Week 9

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ajoytoy

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YTD: 65-61-2
LW: 14-15

Early leans for this week:0corn

Temple
Auburn
Air Force
Boise
MD:nono:
Minny
BC
Wisc
Miss
Ball St.
Vandy
Bama
Uva
Texas
Ga
MSU
S. Fla
T. Tech
PSU
USC
 
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ajoytoy

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Florida State Takes 26-17 Victory Over Wolfpack

Florida State Takes 26-17 Victory Over Wolfpack

Florida State Takes 26-17 Victory Over Wolfpack


BY TIM PEELER



RALEIGH, N.C. ? Playing with a restocked lineup from its early-season injuries, NC State sparred all night long against Florida State before eventually falling 26-17 in front of a sold-out crowd at Carter-Finley Stadium.



The Wolfpack ? which welcomed back linebacker Nate Irving, defensive tackle Alan-Michael Cash and tight end Anthony Hill ? jumped out to a quick 10-0 lead in the first quarter and went ahead 17-13 on the first play of the fourth quarter.



But Florida State (5-1 overall, 2-1 ACC) scored 13 unanswered points in the fourth quarter, taking the lead for good on a 17-yard swing pass from quarterback Christian Ponder to freshman wide receiver Bert Reed with 10:40 remaining in the game. The Seminoles then added a pair of field goals from Graham Gano, a 44-yarder with 4:33 remaining and a 53-yarder with 1:53 left on the game clock to post the final margin of victory.



The Wolfpack (2-5, 0-3) was in the game until it gave the ball away on downs with three minutes to play.



?It? a tough loss for our football team,? said Wolfpack coach Tom O?Brien. ?The game was decided on third down. We couldn?t get off the field and we couldn?t stay on the field.?



The Wolfpack converted only one of its nine third-down opportunities, while the Seminoles converted 10 of 17. The Seminoles had 80 offensive plays to the Wolfpack?s 47 and had 16:30 more in time of possession throughout the game. In both the second and fourth quarters, FSU had the ball twice as long as the Wolfpack.



?I thought the kids played hard,? O?Brien said. ?We made the most of our offensive plays, but we were on the field too much on defense. We?re on a journey. We have a lot of young kids who are trying to learn to play hard.?



State took a 17-13 lead on the first play of the fourth quarter on a 67-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Russell Wilson to wide receiver Owen Spencer. Spencer got behind the FSU defense and raced into the end zone untouched for his second long touchdown reception in as many games. The sophomore from Leland, N.C., had a 61-yard touchdown reception from Wilson last week against Boston College.



The Seminoles took their first lead of the game on the first possession of the second half, when tailback Antone Smith broke free on a 27-yard rush for FSU?s first touchdown of the game, with 10:29 remaining in the third quarter.



The Pack built an early lead thanks to the legs of tailbacks Andre Brown and Jamelle Eugene, who reeled off three double-digit-yard runs between them to put their team in scoring position. Sophomore Josh Czajkowski booted a 24-yard field goal to give State a 3-0 lead with 3:49 remaining in the first quarter.



On the Wolfpack?s second drive, Hill scored his first touchdown since 2005 on a wide-open 20-yard pass from quarterback Russell Wilson, capping off a 62-yard drive with 14:12 remaining in the first half to give the Pack a 10-0 lead.



The Seminoles answered with a pair of 37-yard second-quarter field goals by Gano, the second of which came as time expired before halftime.



The Wolfpack defense welcomed back Cash and Irving, who have both been saddled with injuries. But Irving reinjured himself in the second quarter and may miss more time in coming weeks.



On a positive note, the Wolfpack finished without a turnover for the second consecutive game, the first time that has happened since 2002.



The Wolfpack returns to action next Saturday with its first road trip in more than a month when it travels to Maryland for a 3:30 p.m. game against the Terrapins at Byrd Stadium. The contest will be broadcast by ESPN360.



?There is a lot left in this football season and there is a lot left this football team can accomplish,? O?Brien said. ?They are obviously dejected right now, but we can get this thing headed in the right direction.?



