The Sports Inquirer

By E. Marcel Pourtout, Editor

Music to listen to: Last Time by Clipse

 

In tribute to Virginia Tech’s big win at Ohio State, here’s some of Virginia’s finest with a classic.

Time to preview this week in ACC football:

Georgia Southern (1-1) at Georgia Tech (2-0): Surprisingly, this is the first-ever meeting between the two Peach State foes. A major storyline will be Paul Johnson leading his Georgia Tech squad against his former employer Georgia Southern with whom he won four national titles, two at head coach.

Both teams run the triple option meaning it may be the quickest contest in game time this week within the ACC. Johnson spoke in the preseason about the Yellow Jackets’ offense returning to its roots rushing the ball. The squad had run for an average of 285 yards a game so far in victories over Wofford and Tulane which is solid but not even in the top-10 nationally. An increased focus on getting its rushing attack in order should be expected.

In Georgia Tech’s win over Tulane last week, running backs Tony Zenon and Tim Byerly each rushed for two touchdowns.

Syracuse (1-1) at Central Michigan (2-0): The Orange travel to Mount Pleasant to face a Central Michigan squad that’s undefeated and fresh off of a dominating road win over Purdue. Syracuse needed double-overtime to defeat Villanova last week.

Orange Lynch Cameron had a career-high 15 tackles (12 solo), including a sack in the win.

East Carolina (1-1) at Virginia Tech (2-0): Coming off of the biggest road win nationally of this young season, Virginia Tech comes home to host East Carolina.

Virginia Tech’s 35-21  win at Ohio State snapped the Buckeyes 64-game home winning streak against non-conference competition (when most of these opponents come from the MAC, that stat becomes less impressive. No disrespect to the MAC but it is what it is). Furthermore Ohio State hadn’t lost a home game to an unranked non-conference opponent since 1982 and it was current head coach Urban Meyer’s first home loss with the Buckeyes. Finally, Ohio State who was ranked No. 8 in the polls, was the highest ranked team the Hokies have ever beaten on the road.

Back to Virginia Tech. Quarterback Michael Brewer completed 23 of 36 passes for 199 yards, with two touchdowns in the win while linebacker Deon Clarke was named the Walter Camp Foundation National Defensive Player of the Week after finishing with 10 tackles – including two tackles for loss and a key late-game sack, plus a pass deflection. Cornerback Donovan Riley’s 63-yard interception return for a touchdown with 46 seconds left sealed the win.

East Carolina is coming off of a road loss to South Carolina but was able to move the ball in the contest. If there’s letdown from the big win from the Hokies, the Pirates are capable to making this a contest.

Pittsburgh (2-0) at Florida International (1-1): The best individual performance in the ACC last week goes to Pitt running back James Connor who had 214 yards on a career-high 35 carries in the team’s 30-20 win over Boston College. Wide receiver Tyler Boyd had 108 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns in the victory as well. The Panthers travel to Miami to face a Florida International squad that has struggled under second-year head coach Ron Turner with only two wins in 14 contests under his leadership.

Louisville (2-0) at Virginia (1-1): After winning its’ first-ever ACC contest on Labor Day over Miami, Louisville will visit Charlotteville and face the Cavaliers.

The Cardinals rolled past Murray State last week in a 66-21 victory. Quarterback Reggie Bonnafon had three total touchdowns in the win.

Virginia recovered from its season-opening loss to UCLA with a 45-13 win over Richmond last week. The victory snapped the Cavaliers’ 10-game losing streak.

NC State (2-0) at South Florida (1-1): The Wolfpack seek to stay undefeated with a road trip facing South Florida. NC State ran for five touchdowns last week in a 46-34 win over Old Dominion. Wolfpack running back Shadrach Thornton had three rushing scores in the win.

South Florida forced six turnovers in its contest last week against Maryland but still lost the game 24-17.

Arkansas State (1-1) at Miami (1-1): The Hurricanes recovered from its loss to Louisville with a 41-7 home win over Florida A&M. Miami wide receiver Phillip Dorsett caught two touchdown passes. Arkansas State lost last week at Tennessee.

Kansas (1-0) at Duke (2-0): In Duke’s 34-17 win over Troy last week, quarterback Anthony Boone rushed for a pair of touchdowns and threw for another. Wide receiver Issac Blakeney hauled in five passes for 90 yards and one touchdown while linebacker David Helton paced the Duke defense with 15 tackles, and safety DeVon Edwards added 14 tackles, including 10 solo stops, and a pair of forced fumbles.

Kansas won its season-opener over Southeast Missouri State 34-28.

Wake Forest (1-1) at Utah State (1-1): The Demon Deacons have traveled far distances this season starting with its opener two weeks ago at Louisiana-Monroe. This time Wake Forest travels to Logan, Utah (didn’t have to look that up because I’m a late-night WAC and Mountain West football viewing expert) to face Utah State. The Aggies defeated Idaho State 40-20 last week.

USC (2-0) at Boston College (1-1): USC travels to Boston off of its victory at Stanford last week. The Eagles lost to Pitt. This one looks like one of those games where you turn the game on in the fourth quarter and the Trojans are only up four with the ball…or the Trojans are winning 35-10 and the backups are getting playing time. Oddly, the toughest game to predict on the ACC slate this week.