SOUTH ROUNDUP : Georgia Tech Wins; Virginia Next

Georgia Tech set up an Atlantic Coast Conference showdown against No. 1 Virginia by beating Duke, 48-31, Saturday at Atlanta.

The No. 16 Yellow Jackets, 6-0-1 overall and 4-0-1 in the ACC, play the Cavaliers, who were idle this weekend, at Charlottesville, Va., next Saturday.

Kevin Tisdel, a non-scholarship, 173-pound sophomore, returned a kickoff 85 yards for a third-quarter touchdown to help Georgia Tech beat Duke. Two weeks ago, Tisdel returned a kickoff 87 yards to set up the winning touchdown in a 21-19 victory over Clemson.

The Yellow Jackets also got a 52-yard kickoff return from Jeff Wright to set up another touchdown against the Blue Devils (3-5, 0-4).

It was the 11th consecutive home-field victory for Tech and extended its unbeaten streak to 11 games. Tech has not lost since falling to Duke last year, 30-19.

William Bell rushed for 166 yards and one touchdown and Shawn Jones and Stefen Scotton each scored two touchdowns for the Yellow Jackets.

Duke had used a no-huddle offense in the second half to pull within 24-21 with 2:23 left in the third quarter before Tisdel’s return gave Tech some breathing room.

No. 19 Clemson 24, Wake Forest 6--The Tiger defense was mostly responsible for Clemson’s 500th victory, sacking Wake Forest quarterback Phil Barnhill eight times for 59 yards in this ACC game at Winston-Salem, N.C.

Clemson (7-2, 4-2) had an off day offensively against the surprisingly stingy Demon Deacons (2-6, 0-5).

Clemson got one of its touchdowns on a 26-yard interception return by safety Arlington Nunn.

Virginia Tech 20, Southern Mississippi 16--The Hokies built a 20-0 halftime lead, then almost lost when Golden Eagle quarterback Brett Favre came close to connecting with flanker Michael Jackson in the end zone on a fourth-down pass with 1:09 left at Blacksburg, Va.

Southern Mississippi still got one more chance after Virginia Tech punter Chris Baucia took the snap and tried to run out the clock with eight seconds left, but was chased out of bounds in the end zone before time expired.

Southern Mississippi tried to set up a series of laterals after taking the free kick, but Wil Roberts was tackled after taking the first lateral at the Tech 39.

Quarterback Will Furrer completed 24 of 34 passes for 247 yards and one touchdown and Nick Cullen caught 13 passes for 170 yards to lead the Hokies (4-4). Southern Mississippi, losing for the first time in five games, fell to 6-3.

North Carolina 34, Maryland 10--Todd Burnett passed for a career-high 313 yards and a touchdown to lead the Tar Heels (5-2-1, 2-1-1) over the Terrapins (5-4, 3-3) in an ACC game at Chapel Hill, N.C.

North Carolina State 38, South Carolina 29--Quarterback Terry Jordan led the Wolfpack (5-4), who scored on six consecutive possessions to run away from the Gamecocks (4-3) in a nonconference game at Raleigh, N.C.

Louisville 41, Western Kentucky 7--Quarterback Browning Nagle passed for two touchdowns and backup Jeff Brohm threw for one more as the Cardinals (7-1-1) dominated the Division I-AA Hilltoppers (2-5) at Louisville.