The Atlanta Constitution from Atlanta, Georgia • 69

The Atlanta Journal The Atlanta Constitution COLLEGE FOOTBALL Sunday, Nov. 17, 1996 F7jjj AROUND THE ACC Atlantic Coast Conference ft. irhe'C avs teve bog cmnebsick Virginia rally stuns North Carolina ACC AM This Week Next game Florida State 7-0 9-0 beat S. Mississippi 54-1 4 x-Sat vs. Maryland North Carolina 5-2 6-2 fast to Virginia 20-17 Sat.

at Duke Clemson 6-2 7-3 beat N.C. State 40-17 Sat vs. South Carolina Virginia 5-3 7-3 beat N. Carolina 20-17 Nov. 30 at Virginia Tech Georgia Tech 4-4 5-4 lost to Maryland 13-10 Sat, vs.

Navy Maryland 3-4 5-5 beat Ga. Tech 13-10 x-Sat. vs. Florida State N.C. State 2-5 2-7 lost to Clemson 40-1 7 Sat, vs.

Wake Forest Wake Forest 1-6 3-7 beat Duke 17-16 Sat at N.C State Duke 0-7 0-10 lost to Wake 17-16 Sat vs. N. Carolina at Ft Lauderdale if 'V 1 i 1 --r: Duke hits bottom in Wake comeback STEVE HELBER Associated Press Winner by a toe: Virginia kicker Rafael Garcia (16) hugs QB Tim Sherman after kicking the game-winning field goal. By Joe Strauss STAFF WRITER Charlottesville, Va. Reversing the game, as well as their tragic November history, the Virginia Cavaliers rallied for 17 points in the final 10:02 Saturday afternoon to stun No.

6 North Carolina, 20-17. "If Holyfield can beat Tyson then the same thing can happen to them," said Virginia defensive tackle Todd White, one of 17 seniors playing his final game at Scott Stadium. "If you keep chopping and keep sawing, eventually you'll start a fire." Using a 95-yard interception return for a touchdown by freshman cornerback Ahtwone Harris and a pair of late drives led by out-of-favor starting quarterback Tim Sherman, the Cavaliers (7-3, 5-3) pulled off one of the most unlikely heists in school history at the expense of its most intense conference rival. Rafael Garcia's 32-yard field goal with 0:39 remaining gave the Tar Heels (8-2, 5-2) their second loss of the season. For Virginia head coach George Welsh, the win was uncommonly emotional.

No matter how vivid the school's football renovation, November has been -traditionally for mourning on The Lawn. Let them spend 39 consecutive weeks ranked in the polls; Virginia had typically perished like fruit flies once the Shenandoah climate turned nasty. The last four senior classes had exit-' ed without winning their home farewell games. Since carrying a No. 1 ranking to Georgia Tech six return that bumped the Carolina lead to 17-3.

The Tar Heels gained nearly half their yards on an 80-yard touchdown drive in the third quarter. First downs 15 Rushes-yards 31-11 41.137 Passing 154 157 Comp-Atl-Int 18-39-2 12-31-4 Return Yards 153 152 Punts-Am. Fumbkss-lort 3-1 2-1 Penalties-Yards 5-30 3-16 Time ol Possession 29:36 30:24 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS Rushing: North Carolina, Johnson 16-40, Watson 3-4, Union 34, Kelclort 8-(minus 40), Team (-(minus 1). Virginia, Sherman 6-26, Barber 26-79, Medley 3-13, Jones 1-3, Kirby 3-18, Brooks 1-1, Team 1-(minus 3). Passing: North Carolina, Kekforl 19-39-2-154.

Virginia, Sherman 10-24-2-136, Brooks 2-7-2-21. Receiving: North Carolina, Barnes 7-66, Johnson 5-22, Stevens 447, Jones 1-9, Brown 2-10. Virginia, Barbel 3-18, Owen 1-14, Wllkins 1-17, Crowell 5-91, Derey2-17. Untouched, Harris ran 95 yards. "I had a 50-50 chance of making the play," said Harris, in the game for the first series without Welsh's knowledge.

"I knew it was probably coming to me." "We probably weren't going to get there on offense," Welsh admitted. The Cavaliers followed with a 58-yard drive topped by Sherman's 7-yard run to tie the game 17-17 with 3:07 left. Sherman then completed a 41-yard pass to wideout Germane Crowell on the next possession to set up Garcia. Able to outgain the Tar Heels 264-165 while holding the nation's second- best defense without a sack, Virginia hurt itself with five turnovers, including four interceptions. The Cavaliers were nearly undone when Dre' Bly picked off backup QB Aaron Brooks for a 51 -yard touchdown ASSOCIATED PRESS Winston-Salem, N.C.

