ACC ROUNDUP : Virginia Cruises to Fifth in a Row

Randy Neal returned an interception 77 yards for a touchdown and Tiki Barber ran for 123 yards and a score as Virginia won its fifth in a row in beating Georgia Tech, 24-7, in Atlanta.

Neal’s interception opened the scoring. Barber’s touchdown came on a three-yard run, capping an 80-yard second-quarter drive that gave the Cavaliers (5-1, 3-1) a 17-7 lead. It was the fourth loss in a row for the Yellow Jackets (1-5, 0-4).

It was Virginia’s third victory in a row in the series and the fifth Cavalier triumph in the last six visits to Atlanta.

Virginia shut down Tech’s offense, sacking Tommy Luginbill six times.

Virginia’s other scoring came on a 28-yard field goal by Rafael Garcia in the opening minute of the second quarter and on Charles Way’s one-yard run, capping a 60-yard drive in the third quarter.

Tech’s only score came on a 65-yard drive after Garcia’s field goal gave Virginia a 10-0 lead.

Punter Will Bice also helped keep Tech in the hole, once punting out of bounds on the Yellow Jackets’ one and later booming one 78 yards to the 12 with a stiff wind at his back.

No. 15 North Carolina 41, Maryland 17--Jason Stanicek passed for one touchdown and ran for one as the Tar Heels (5-1, 2-1), running the ball at will, beat the Terrapins (2-4, 1-4) in Chapel Hill, N.C.

North Carolina rushed for 335 yards on 58 carries and scored on seven of eight possessions in defeating the Terrapins for the fifth time in a row.

“I knew after every play they couldn’t stop us,” said offensive lineman Roge Purgason.

“When you get up there on first down and make a nice little 8-yard gain right up the middle and the Maryland guys are on the ground and you are picking them up and they are shaking their heads, it takes the momentum out of their defense.”

Stanicek had a 39-yard scoring pass to Marcus Wall in the first quarter and a two-yard keeper in the second period as the Tar Heels built a 24-10 halftime lead.

North Carolina then took to the ground to preserve its lead, adding 10 points on its first two drives of the second half.

North Carolina State 34, Wake Forest 3--Freshman Tremayne Stephens ran for 189 yards, including a 52-yard score, to spark the Wolfpack (5-1, 3-0) to a rout of the Demon Deacons (2-5, 0-4) in Raleigh, N.C.

The Wolfpack scored 20 unanswered points in the first half and used fourth-quarter touchdown runs of one and two yards by fullback Rod Brown to bury the Deacons.

Wolfpack split end Eddie Goines caught five passes for 67 yards, helping set up two scores and becoming N.C. State’s career reception and yardage leader with 136 for 2,204, passing Naz Worthen in both categories.

Stephens reeled off two runs of 52 yards in the opening quarter, the first for his first collegiate touchdown and a 7-0 lead. He had 145 yards by halftime.

N.C. State rolled up 419 yards and held the Deacons to just 187.