NOTES: Among the many honorees at the prime-time game were Olympic swimmers Cullen Jones, a gold-medal winner for the United States at the 2008 Beijing Games, and Dan Velez, who represented Puerto Rico. They were honored at a pregame reception by NC State swimming coach Brooks Teal, NC State provost Larry Nielsen, Wolfpack Club executive director Bobby Purcell and NC State athletics director Lee Fowler and on the field during the first quarter. Jones was scheduled to lead the pre-game Walk of Champions in front of the Murphy Center, but was stuck in North Carolina State Fair traffic on Trinity Road and was unable to attend. ... Also recognized were the three inaugural inductees in the NC State Baseball Hall of Fame: former coach Sam Esposito, slugger Chris Cammack and pitcher Mike Caldwell. All three were instrumental in helping the Wolfpack finish third in the 1968 College World Series, the school?s only appearance at the CWS. All members of that team were also recognized during halftime ceremonies. Among the people on the field to celebrate Esposito?s inauguration were several former Wolfpack basketball players, including All-Americans David Thompson and Tommy Burleson. Esposito was a basketball assistant for Norm Sloan from 1967-76. ... In the first half, the Wolfpack Club honored the family of John Ripple, the state of North Carolina?s first football All-American. Ripple was named second-team All-America by Walter Camp in 1918. His widow?s estate endowed a $100,000 scholarship for future NC State student-athletes. The Ripple family was represented by his daughter, Joan Ripple Clark. ... Women?s basketball coach Kay Yow presented her 2008-09 team during a third-quarter timeout.
 
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PEELER: O'Brien Looks for Third-Down Solutions

PEELER: O'Brien Looks for Third-Down Solutions

PEELER: O'Brien Looks for Third-Down Solutions

BY TIM PEELER



RALEIGH, N.C. ? At every Wednesday afternoon football practice, NC State coach Tom O?Brien and his team work on possible third-down scenarios: third-and-short, third-and-medium and third-and-long.



It?s the first team offense against the first team defense, with the goal that both will get better through head-to-head competition.



?It?s a real point of emphasis for us,? O?Brien said Monday at his weekly press conference.



But, just moments after Thursday night?s 26-17 loss to Florida State at Carter-Finley Stadium, O?Brien identified his team?s poor performance on third down was the primary reason the Wolfpack (2-5 overall, 0-3 ACC) was not able to hold on for a victory in a game it had led 17-14 early in the fourth quarter.



The Wolfpack offense was 1-for-9 on third-down opportunities, while the defense allowed Florida State to convert 10 of 17 chances, including first downs on third-and-14, third-and-17 and third-and-21.



?I spent a lot of Saturday afternoon looking at the last month of what we did on third down,? O?Brien said. ?There are things we can certainly coach better and play better. We continue to do those things to try to get those guys to do what they have to do to get off the field and to stay on the field.?



The coach is looking for a little anger from his defense, which was on the field for 80 plays against the Seminoles.



?It should be aggravating to them when the other teams convert those third downs,? O?Brien said. ?It should make them mad. If they want to get off the field, that?s the best time to make it happen.



?Historically, the defense has about a 75 percent chance of winning those kinds of battles. They have to be able to get off the field and get it done.?



O?Brien continues to make adjustments on the Wolfpack defense. He moved redshirt freshman defensive end Jeff Rieskamp, senior defensive tackle Keith Willis Jr. and cornerback Koyal George into the starting lineup against Florida State. Rieskamp and Willis will remain as starters for Saturday?s game at Maryland (5-2, 2-1), according to the depth chart the coach released Monday.



The contest, televised by ESPN360, is slated to kickoff at 3:30 p.m. at Byrd Stadium.



For the season, State?s defense is ranked 12th in the ACC in third-down conversions allowed (43.4 percent). The offense is ranked 11th in third-down conversions made (28.4 percent). Florida State, meanwhile, ranks No. 1 in both categories.



Otherwise, O?Brien continues to gain confidence in his team, which is gradually becoming more healthy after a series of pre- and early-season injuries. Both defensive tackle Alan-Michael Cash and linebacker Nate Irving returned to the Wolfpack defense. Irving later left the game after re-injuring his ankle and his status for the Maryland game will be determined later this week.



Offensive lineman Curtis Crouch returned from his foot injury and senior tight end Anthony Hill made his first start since the season-opener and caught his first touchdown pass of the year.



?The kids have played well the last two weeks, just not well enough to win the football game,? O?Brien said.



Now, after a four-game home-stand, the Wolfpack hits the road to face the Terrapins, who are coming off an impressive 26-0 upset of No. 21 Wake Forest last weekend at Byrd Stadium.



