisville and Pittsburgh won ACC games without scoring in the fourth quarter.

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Clemson won its showdown with Notre Dame despite being outscored 19-3 in the fourth quarter.

Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher bemoaned some penalties that were costly in preventing the Seminoles from extending their lead on Wake Forest.

"It wasn't smart football and let them back in the game," Fisher said.

Aside from the North Carolina-Georgia Tech game, there was a total of nine points scored in the fourth quarter of the other four games that were strictly ACC matchups. So there were no fourth-quarter touchdowns in those other four games.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I said, 'If I drop this, I'll never be able to go back to Chapel Hill.'" -- QB Marquise Williams of North Carolina on his third career touchdown reception, each of those passes thrown by WR Quinshad Davis. The latest scoring catch for Williams provided the go-ahead points in a comeback victory at Georgia Tech.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

FIVE BIGGEST TAKEAWAYS FROM WEEK 5 IN THE ACC:

1. Clemson has raised the excitement level, even if that means squeaking out a victory that it once seemed to have clearly in hand against Notre dame.

2. Duke is getting it done defensively and that has made the Blue Devils the early leaders atop the Coastal Division standings.

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3. Discussion of North Carolina State's soft non-conference might have proven true because the Wolfpack was stymied at many key junctures during the loss to Louisville in its ACC opener.

4. Georgia Tech is in a two-game hole in the ACC and that's before the meat of its conference schedule kicks into gear.

5. Miami's loss at Cincinnati came in non-league competition, but it looms large in the terms of perception for the ACC along with knocking the Hurricanes off the list of undefeated teams.

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