ACC

ACC Football News and Notes: BC Eagles run all over NC St

By John Doucette

Posted on October 23, 2019

It was quite a weekend worth of games in the Athletic Coast Conference. Impressive performances by Boston College, Clemson, and Wake Forest highlighted the weekend’s play. Here is a look at what went on in the ACC.

In what could be described as one of the best rushing games of the season, the Boston College Eagles ran through and around the defense of the North Carolina State Wolfpack to the tune of 429 yards on 60 attempts. They would average 7.2 yards per carry and scored all five of their touchdowns on the ground. A.J. Dillon ran for 224 yards on 34 attempts and scored three times. His nine rushing touchdowns lead the conference as does his average of 138 yards per game, which is also second in all of FBS. His running mate, David Bailey, was named ACC Running Back of the Week. Bailey went for 182 yards on the ground and scored twice on runs of 54, 48 yards. The 429 yards are the second most gained on the ground during the Steve Addazio era. Offensive lineman, Zion Johnson, was named ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week for the job he did in helping to open big holes for the backs to run through all day long.

Boston College’s next game will be a stiff test on the road at Clemson on Saturday night. The Tigers won their 22nd straight game last weekend vs Louisville. The defense recorded six sacks vs the Cardinals. Two shy of their season-high against Syracuse back in September. The Tigers have now posted multiple sacks in 15 consecutive games for the first time since the 2012-13 season.

Despite the loss at the hands of the Eagles last weekend, North Carolina State has been a pretty good red-zone offense so far this year. Through seven games, the Wolfpack have converted on 17 touchdowns and 11 field goals in the red zone. In its first 16 first and goal situations, N.C. State has scored 11 touchdowns and three field goals. Not turning the ball over has been a big reason for the success the team is having. Through seven games the Wolfpack has turned the ball over only six times which places them in the top 10 in FBS.

However, they have created the same number of turnovers as they have given up five. That places them 112th in the FBS. Opponents have lost just two of six fumbles and thrown just six picks on the year. Against the Eagles, N.C. State did not force a turnover all game.

Virginia scored 48 points in their home win vs Duke. It’s the most by a Cavaliers team in an ACC game since they scored 48 in a loss at Duke back in 2010. It’s the most in a conference win since scoring 48 at Miami in 2007.

Georgia Tech scored a season-high 28 points in their win over Miami last week. Running back, Jordan Mason, made it back to back weeks of going over 100 hundred yards on the ground. He ran for a career-high 141 vs the Hurricanes after going for 106 yards the week before vs Duke.

Wake Forest placekicker, Nick Sciba, made all five of his field-goal attempts in last Saturday’s win vs Florida State. He has now made 23 consecutive field goals, best in the nation. He was named Specialist of the Week in the league. For the 5th time this season wide receiver Sage Surratt was named Receiver of the Week in the ACC.

Next week, we will have more from the Atlantic Coast Conference.