Duke's winless season hit its lowest point Saturday as Wake Forest scored 14 points in the final 7Vi minutes for a 17-16 victory placing the Blue Devils within one loss of the first 0-11 season in Atlantic Coast Conference history. The Blue Devils (0-10, 0-7) held a 13-point lead midway through the fourth quarter before the Demon Deacons (3-7, 1-6) rallied behind Brian Kuk-lick, who was 27-of-50 for 299 yards and two touchdowns. "We were in a new situation. We hadn't been up by 13 points all year," said Duke quarterback David Green, who was 25-of-37 for 272 yards and two TDs. "We've always been coming from behind and a lot of guys get down, but we were in a winning situation at that point and you still have to stay competitive to win.

We didn't." Wake Forest's final TDs were aided by three Duke pass interference penalties and a defense that allowed Kuklick to scramble until he found open receivers. "Part of the problem might have been we were a little hesitant because we knew they had so far to go. Maybe we weren't as aggressive as we should have been," said Duke defensive back Tawambi Settles. The Demon Deacons converted four fourth-downs in an 18-play drive that closed the margin to 16-10, capped by Kuklick's 13-yard TD pass to Desmond Clark. After holding Duke on its next series, Wake Forest went 89 yards for the winning score with 1:27 left.

Kuklick was 7-of- 9 on the drive, including game-winning 3-yarder to Clark, who made the juggling catch despite a double team and a Duke defender hanging on his arm. "They knocked it out of my hands once and I just had to stay with it," said Clark, whose 13 catches for 137 yards were the most by a Wake Forest player in a winning game. "Coach Jim Caldwell gets on me all the time about if the ball gets out of my hands to get N. Carolina Virginia years ago, the Cavaliers were only 11-10 in November. Clem-son piled on most recently, leaving Scott Stadium the week before with a 24-16 win.

"The only statistic I mentioned to the team before the game was that we hadn't won the last home game since 1991 and that's too long," said Welsh. The next time Welsh addressed his team was following the game. Usually reluctant to show emotion, he allowed that "I almost cried." Tar Heels coach Mack Brown knew the feeling for different reasons. Poised to take the at-large berth in the Bowl Alliance, North Carolina not only tumbled from the Top 10 but also fell out of second place in its own conference. "I am absolutely sick," said Brown.

"It's a miserable feeling to lose this football game." Virginia can relate. A year ago they blew leads on the last plays of games and lost to the Tar Heels. However, Saturday's up-; set ran the Cavaliers' home win streak against their biggest conference rival to eight The Tar Heels netted 11 yards rushing, a figure diminished by a relentless Virginia rush that produced seven sacks. Their dependence on the pass turned the game. In field goal position at Virginia's 8, Chris Kel-dorf was called upon to pass for a touchdown but was intercepted by Harris, First downs'" 15 20 Rushes-yards 27-77 61-291 Passing 271 134 CompJWl-H 13-36-1 10-164 Return Yards 67 16 Punts-Avg, 5-358 6368 FumbUe-Lost 34 3-1 Penalties-Yards 849 676 Timeot Possession 22 59 37:01 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS Rushing: North Carolina Bamette 8-22, King 6-21, Stephens 9-20, Brown 3-10, Spikes 1-4.

Clemson, Pnester 6-56, Dunnican 14-56, Greene 646, Luckie 1-(minus 1), Zanders Hmlnus 2). Passing: North Carolina St, Bamette 1346-1-271. Clemson, Greene 10-164-134. Whined 1-55, Stephens 1-(minus 5). Clemson, Crooks 441, Pnester 3-30, Woods 241, Woiford 1-12.

North Carolina St 0 3 8-17 10 16 20-40 Ctt niton Second Quarter Oem Crooks 18 pass from Greene (Padgett kick), 5 33. Clem FG Padgett 48, 8:41. NC3-R3 Primer 20; 12:58. NCS-FGPnmar25, 1434. TMrdQuertsr Oem Dtmmcan-2 run (PadgeR kick), 6:49.

Oern-FG Padgett 27, 12:40. Four Quarter Oem Abdullah 9 tumble return (Padgett kick), 1:44. NCS Bamette 13 run Thomas pass from Bamette), 2:35. Oem Priester 20 run (kick tailed), 7:08. Oem-Dunnican 1 run (PadgeR kick), 11:53.

