Florida State kept the ACC's hopes of landing multiple teams in BCS bowls alive with a late touchdown to win at Virginia Tech last Thursday night. The Seminoles are a victory at Maryland away from clinching the Atlantic Division and playing for the conference championship.
Georgia Tech and North Carolina gave the football world the highest-scoring game ever involving an ACC team, North Carolina State became bowl eligible, and Boston College fought well but lost to unbeaten Notre Dame.
With respect to Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd, N.C. State QB Mike Glennon, tailback Shadrack Thornton and defensive end Art Norman, Virginia wide receiver Dominque Terrell and linebacker Steve Greer, North Carolina QB Bryn Renner, tailback Giovani Bernard and WR Quinshad Davis, Miami WR Phillip Dorsett, LB Gioni Paul and tailback Duke Johnson, Virginia Tech WR Corey Fuller, Florida State DN Tyler Hunter, and Boston College DB Spencer Rositano, here are the best of the ACC from Week 11:
Tobias Palmer, N.C. State – The senior wide receiver and kick returner had a spectacular day catching seven passes for 63 yards and returning a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown in a crucial 37-6 victory over visiting Wake Forest.
Cornellius Carradine, Florida State – A second-string defensive end in fall camp, Carradine moved into the starter’s role after All-American Brandon Jenkins was lost for the season, and at Virginia Tech last week he was in on 11 tackles including a sack. He was all over the field even when not registering tackles.
E.J. Manuel, Florida State – The senior quarterback made big plays when he had to and threw for 326 yards and three touchdowns in a 28-22 win at loud and cold Virginia Tech last Thursday night. His last-minute drive for the game-winning score was a masterpiece.
Rashad Greene, Florida State – The sophomore wide receiver turned in a very nice performance by catching six Manuel passes for 125 yards and two touchdowns, the last one coming from 39 yards out with 40 seconds remaining for the game’s final points.
Michael Rocco, Virginia – The junior signal caller took the majority of the snaps and put forth one of the best games of his career. He completed 29 of 37 pass attempts for 300 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions in leading the Wahoos to a 41-40 last-minute victory over visiting Miami.
North Carolina – Any time a team with future NFL players on its defense allows a backup QB to generate 68 points, it has to rank as the disappointment of the week. UNC lost at home to Georgia Tech 68-50 in one of the worst defensive performances in ACC history. And that North Carolina had an extra week to prepare for Tech makes the performance even worse.
Vad Lee, Georgia Tech – The redshirt freshman QB came in during the first quarter after starter Tevin Washington was injured and led the Yellow Jackets to an historic victory, beating UNC 68-50 in Chapel Hill. Lee ran for 112 yards and two touchdowns and passed for 169 yards and a score, and overall the Georgia Tech offense racked up 588 yards. It was the second-most points ever allowed by North Carolina.
Mike London, Virginia – Conventional wisdom said London should give every snap at QB to Phillip Sims, but London mostly went with veteran Michael Rocco and it paid off in a 41-40 victory over Miami. Rocco played a terrific game and threw a game-winning touchdown pass with 6 seconds left. Virginia has now won consecutive games (over teams that came in with winning records) after dropping six straight.
