The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Clemson, QB Lawrence throttle Pittsburgh 52- 17
Trevor Lawrence threw for 403 yards and two touchdowns in his first game in five weeks — and likely last one at Death Valley — as No. 3 Clemson throttled Pittsburgh 52- 17 on Saturday.
Lawrence hadn’t seen the field on game day since beating Syracuse on Oct. 24. He tested positive for the coronavirus the following week and missed Clemson’s next two games, including its only loss this season — a 47- 40, double- OT defeat at No. 2 Notre Dame. Lawrence expected to play lastweek, but a positive test from a Clemson offensive lineman on the Friday before the game led to a postponement at Florida State just hours before kickoff.
The 6- foot- 6 junior with a powerful arm and deft touch was crisp as ever in leading Clemson ( 8- 1, 7- 1 ACC) a step closer to the league championship game and a likely rematch with the unbeaten Fighting Irish.
Cornell Powell had five catches for 176 yards, including a 43- yard TDcatchoffaflea- flickerpassfrom Lawrence. Powell also had a onehanded grab on a 70- yard pass to the Pitt 5 that set up ChezMellusi’s 2- yard TD run for a 38- 3 lead.
Lawrence opened the scoring with a 5- yard touchdown pass to freshman E. J. Williams less than fourminutes in. By the time reserve runner Lyn- J Dixon burst through for a 1- yard touchdown with 5 seconds left in the first quarter, the Tigers led 31- 0 — the most points they had ever scored in the opening period.
The Panthers ( 5- 5, 4- 5) were the last teamto win at Clemson, 43- 42 in 2016. But Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett threw four interceptions that all led to Clemson touchdowns, and the Panthers could not recover as the Tigers won their 28th straight at home.
Lawrence finished 26- of- 37 passing and improved to 32- 1 as a starter.
( At) Boston College 34, Louisville 27: Back up QB Dennis Grosel threw for two touchdowns after starter Phil Jurkovec was hurt, and David Bailey ran for two scores before he left with an injury as BC beat the Cardinals.
Jurkovec completed 15 of 19 passes for 203 yards before the pocket collapsed around him in the third quarter and he was knocked out of the game. The Notre Dame transfer spent the rest of the game with his left knee wrapped on the sideline, joining Bailey, who had an unspecified injury.
Grosel completed 4 of 7 passes for 44 yards for BC ( 6- 4, 5- 4). He also broke free for a 44- yard run that set up an 11- yard touchdown pass to CJ Lewis thatmade it 27- 13 early in the fourth quarter. Bailey ran 10 times for 53 yards, and Zay Flowers caught seven passes for 87 yards for the Eagles.
Malik Cunningham threw for 294 yards and ran for 133 more for Louisville ( 3- 7, 2- 7).
North Carolina State 36, ( at) Syracuse 29: Four sacks. Six tackles for loss. One safety. An interception. A 98- yard kickoff return. Trailing 22- 14 at the half against a one- win Syracuse team.
North Carolina State coach Dave Doeren was not a happy camper. “I was far from calm. I was very upset, and I let them know it,” Doeren said.
Message received. Bailey Hockman hit Emeka Emezie with a 26- yard go- ahead score early in the fourth quarter and connected with Thayer Thomas for three more scores through the air as the Wolf pack rallied. The win was the third straight for the Wolf pack ( 7- 3, 6- 3) and the seventh consecutive loss for the Orange ( 1- 9, 1- 8).
Wake Forest on pause
Wake Forest is pausing all team activities until at least Wednesday because of recent positive COVID- 19 tests and contact tracing. The announcement came shortly after the ACC said the home game against No. 10Miami for next Saturday has been postponed. It also followed the cancellation of lastweekend’s game against Duke.
TheACC is considering options to find Miami a game for next weekend. Miami ( 7- 1) has not played since Nov. 14. For now, its next scheduled game is Dec. 12 vs. North Carolina.