Jackets control clock, rout Tar Heels
Wolfpack earn rare 2-0 start in ACC by holding off Orange.
For Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson, the math was simple. “If you hold the ball for 38 minutes, you should win,” Johnson said.
Georgia Tech played keepaway against North Carolina, and KirVonte Benson scored on a 63-yard run as the Yellow Jackets beat the Tar Heels 33-7 Saturday.
Georgia Tech (3-1, 2-0 ACC) had scoring drives of 18 and 17 plays in the first half, wearing down Carolina (1-4, 0-3).
Tech is off next week before playing Oct. 14 at Miami with control of the Coastal Division at stake.
TaQuon Marshall ran for 137 yards, including a 5-yard touchdown, and threw a 12-yard scoring pass to Ricky Jeune. Benson added 130 yards rushing. The Jackets pulled away after leading 10-0 at halftime.
“The defense played 44 snaps in the first half, so there was no doubt that they were going to end up wearing down,” said North Carolina coach Larry Fedora.
The Tar Heels have lost 13 players, including top wide receiver Austin Proehl, to season-ending injuries.
North Carolina avoided being shut out when Jordon Brown scored on an 8-yard run with 5:05 remaining.
Georgia Tech lost two fumbles, one each by Marshall and Benson. One play after Marshall’s fumble in the third quarter, A.J. Gray had the first of his two interceptions, and Benson then broke free for his 63-yard score and a 17-0 lead.
(At) North Carolina State 33, Syracuse 25: Nyheim Hines rushed for 115 yards and a touchdown for the Wolfpack (4-1, 2-0), who scored on their first five possessions and built a 26-7 lead.
“We’re trying to build a legacy,” Hines said. “We’re the first (N.C. State) team to go 2-0 in the ACC in 11 years. That was a point of emphasis.”
Ryan Finley completed 20 of 33 passes for 186 yards and threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Stephen Louis. Jaylen Samuels racked up 111 yards, 74 rushing and 37 receiving.
Eric Dungey rallied Syracuse (2-3, 0-1) with a touchdown pass and two-point conversion run to make it 33-25 with 4:39 to go, but N.C. State’s Cole Cook recovered the Orange’s onside kick attempt and the Wolfpack ran out the clock, including a key fourth-and-1 conversion on Finley’s sneak.
Dungey passed for 385 yards. Ervin Philips made 17 catches for 188 yards, both career highs.
(At) No. 17 Louisville 55, Murray State 10: Lamar Jackson passed for 249 yards and three touchdowns and added 100 yards rushing and a TD in one half of play for the Cardinals (4-1).
“He’s something I’ve never seen before,” said redshirt freshman receiver Dez Fitzpatrick, who caught two of Jackson’s touchdown passes. “I’m just blessed playing with him.”
The only touchdown for the FCS Racers (1-4) came when backup QB Jawon Pass fumbled the snap on the first play of the third quarter and Jason Johnson returned it 23 yards for the score.
(At) Pittsburgh 42, Rice 10: Max Browne returned as starting quarterback and threw for a career-high 410 yards and four touchdowns as the Panthers (2-3) broke a three-game losing streak. Coach Pat Narduzzi wouldn’t say Browne has the job but said: “He’s got the ability to do that every game.”
Chawntez Moss and Jester Weah caught TD passes of 48 and 55 yards and Qadree Ollison had a 10-yard TD run on Pitt’s first three possessions.
Browne, a senior transfer from Southern Cal, lost the job to Ben DiNucci after three games but responded to a second chance by completing 28 of 32. Rice is 1-4.
(At) Boston College 28, Central Michigan 8: Jon Hilliman had two short touchdown runs and caught a pass for another score, and Michael Walker broke three punt returns totaling 124 yards that set up scores as the Eagles (2-3) snapped a three-game losing streak. Central Michigan is 2-3.