?Maryland has been its best at home this season,? O?Brien said. ?They have a lot of experience and it is a senior-heavy football team with a quarterback that is playing at a high level, which generally means it is capable of being a championship-caliber football team.?
 
Irish

Irish

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OH
Toy,
Really like your card this week... I am leaning on the majority of your plays.. that might be bad news for you.

Cheers
Irish
 
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Master Capper said:
appreciate all your weekly info on the ACC, as it has been one of my tougher leagues to gauge. Good luck this week.
Click to expand...

This Week in ACC Football: Week 9

Five conference games highlight Saturday's action.



Oct. 21, 2008


Week Nine of the Road to Tampa Bay begins with a four-way tie for the lead in the ACC?s Atlantic Division race: Boston College, Florida State, Maryland and Wake Forest each have a 2-1 ACC record. On the other side of the ACC Championship bracket, three teams are within a half game of each other in the Coastal Division with 21st-ranked (AP) Georgia Tech leading at 3-1, a half-game ahead of Virginia Tech (2-1) and Virginia (2-1).

Three games this week feature inter-divisional matchups:

# 23rd-ranked Boston College, winner of four straight, travels to North Carolina for a noon contest with the Tar Heels at Kenan Stadium (Raycom Sports). The Eagles feature an improving offense led by quarterback Chris Crane and a stingy defense headed by linebacker Mark Herzlich. The Tar Heels are seeking to bounce back from last week?s overtime loss at Virginia. They are led by wide receiver Hakeem Nicks and tailback Shane Draughn, who rushed for a career-high 138 yards against UVa.

# Virginia Tech travels to Tallahassee, Fla., for a 3:30 p.m. game against 24th-ranked Florida State that will be regionally televised by ABC (shown elsewhere on ESPN2). The Hokies scored twice on defense last week, including CB Victor Harris? fourth career interception return for a score. FSU counters with an improving offense led by quarterback Christian Ponder and tailback Antone Smith, who leads the ACC in scoring.

# The third inter-divisional game has Wake Forest on the road for the second straight week as the Deacons head to Miami to face the Hurricanes in a noon game at Dolphin Stadium (ESPNU). Wake is looking to jump start its offense, which did not score against Maryland last week. Miami, led by quarterback Jacory Harris? four touchdown passes last week, is hoping to build on its momentum after defeating the Blue Devils in Durham.





There are also two important intradivisional games on the slate:

# Virginia, fresh off its overtime upset win against North Carolina, travels to Atlanta for a 3:30 p.m. (ESPNU) clash against Coastal Division leader Georgia Tech. The Cavaliers have won three straight behind the play of quarterback Mark Verica and tailback Cedric Peerman, while the Yellow Jackets have won four straight behind an opportunistic defense, led by Michael Johnson, and running back Jonathan Dwyer, who has five 100-yard rushing efforts in seven games this year.

# In the Atlantic Division, Maryland, hoping to achieve consistency after last week?s 26-0 win over Wake Forest, hosts NC State in a 3:30 p.m. contest at Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium (ESPN360). The Terps are led by big play receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey and quarterback Chris Turner. Maryland is led by quarterback Russell Wilson and defensive end Willie Young.

The ACC also puts its 32-10 non-conference record on the line when Duke travels to Nashville, Tenn., for a 3 p.m. game against Vanderbilt. The Blue Devils, with quarterback Thaddeus Lewis at the helm, are looking to turn things around against the much-improved Commodores (5-2).
 
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Boston College
Boston College?s defense--led by LB
Mark Herzlich, who had a game-high
13 tackles--held Virginia Tech without an
offensive touchdown in its 28-23 win...
That marked the third time Boston College
has held an opponent without an offensive
TD this year, as BC shut out both
Kent State and Rhode Island...The Eagles
lead the nation in pass effi ciency defense, are 4th in total defense
and 11th in scoring defense...Herzlich is on the watch list
for the Lott Trophy...Boston College QB Chris Crane, who
had 470 yards of total offense against NC State tied former
Duke standout Dave Brown for the 15th-highest amount in
ACC history, currently ranks 3rd in the ACC in total offense
(197)...BC currently has the nation?s best 20-game winning
streak against non-conference competition...WR Rich Gunnell
had 11 receptions against NC State for 123 yards...he also
returned a punt 65 yards for a TD against Virginia Tech and
ranks 3rd in the ACC in punt returns...Freshman RB Montel
Harris, who has rushed for over 100 yards in two of his four
collegiate games, is in 8th in the ACC in rushing.

