Clemson clobbers Pack
Trevor Lawrence threw for a career-high 308 yards, Travis Etienne rushed for three touchdowns, and No. 3 Clemson turned an expected Atlantic Coast Conference showdown with No. 16 North Carolina State into a 41-7 rout Saturday.
The host Tigers (7-0, 4-0) opened with seven straight wins for the third time in four seasons in topping the Wolfpack (5-1, 2-1) for the seventh consecutive season.
It was the ACC’s first matchup of undefeated teams this deep in a season since 2013, a game that also took place in Death Valley. But unlike five years ago, when the 6-0 Tigers were pummeled by eventual national champ Florida State 51-14, Clemson took control early and never gave the Wolfpack a chance to rally.
State quarterback Ryan Finley came in leading the ACC at more than 324 yards passing per game. He managed just 156 yards passing, with two interceptions and a fumble.
The Wolfpack avoided its first shutout in four years on Reggie Gallaspy’s 9-yard TD run to start the fourth quarter.
Syracuse 40, North Carolina 37, 2 OTs: Despite two touchdowns from Hampton High alum Dazz Newsome, the Tar Heels (1-5, 1-3 ACC) lost to the Orange (5-2, 2-2) at the Carrier Dome. He caught a 6-yard touchdown pass from Nathan Elliott and scored on a 75-yard punt return.
Tommy DeVito, in relief of a struggling Eric Dungey, hit tight end Ravian Pierce on a 4-yard scoring play in the second overtime for the victory.
DeVito, who entered the game in the fourth quarter, sent it to overtime with a 42-yard touchdown pass to Nykeim Johnson with 1:39 to go. DeVito’s 25-yard touchdown pass to Jamal Custis gave the Orange a brief lead in the first overtime.
CNU 39, William Paterson 10: The winless Pioneers were stubborn, but Christopher Newport pulled away in the fourth quarter for a New Jersey Athletic Conference win in Wayne, N.J.
Against a team that had been outscored 114-0 in its last three games, CNU fell behind 3-0 and led by just 18-10 entering the final quarter.
The Captains (4-2, 3-2 NJAC) went on a 10-play, 74-yard drive that backup quarterback Brock Carnes capped with a 2-yard touchdown run. Ben Garbarini’s second PAT of the day gave CNU a 25-10 lead with 11:36 remaining.
CNU’s Rhett Morris then recovered a fumble by kickoff returner Jerry Ward of the Pioneers (0-7, 0-6). Carnes ran 7 yards for a touchdown on the next play.
The Captains had four interceptions of Cornelius Kinchen. D.J. Wright picked off two passes, and B.J. Hill and Torin Prentice grabbed one each.
Apprentice 65, Community Christian 0: The Builders (4-3) continued to dominate their opposition in the National Club Football Association, winning at home over a fledgling program based in South Hampton Roads.
Apprentice, in its first year in the NCFA, has won all three of its matchups against fellow members — Longwood and Robert Morris-Peoria were the others — by a combined 177-2.
N.C. Central 36, Norfolk State 6: Isaiah Totten rushed for 108 yards and Sherman McLeod had 101 yards receiving to help lead North Carolina Central to an NSU homecoming-spoiling win at Dick Price Stadium.
Chauncey Caldwell threw for 188 yards and one touchdown and ran for 53 yards and another score for NCCU (3-3, 2-1 MidEastern Athletic Conference). The Eagles added 17 points in the final quarter before NSU scored in the final seconds.
Juwan Carter led NSU (3-3, 2-2) by throwing for 140 yards.
FCS No. 11 Elon 38, Richmond 28: In their first collegiate starts, Jalen Greene and Jaylan Thomas combined for four touchdowns to lead the host Phoenix.
Greene, a sophomore stepping in with Davis Cheek out with a knee injury, was 7-for-11 passing for 205 yards and two touchdowns and rushed 21 times for 79 yards and another score.
Joe Mancuso had two touchdown passes for Richmond (3-5, 1-4).
The Citadel 34, VMI 32: Jordan Black rushed for 155 yards and two touchdowns for the Bulldogs, who survived a fivetouchdown day by the Keydets’ Reece Udinski in Lexington.
Udinski tied a 57-year old school record (set by Bobby Mitchell in 1961) with his five touchdown passes and broke his own VMI record with 48 completions, which came on 63 attempts for 452 yards despite two interceptions.
The defeat extended VMI’s losing streak to 24 games, the longest active streak in Division I.
Houston 49, Navy 36: D’Eriq King threw for 413 yards and three touchdowns, ran for a score and deftly directed a Houston attack that amassed 570 yards. Houston (6-1, 3-0 American Athletic Conference) handed Navy its fourth consecutive defeat.
Liberty 48, Idaho State 41: Frankie Hickson had 22 carries for 133 yards and three touchdowns for the host Flames (4-3). Stephen Calvert threw for 362 yards, and Antonio Gandy-Golden caught 10 passes for 142 yards and two scores.