Attendance: 85,000. fifth straight, sewing up at least a trip to the Peach Bowl and perhaps even a New Year's Day date. "I never doubted it," offensive guard Glenn Rountree said of Clemson's bowl prospects. "Bowl games come and go, but I was more concerned about this team." Clemson winning streak continues nj ty.iu, IWIJ 1 1 j. wwmjw i mum.

van i L- on?) BOB JORDAN Associated Pres! Dawud Rasheed (34) of Duke tries to break the tackle of Wake Forest de- fender Kelvin Moses during the Demon Deacons' 1 7-1 6 win. Duke fell to 0-1 0 with the loss. my head on a swivel and go find it," Clark added. "So, I stayed with it and just got it out of the. air.

i Knew i naa to get it. it was i our last chance." Freshman Matt Burdick, starting in only his third kicked the game-winning extra point Duke, losers of a school-rec-ord 12 straight games, mounted one last charge, but Sims Len-3ilJ hardt's 49-yard field goal attempt with 40 seconds left was oW 10 yards short and wide right. I 1,1 First downs 24 Rushes-yards 272 2547-0 LtAX 14 299, 27-5fXjaU Comp-A Return Yard! Punts-Avg. FumWes-lo Penatoes-YarrJt 4-365 3-3 4 10-71 t-74 3139 Tims ol Possesion muiTIUUAL BIAIKIIIW RusMng: Duke. 9-72, Marshall Green 8-(minus 6).

Wake Forest, Kane 17-39, Kuklick 8-13, Lews 4-7, Shaw 2-t, team 1-(mtnus 1)r 1,1 Passing: Duke, Green 2547-0-272. Wake Forest, Kuklick 27-50-0-299 Receiving: Duke, Hodrlck B-105 Opalenk -3-35, C. Thomas 3-39. Wilson 3 30, Wilks 2-11 Wake For-, A est, 0 Clark 13-137, Davis 9-99, Clark 3-31 Deese 3-32 EG 0 10 0-11. iflt Wake Forest 0 3 0 14-17 Second Quarter WF FQ Burdick 38, 1:44 Duke-Wilson 8 pass from Green (kick Med), 12:51 Third Quarter Duke-Thrjmas11pass(romQreen(jnhejdl PfH 35 Fourth Quarter ori WF D.Clark 13 pass from Kuklick (Burdick kick), 7:28 WF -D 3 pass tram rjjWick(BuraK lock), 1333 Attendance! 17,842.

i 6.1 1I0V fit lowed us into the locker said Marshall coach Bob Pruett. "They were beating on our shoulder pads, beating on our pads and making comments. That got us going." VMI 34, Citadel 27: Thomas Haskins rushed for school-record 277 yards and four touchdowns as VMI (3-7, 2-5) beat The Citadel (4-6, 3-5) in two overtimes. E. Tennessee State 28, 24: Greg Ryan threw for 222 yards and two touchdowns to help East Tennessee State (9-2, 6-2).

Appalachian State 24, W. Carolina 17: Damon Scott ran 21 yards for a score with 2:14 left in the game to lift Appalachian State (6-4, 4-3) over Western Carolina (4-7, 1-7). TECH RE-PORT: For Nor-mon Arey'i update on Yellow FIND' 1 71" Jacket football, dial 511 and enter code 4069. Outside metro ana dial 900-9SO-OSII. See bagtM for details.

i I TTT lufo -iifl tori -1 "si 'V I LOU KRASKY Associated Press Clemson's Raymond Priester (27) is chased by Clayton Simon of N.C. State during the Tigers' 40-1 7 win at Death Valley. Clemson has won five straight. North Carolina Virginia 14 0-17 0 17-JO First Quarter Va-FG Garcia 41, 4:25 Second Quarter 33 Third Quarter NC Barnes 4 pass from Kektort (McGee kick), 9:29 NC Bly 51 interception return (McGee kick), 10:22 Fourth Quarter Va A Harris 95 interception return (Garcia kick), 4:58 Va Sherman 7 run (Garcia kick), 1 1 Va-FG Garcia 32, 14:21 Attendance: 42,500. and Rahim Abdullah scooped up the loose ball and scored a 9-yard touchdown for a 27-9 lead.