Clemson
Clemson interim head coach Dabo Swinney
made his debut as a head coach for
the Tigers against Georgia Tech, replacing
Tommy Bowden...Redshirt freshman
QB Willy Korn became the 12th ACC
quarterback to make his career starting
debut this year against the Yellow Jackets...
Korn, though, was injured in the fi rst quarter and was
forced to leave the game...Senior QB Cullen Harper fi nished
the game, completing 15 of 25 passes for 170 yards and 2
TDs...WR Aaron Kelly had 7 receptions for 122 yards and
two scores...Against the Yellow Jackets, Kelly became the
fi fth ACC receiver to catch 200 passes in his career, and now
needs just 17 more to break the ACC career standard currently
held by former Wake Forest standout Desmond Clark (216)...
Kelly also now has 2,395 career receiving yards, good enough
for 19th on the ACC career list...TB James Davis moved into
14th place on the ACC career rushing list with 3,556 yards...
He is also in sole possession of 8th place on the ACC career
lists for total TDs (43) and rushing TDs (41)...Davis (3,556)
and TB C.J. Spiller (2,020) have combined to rush for 5,576
career yards. ..Spiller has 3 career KO returns for scores,
including a 96-yarder against Alabama.FS Michael Hamlin,

Florida State
For the second straight week, QB Christian
Ponder topped the 280-yard mark in
total offense...Ponder, who accounted for
303 yards of total offense against Miami,
generated 283 yards in FSU?s win over
NC State...Against Miami, Ponder rushed
for 144 yards, the 2nd-most ever by an
FSU QB and the 6th best by an ACC QB...TB Antone Smith
ran for a career-high 4 TDs against Miami and currently leads
the ACC in touchdowns (11) and scoring (11.0)...He is in 6th
place nationally in scoring...Smith needs 54 yards rushing
to top the 2,000-yard mark for his career...FSU?s defense is
ranked 7th nationally in rushing defense, 3rd in total defense,
18th in pass effi ciency defense and 17th in scoring defense...
FSU also ranks 16th nationally in tackles for loss, led by
LB Derek Nicholson, who is tied for 16th nationally....PK
Graham Gano has a current streak of 10 consecutive fi eld
goals, including three of more than 50 yards...His only miss
came from over 50 yards ...CB Tony Carter, who has 5 TDs
by return in his career and also returned a blocked kick for a
defensive conversion, now has 11 interceptions for his career...
CB Michael Ray Garvin?s 94-yard KO return for a TD
against Colorado is the 2nd non-offensive TD of his career...
Last year he returned an interception 43 yards for a score.
against NC State.

Maryland
WR Darrius Heyward-Bey had a careerhigh
11 catches for 101 yards against
Wake Forest including a 9-yd TD catch...
TE Dan Gronkowski, who is on the preseason
watch list for the John Mackey
Award, was also named a semifi nalist
for the National Football Foundation?s
Draddy Award, which is given to the nation?s top football
scholar-athlete...QB Chris Turner topped 300 yards passing
for the 2nd time in his career and the 200-yard mark for
the 11th time, throwing for 321 yards against Wake Forest...
Turner currently leads the ACC in passing effi ciency and is
2nd in passing yardage (186)...In his last fi ve games, Turner
has completed 94 of 147 passes, a .639 completion percentage
and a passing effi ciency rating of 135.28 ...LB Alex Wujciak
leads all ACC tacklers in Conference games, averaging 12.7
tackles in ACC games...Wujciak currently ranks 2nd in the
ACC in tackles in all games, averaging 9.3 hits per game...
DT Jeremy Navarre has started in 43 straight games and
had two pass defl ections against Wake Forest...TB Da?Rel
Scott, who is 2nd the ACC in rushing, averaging 92.5 yards
per game, added a new wrinkle to his resume against Wake
Forest, tossing a 9-yard TD pass to WR Darrius Heyward-Bey.

