Thursday March 28th, 2024 4:21PM

ACC notebook: 'Noles will try to salvage rough weekend for ACC

By The Associated Press

Florida State will try to salvage what was a rough opening weekend for the ACC on the gridiron.

Here is the latest ACC sports news from The Associated Press.

TALLAHASSEE — Dillan Gibbons is back in the Sunshine State and the Florida State offensive lineman will be reunited with not just family when the Seminoles take on No. 9 Notre Dame but a large a number of old friends from Indiana as well. The Clearwater, Florida, native will be making his first start for the Seminoles following his transfer this summer from Notre Dame. So Gibbons — who played in 29 games and started against Syracuse in 2020 for Notre Dame — will line up Sunday night against some former teammates along the Fighting Irish’s defensive line.

BOSTON — Phil Jurkovec threw for three touchdowns and 303 yards in a little over three quarters, leading Boston College to a 51-0 victory over Colgate in the season opener for both schools. Jurkovec, a 6-foot-5 redshirt junior who transferred from Notre Dame before last season, completed 16 of 24 passes with no interceptions. Last season, he threw for 2,558 yards, the most ever by a BC quarterback in his first 10 games. After a sloppy first quarter, the Eagles took charge by scoring on their final three possessions of the second, taking a 27-0 edge into halftime.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Brennan Armstrong threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more and Virginia beat William & Mary 43-0 on in the opener for both teams. Armstrong hit Demick Starling on a 65-yard scoring pass and Ra’Shaun Henry from five yards out. The Cavaliers limited the Tribe to 183 yards and posted their first shutout since they beat South Carolina 28-0 in the Belk Bowl in 2018.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Christopher Smith returned an interception 74 yards for a touchdown and No. 5 Georgia turned in a defensive effort for the ages, toppling third-ranked Clemson 10-3 on Saturday in the opener for both teams. The Bulldogs held the Tigers to 2 yards rushing and sacked D.J. Uiagalelei seven times to position themselves for a run at the College Football Playoffs. Uiagalelei finished 19 of 37 for 178 yards with one interception. He bobbled snaps, was out of sync with his receivers and spent most of the day under heavy duress against a relentless Bulldogs pass rush.

ATLANTA — Rocky Lombardi’s 2-point pass to Tyrice Richie with 38 seconds remaining lifted Northern Illinois to a stunning 22-21 upset win over Georgia Tech. Georgia Tech of the Atlantic Coast Conference was favored by 18 1/2 points over Northern Illinois, of the Mid-American Conference. Northern Illinois led 14-0 but had a regroup after backup quarterback Jordan Yates, playing after Jeff Sims suffered an arm injury, rallied the Yellow Jackets with three unanswered touchdowns. Lombardi, the Michigan State transfer, was given one final possession with 2:42 remaining. He made his debut for Northern Illinois one to remember by directing the go-ahead drive.

ATLANTA — Top-ranked Alabama looks very much like a team capable of making another run at a national title. Bryce Young became the first Crimson Tide quarterback to throw four TD passes in his starting debut, leading a 44-13 rout of No. 14 Miami. Young finished off the Hurricanes with a 94-yard touchdown pass to transfer Jameson Williams early in the third quarter. The Tide defense also turned in a stellar performance. Alabama sacked D'Eriq King four times, forced three turnovers and came up with a goal-line stand that snuffed out Miami’s last gasp at making a game of it.

  • Associated Categories: Sports
  • Associated Tags: Georgia Tech football
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