SOUTH ROUNDUP : Clemson, Williams Bounce Back, 9-7

The day began ominously for Ronald Williams but ended gloriously for the Clemson running back.

Williams was benched until the second quarter Saturday against 19th-ranked Georgia Tech for missing two study halls during the week. When he returned, he lost two fumbles.

But Williams, the ACC Rookie of the Year last season, become a hero on the Tigers’ final drive, scoring on a two-yard run that gave No. 7 Clemson a 9-7 victory in an Atlantic Coast Conference game at Clemson, S.C.

“My high school coach . . . told me never give up,” said Williams, who led all rushers with 102 yards in 20 carries. “You make a mistake, just come back and do better.”

The Yellow Jackets, who had beaten Clemson the last two seasons, had a chance to win the game with eight seconds left, but Scott Sisson was wide right on a 44-yard field-goal attempt.

Clemson, 3-0 overall and 1-0 in the ACC, went ahead when Williams scored with 2:06 remaining. The extra-point kick was blocked.

Georgia Tech (2-2, 1-1) drove 51 yards to set up Sisson’s attempt. Last week against Virginia, Sisson kicked a 33-yard field goal with no time left for a 24-21 victory.

Georgia Tech, the last team to beat Clemson at home, scored on the opening drive of the game and held the lead until Williams’ touchdown. Jimy Lincoln’s 59-yard run set up quarterback Shawn Jones’ 10-yard touchdown run around left end.

Clemson made it 7-3 on a 47-yard field goal by Nelson Welch just before halftime.

Entering the game, Clemson had the nation’s No. 1 defense. The Tigers were allowing 94 yards per game and were second in scoring defense with 3.5 points.

Georgia Tech, averaging 459 yards on offense, gained 282 yards against Clemson.

North Carolina State 24, No. 23 North Carolina 7--Reserve quarterback Geoff Bender passed for two touchdowns and the Wolfpack used its strong defense to win the ACC game at Raleigh, N.C.

Sebastian Savage secured the victory for North Carolina State (4-0, 2-0) with a 99-yard interception return with four seconds left. The Wolfpack has intercepted 13 passes and caused 20 turnovers.

North Carolina (2-1, 0-1) was under consistent defensive pressure and suffered from its own mistakes. The Tar Heels rushed for only 33 yards, more than 100 below their average.

Virginia 34, Duke 3--Quarterback Matt Blundin, who had missed two games with an infection in his throwing elbow, completed 14 consecutive passes and threw for three touchdowns to lead the Cavaliers to victory in an ACC game at Charlottesville, Va.

Blundin completed 17 of 21 passes for 238 yards as Virginia (2-2, 1-2) beat the Blue Devils (2-1-1, 0-1) for the seventh time in nine games.

Louisville 28, Southern Mississippi 14--William Blackford returned a fumble 63 yards for a touchdown in a game of big defensive plays at Louisville, Ky.

Jim Hanna’s interception midway through the fourth quarter set up a nine-yard touchdown run by Deral Boykin that clinched the victory for Louisville (2-2), which had lost nine consecutive games against Southern Mississippi (2-2).

East Carolina 31, South Carolina 20--Jeff Blake completed 18 of 31 passes for 347 yards and four touchdowns, two to Hunter Gallimore, to give the Pirates (3-2) the victory at Greenville, N.C.

South Carolina is 1-2-1.