NC State
Over his last two games, Sophomore WR
Owen Spencer has 6 pass receptions for
184 yards--a 30.6 yards per catch average-
-and TD catches of 61 and 67 yards... NC
State freshman T.J. Graham has returned
27 kickoffs a total of 736 yards, an average
of 27.3 yards per return...After just seven games, Graham has
set an NC State school record for season kickoff return yardage
and his total is the 17th-best mark in ACC history...His
100-yard TD return against BC on Oct. 5 is the longest in the
ACC this year...Graham ranks 2nd this week in the ACC in
all-purpose yards, averaging 140.5 yards a game and is 14th
nationally in kickoff returns...Redshirt freshman QB Russell
Wilson returned after missing the South Florida game with
an injury and has completed 32 of 58 passes for 397 yards
and 3 TDs in his last two games...A pass effi ciency rating of
139.3...In all, he has 5 TDR in his last two games...PK John
Czajkowski has made 7 of 9 fi eld goal attempts and 14 of
15 PATs...TB Andre Brown now has rushed for 2,147 yards
in his career...DE Willie Young managed 2 QB sacks and 3
tackles for loss against Florida State...State?s win against then
15th-ranked East Carolina on Sept. 20 was the highest-ranked
opponent defeated by the Wolfpack since State downed 9thranked
Florida State in 2005.

Wake Forest
Saturday?s shutout at the hands of Maryland
marked the fi rst whitewashing in
the Jim Grobe Era and the fi rst time the
Deacons had failed to score in 124 games,
or the opening game of the 1998 season...
Despite an off day at College Park, QB
Riley Skinner still leads the ACC in
passing and total offense, and is 2nd in the league in passing
effi ciency...Earlier this year against Clemson, Skinner
led Wake to the fi fth fourth-quarter comeback victory in his
career... For his career he has completed 545 of 798 passes, a
68.3 completion percentage, currently the best in the ACC...
CB Alphonso Smith made his 17th career pass interception
against Clemson, setting up a third-quarter fi eld goal for the
Deacons...Smith is now tied with 5 others, including former
Wake standout A.J. Greene, for 3rd place on the ACC?s career
interception list...Smith, on the watch lists for the Bednarik,
Thorpe, Nagurski and Walter Camp Awards, leads the ACC
and is 2nd in the nation in passes defended with 2 INTs and 6
defl ections...PK Sam Swank, who missed the Clemson and
Maryland games with a quadricep injury, currently has 70
career fi eld goals putting him into a tie for 2nd place on the
ACC?s career list with former Clemson PK Nelson Welch.
 
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Duke
S Adrian Aye-Darko?s two interceptions
against Miami moved him into a tie for
14th place nationally in pass interceptions
with three in six games...LB Michael
Tauiliili continues to be the leading tackler
in the ACC after making 9 tackles in
Duke?s 49-31 loss to Miami...Tauiliili is
ranked 6th nationally in tackles per game, averaging 11.00...
Earlier this year, he was named the Walter Camp National
Defensive Player of the Week for his play against Virginia
on Sept. 29...QB Thaddeus Lewis ranks 5th in the ACC in
passing yards (211.2), 5th in passing effi ciency and 4th in
total offense...Lewis had a streak of 206 passes without an
interception snapped on the fi rst play from scrimmage against
Virginia....Lewis has thrown for 5,665 yards in his career, the
7th Blue Devil to go over 5,000 yards passing...He is 6th on
the Duke career list and now 29th on the ACC career list...
Over the past two years, Lewis has hooked up with WR Eron
Riley for 7 TD passes against Navy...Riley leads the ACC
in scoring pass receptions with 6...Riley is ranked 3rd in the
ACC in receptions per game and is 6th in yards per game...
CB Jabari Marshall?s 42-yard interception return for a TD
against UVa, was his 2nd return for a score in his career. Last
year, he returned a kickoff 94 yards for a TD vs. UConn.

