Big plays were the names of the game for Clemson, North Carolina, Florida State and North Carolina State over the weekend, though the Wolfpack didn't emerge with a victory among that quartet. Otherwise, offenses were stagnant in the ACC.
The Tigers and Seminoles cruised to easy victories, while the Tar Heels escaped their arch rivals in Gio-rrific style.
With respect to NC State WRs Tobias Palmer and Bryan Underwood, BC LB Kevin Pierre-Louis and DB Justin Simmons, Duke S Dwayne Norman, UNC QB Bryn Renner, Clemson LB Jonathan Willard, BC WR Alex Amidon, Maryland WR Stefon Diggs, here is this week's Honor Roll:
Big Men On Campus
Tajh Boyd, Clemson – The junior signal caller was sensational in leading the Tigers to an easy 42-13 win at Wake Forest last Thursday night by completing 27 of 38 pass attempts for a school-record 428 yards and five touchdown passes. Boyd, who stayed in the game long enough to set the record, had five TD passes before halftime.
Christian Jones, Florida State – A junior LB from Winter Park, Fla., Jones was huge in FSU's 48-7 rout of visiting Duke, being in on 11 tackles, including three for a loss of yardage. One of the top defensive recruits in the nation a few years ago, Jones is living up to his billing.
Sammy Watkins, Clemson – The sophomore wide receiver exploded for three receptions of 50 or more yards in the first half and finished with 8 catches for a school-record 202 yards and a touchdown in helping Clemson rout Wake Forest, 42-13, on the road. Watkins has missed three games, but he's up to 32 receptions on the season.
Mike Glennon, N.C. State – If only Wolfpack receivers didn't drop nine passes in Saturday's 43-35 loss at UNC, Glennon's numbers would have been even more spectacular. The senior slinger completed 29 of 52 attempts for 467 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions.
Devonta Freeman, Florida State – With fellow tailback Chris Thompson out for the season, the Seminoles needed to establish a ground game against Duke on Saturday and did so riding Freeman, last year's starter. He finished with 104 yards and two scores on 12 carries.
Disappointment of the Week
Georgia Tech – The Yellow Jackets' swoon continued, as struggling BYU left Bobby Dodd Stadium with a surprisingly easy 41-17 victory. Tech, which fell to 3-5, was limited to 157 yards. So, it's not just the defense that isn't working anymore, add the offense to that list.
Player of the Week
Giovani Bernard, North Carolina – The tough, gritty and super-speedy Bernard ran the ball 23 times for 135 yards (two touchdowns) — including 85 in the fourth quarter — caught 8 passes for 95 yards and returned a punt 74 yards for the game-winning score with 13 seconds left to lead the Tar Heels to a 43-35 come-from-behind victory over rival NC State. Bernard injured his ankle in the third quarter and said it hurt during the game-clinching score, but it didn't slow him down any.
Coach of the Week
Dabo Swinney, Clemson – The Tigers' coach pounded it into his team that Wake Forest was capable of beating them last Thursday night, and as a result Clemson was ready to play in Winston-Salem. It scored 35 points in a span of about 13 minutes of game time in the first half and cruised to a 42-13 victory to keep alive its ACC title and BCS bowl hopes.