Freshman quarterback Jamie Barnette's 1 3-yard sneak for N.C. State (2-7, 2-5) closed the gap to 27-17 just 1:09 later, but Clemson rolled from there in its best offensive show of the season. "That just broke their back," Abdullah said of the play that resulted in his score. "We had done a good job defensively, but that gave us some momentum for the offense." Before he rested, his three touchdowns gave Dunn 47 for his career and lifted him past Greg Allen's FSU record of 44 TDs scored from 1981-84. Dunn's five pass receptions for 137 yards also provided a big boost for Busby (17-of-31, 302 yards, 2 INTs, 2 TDs), who was returning to action after missing last week's game because of a fractured wrist.

Southern Miss intercepted Busby's first pass, and returned it 52 yards to set up an early 7-0 lead. After two FSU TD drives, the Eagles responded. A 55-yard kickoff return started them at the FSU 41, and Lee Roberts' 5-yard TD pass to Sherrod Giddeon tied the score. SOUTHERN Marshall beats Furman to take conference title By Wendy Parker STAFF WRITER Clemson, S.C This is still a football school, despite the talk around Death Valley about Friday's basketball upset of Kentucky and despite hoops coach Rick Barnes holding court in the press box at halftjme of Saturday's 40-17 victory over N.C. State.

Wherever he is, Frank Howard must be scratching his head, especially after Clemson's lackluster first half, in which it held a 10-6 lead and looked nothing like a team that has won four straight games. The Tigers killed four first-half offensive drives with penalties and led by a single point early in the second half when Wolf-pack kicker Marc Primanti booted his 21st straight field goal. But that's where the errors ended for Clemson, which scored 17 straight points and outscored N.C. State 30-8 in the second half of the Textile Bowl before 65,000 at Death Valley. Clemson, troubled early in the season by player arrests and suspensions, won its Dunn sets By J.C demons STAFF WRITER Tallahassee All that's left for Florida State to play in perhaps the school's biggest regular-season game ever is for the No.

3-ranked Seminoles not to mess a good thing up. After a stuttering start Saturday, they didn't. FSU popped No. 25 Southern Mississippi 54-14, and improved to 9-0 for the first time since the 1993 national championship season. But for awhile, with quarterback Thad Busby badly missing open receivers, the Eagles' upset hopes were alive.

Southern Miss j- which knocked off the Seminoles 30-26 in 1989 'and thrashed thdm 58-14 TD mark as FSU handles S. Miss A touchdown drive covering 84 yards and a short return of a fumbled N.C. State punt return helped the Tigers prevail. "If we didn't make mistakes in the first half, we could have done more," coach Tommy West said. "But I thought they responded in the second half.

They played as well as they can play." Clemson (7-3, 6-2 ACC) regained its emotional edge on special teams, especially when Tony DeSue twice stripped N.C. State's Tony Scott. The first came early in the fourth quarter, passed the ball to the senior speedster from Baton Rouge, out in the right flat behind a screen of FSU linemen, eager to block. Dunn hardly needed help. After faking two Eagle defenders near the right sideline, Dunn cut back toward the middle of the field and took off for the goal line with Southern Miss cornerback Nicky Seymour at his heels.

Seymour dived and grabbed Dunn's ankle around the 5, leaving the tailback one thing to do: Take a 360-degree flip that got him into the end zone, and also once again in the school record book. Deservedly, Dunn took the rest of the night off. ASSOCIATED PRESS Huntington, W. Va. Marshall's goal posts are safe for now.

The I-AA top-ranked Thundering Herd (11-0, 8-0 Southern), which joins the I-A MidAmerican Conference next season, ran off 28 unanswered points in the final two periods for a 42-17 win that gave it the outright Southern Conference championship. It looked much brighter for Furman (7-3, 5-2) and bleak for the goalposts after Jason Wells hit a 22-yard field goal in the final minute of the second quarter for a 17-14 Paladins lead. As time expired, the Paladins celebrated by heading to a goal post that had "Herd" emblazoned on it. Furman players pummeled it as the teams headed into their locker rooms. And according to Marshall officials, Furman's jubilation didn't stop there.

"Some of thfcir players fol in 1981 scored first, and stayed within 23-14 in the third quarter. Suddenly the outlook for that matchup against No. 1 Florida in two weeks became a bit fuzzy. Then reality came into view. On a sweep right, FSU's 5-foot-9, 185-pound tailback Warrick Dunn slipped past one would-be Eagles' tackier at the line, wiggled by another near the sideline, and dipped around one more near the goal line before finally stepping into the end zone on a 15-yard touchdown run.

FSU's lead became safe at 30-14. After a 32-yard Scott Bentley field goal made the score 33-14, Dunn had more thrills in store. From the Seminoles 23, Busby faked a hartdoff to Dunn, then.