Georgia Tech
For the third straight week, Georgia
Tech?s defense held its opponent to less
than 100 yards rushing, limiting Clemson
to only 51 yards on the ground...During
that span, the Jackets have allowed Duke,
Gardner-Webb and Clemson only a total
of 160 yards on the ground, an average of
just 53.3 yards per game ..B-Back Jonathan Dwyer rushed
for over 100 yards for the 6th time in his short collegiate
career, including fi ve times this season, when he totalled 109
yards on 21 carries against Clemson...Dwyer leads the ACC
in rushing, averaging 97.7 yards per game...WR Demaryius
Thomas, who scored the game-winning TD against Clemson
on a 24-yard pass play, is 2nd in the ACC in pass reception
yardage...S Morgan Burnett?s two interceptions against
Clemson gives him fi ve for the season and has him leading
the ACC and tied for the lead nationally in interceptions...DE
Derrick Morgan ranks 2nd in the ACC in QB sacks...Tech is
ranked in the nation?s Top 10 in six team statistical categories...
The Jackets lead the nation in tackles for loss, they rank 5th in
total and scoring defense and 6th in pass effi ciency defense...
Tech also ranks 9th nationally in rushing offense.

North Carolina
LB Bruce Carter blocked his 5th kick this
year when he defl ected a UVa fi eld goal
attempt in the third quarter...Earlier this
year he blocked four consecutive punts (1
versus Miami, 3 vs. Connecticut)...In his
fi rst career start, TB Shaun Draughn had
a career-high 138 yards rushing against
Virginia...UNC defense held Virginia to just 58 yards rushing,
the second straight opponent the Tar Heels have held to
less than 100 yards rushing...LB Quan Sturdivant led all
tacklers against Virginia with 13 hits...Sturdivant?s 32-yard
interception return for a TD against Notre Dame, was the 5th
non-offensive touchdown for North Carolina this year and the
4th pass interception return for a score for the Tar Heels...UNC
leads the ACC in non-offensive touchdowns...WR Hakeem
Nicks moved into a tied for 29th place on the ACC?s career
pass receiving list with 152 pass receptions...Nicks has had 8
career 100-yard games and is 30th on the ACC?s career pass
receiving yardage list..He leads the ACC in pass reception
yardage (643) and is 2nd in receptions per game (5.57)...In his
last 4 games--two of them as a starter--junior QB Cameron
Sexton has completed 58.7 percent of his passes for 726 yards
and 3 TDs and 3 interceptions...FS Trimane Goddard is tied
for 7th nationally in pass interceptions with 4.

Virginia
In Charlottesville, they now have their
own version of ?The Drive,? a nine-play,
82-yard march in the fi nal 1:35, engineered
by QB Marc Verica that tied the game and
allowed the Cavaliers to win in overtime...
The victory was Virginia?s 14th straight in
the series in Charlottesville...Verica completed
24 of 38 passes on the day for 217 yards including seven
consecutive pass completions on the fi nal scoring march...In
his last 3 games,Verica has completed 74 of 104 passes--a
sizzling completion percentage of .711--for 659 yards and 3
TDs...Verica is one of 12 ACC QBs to make their career starting
debuts this year...He is 6th in the ACC this week in passing
effi ciency...TB Cedric Peerman, who rushed for 173 yards a
week before, had only 44 yards on the ground against UNC,
but scored both of UVa?s touchdowns...WR Kevin Ogletree
is in 3rd place in the ACC in receptions per game, averaging
5.29 catches per contest, and in yards per game... The Cavaliers
only returned fi ve starters on defense, but three of them are at
linebacker where Antonio Appleby, Jon Copper and Clint
Sintim have started 110 games among them...Sintim, named
to the Nagurski watch list, has started 44 games and leads the
ACC in QB sacks and is ranked 6th nationally...Copper led all
tacklers against UNC with 16 hits.

Miami
QB Jacory Harris came off the bench to
throw 4 TD passes, and run for a 5th TD,
in leading Miami to a 49-31 over Duke...
Harris ranks 10th this week in the ACC in
passing yards per game, completing 60.7
percent of his passes....Harris totaled 238
yards of offense against Duke...Miami is
ranked 20th nationally in rushing defense and 21st in total
defense...Soph TB Graig Cooper has displayed his versatility
this year...Cooper leads Miami in rushing (68.0) and is 2nd
in pass receiving (15 catches) and has also thrown a 51-yard
TD pass as well as returning two punts for a 40.5 average,
including a 66-yard scoring return..True freshman WR Travis
Benjamin accounted for 274 yards of all-purpose yardage in
the Hurricanes? loss to Florida State, the 2nd-highest total in
the ACC this year....Benjamin is 5th in the ACC in kickoff
returns (27.1) and is second in the ACC and 14th nationally
in punt returns (14.2)...PK Matt Bosher has made 9 of 10
FG attempts and all 20 PATs...He is tied for 2nd in fi eld goals
and is 3rd in scoring in the ACC...He is also averaging 41.2
yards a kick as Miami?s punter and is ranked 3rd in the ACC...
True freshman WR Aldarius Johnson is now Miami?s leading
receiver after making 8 catches for 84 yards a TD versus

Virginia Tech
QB Tyrod Taylor led all rushers against
Boston College, running for 110 yards on
only 15 carries...Taylor accounted for 200
yards of offense...He is 5th in the ACC
in rushing, 7th in total offense and 8th in
passing effi ciency...CB Victor Harris?
interception and 55-yard return for a touchdown
was the fourth return for a score by the Tech senior, 3
by interception and one by kickoff...Harris? interception was
also the 13th of his career, tying him with nine players for
19th on the ACC career interception list...Freshman TB Darren
Evans ranks 6th in the conference in rushing and is 4th
in scoring with 8 TDs...Tech is now 16-2 on the road against
ACC teams since it joined the league in 2004, with both losses
coming at Boston College...LB Brett Warren had an interception
and 36-yard return for a TD against Boston College...Since
1992, Virginia Tech has 105 non-offensive touchdowns...PK
Dustin Keys, who had supplied the game-winning fi eld goals
against Georgia Tech and UNC, connected on 9 FGs against
Nebraska, Western Kentucky and Boston College...Keys is tied
for 2nd nationally in fi eld goals...When CB Stephan Virgil
blocked a Nebraska punt on Oct. 5, it gave the Hokies at least
one blocked punt in each of the past 16 straight years...Soph
DT John Graves blocked a kick in each of Tech?s fi rst three
games, tying a national record.
 
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carpe vitam
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Thursday Plays:

Thursday Plays:

Auburn +3.5
Under 38.5
New Mexico +5
Under 45

dog and under:0corn

gl out there
 
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Haynes: Pack Battles Maryland Seniority

Haynes: Pack Battles Maryland Seniority

Haynes: Pack Battles Maryland Seniority

BY TONY HAYNES



Maryland?s depth chart this week indicates that 15 seniors will start in Saturday?s 3:30 ACC game against NC State...nine of those starters will be on the defensive side of the football. The top five defensive linemen for the Terps are all seniors, while three seniors man the offensive line.



Maryland is big, powerful, physical and often downright nasty.



Forgive Tom O?Brien for being envious.



In the master plan, O?Brien envisions an NC State program that will one day be big, powerful and physical. And yea, there might also be a little nasty thrown in for good measure. Of course, getting to that point requires patience, another recruiting class or two and a redshirt process that will eventually produce older and more physically mature players at just about every position.



Two decidedly different agendas will be at work when the Pack and Terps (5-2, 2-1) clash for the 65th time at Byrd Stadium. On the heels of a rare four-game homestand that produced only one win, NC State will be trying to shake a three-game losing streak on Saturday. With a 2-5 overall mark and 0-3 in the ACC, the Wolfpack will find itself in the roll of spoiler against a Maryland team that has as good a chance to capture the ACC title as anyone.



To get there, however, the Terps can?t afford another slip. If this team checked in for therapy, it would likely be diagnosed with multiple personality disorder. How could a team go from getting whipped by Virginia 31-0 in one game, then come back and drill Wake Forest 26-0 the next? Robert Louis Stevenson would love this team.



NC State can only hope that the Dr. Jekyll ? Mr. Hyde pattern continues on Saturday.



Given the fact that Maryland totally dominated the Wolfpack 37-0 the last time these two teams played back in November of 2007, Terps coach Ralph Friedgen?s biggest challenge this week has been to convince his players that the Pack is indeed good enough to hand Maryland another unexpected defeat.



?I think they?re a very good team,? Friedgen said. ?They were very close against Boston College and Florida State. I see them improving each and every week. They have some weapons on offense and they?re very athletic on defense. They?re just young.?



In the game of life, youth is wonderful. In the game of college football, the benefits are not quite the same. Most of us would like to be younger, but Tom O?Brien wants a football team that possesses a little more seniority, much like the one he?ll face on Saturday.



Here are some key things to listen for on the radio, unless of course you get ESPN 725 or whatever that channel is called.



Dirty up Turner?s uniform: It?s being rumored around College Park that Maryland team managers didn?t even bother to wash quarterback Chris Turner?s uniform after last week?s game against Wake Forest. So effective was Maryland?s offensive line against the Wake Forest pass rush (what pass rush?) that Turner could have stood in the pocket, called in an order for crab cakes and still gotten his throws off in time. All he did was to complete 28-of-41 passes for 321 yards, a performance that earned ?Offensive Back of the Week? honors in the ACC.



?On tape, their offensive line looks as good as any we?ve played,? O?Brien said. ?[Turner] is No. 1 in the league in passing efficiency because nobody is touching him. He stands back there and throws to some good receivers. It?s a senior dominated football team with a quarterback that?s playing at a high level, which generally means it?s a championship-caliber football team.?



Timing is everything, and during its current three-game losing streak, one of NC State?s biggest problems has been its inability to make opposing quarterback uncomfortable in the pocket. The last three quarterbacks the Wolfpack has faced ? Matt Grothe of South Florida, Boston College?s Chris Crane and Christian Ponder of Florida State ? were a combined 77-of-115 passing (67 percent) for an average of 313 yards per game with only one interception.



No wonder those three teams converted 52 percent of their third downs in those games and stayed on the field for more than 80 plays. In fact, the Wolfpack has averaged 27 fewer plays per game than its last three opponents primarily because the defense has not been able to get itself off the field on third down.



?It?s kind of heartbreaking when you get in that situation and you have to run back on the field for another set of downs,? said NC State defensive tackle Keith Willis. ?It just takes the air out of you.?



After being yanked out of the starting line-up for last week?s game against Florida State, Wolfpack defensive end Willie Young did respond with a couple of sacks and a tackle for loss. The Pack will need more of the same on Saturday from a player who was pegged to be one of the league?s best pass rushers this season.



But if Chris Turner again looks like ?Mr. Clean? by the fourth quarter on Saturday, the NC State defense could be in for yet another 80-play day.



The Wilson factor: On Wednesday, Friedgen claimed that he and his coaches met for three hours trying to devise a plan to deal with NC State quarterback Russell Wilson. Nothing scares a coach more than a quarterback who can run and throw equally well. Wilson is getting to that point. When his first passing option in the progression wasn?t available earlier in the season, Wilson?s inclination was to tuck it and run. Now, with five starts under his belt, the redshirt freshman runs only as a last resort on pass plays. He?s becoming very good at buying extra time in the pocket with his legs and still keeping his eyes down the field. Wilson has evolved from being a running quarterback who could throw to a throwing quarterback who has the ability to run.



?He?s very elusive,? Friedgen said. ?If he doesn?t like something he?s going to be scrambling, so obviously you have to contain him. A lot of his scrambles come when he moves up within the pocket, gets outside and then he?s a threat to run it or throw it and he throws the ball very well on the run. He creates a lot of problems for you. Because he?s so athletic, he can create plays.?



Wilson?s growth over the last month is the main reason the NC State offense is much more threatening than it was earlier in the season. Over his last three starts, the Richmond, Va product is 53-of-89 (59 percent) for an average of 203 yards and six touchdowns. Just as impressively, Wilson has thrown 89 consecutive passes without an interception.



?That?s been coach O?Brien?s philosophy,? Wilson said. ?He wants us to protect the football, but at the same time he wants me to make the big time throws. It?s mainly being patient and knowing what I?m looking for and where I?m going with the ball.?



For the first time since 2002, NC State has played back-to-back games without turning the football over. Obviously, it will take another clean game to make it competitive at Maryland. And given the fact that the Terps are currently ranked 11th in the ACC in total defense (369 yards per game), it?s not out of the question that Wilson and his offensive mates could cause a few problems on Saturday.
 
A

ajoytoy

carpe vitam
Forum Member
Mar 30, 2003
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Weekend Plays:

Weekend Plays:

A whole lot of dogskurby
LA Tech +2.5
NW -8
NCSU +12
Wake +2.5
BC +2.5
Cincy -2.5
Wisc +2.5
Rutgers +10
Tex A&M +3
Kentucky +25.5
Vandy -10
Rice +2.5
UCLA +18
Kent +5.5
UVa +14
OK. St. +12
Kan. State +18
VT +5.5
Kansas -1
PSU -2
SDSU +10
Arizona +15

gl out there and hope for a lot of dogs covering
:mj23: :mj23: :mj23: :mj23: :mj23:
 
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