COLLEGE FOOTBALL : ATLANTIC COAST : Florida St. Makes Run for Records

It was a day for records at Florida State.

Atlantic Coast Conference and school marks were erased in Florida State’s 59-17 victory Saturday over Maryland at Tallahassee, Fla., setting the stage for next week’s showdown in Gainesville between the sixth-ranked Seminoles and unbeaten, third-ranked Florida.

Florida State, 9-1 overall and 7-1 in the ACC, rolled up 616 yards and 31 first downs, but allowed 426 yards to Maryland (6-5, 4-4).

“I had a hard time getting my kids up for this ball game,” said Florida State Coach Bobby Bowden. “It was like pulling teeth.

Danny Kanell threw two scoring passes to set an ACC record for career touchdown passes with 56 in leading the sixth-ranked Seminoles to a record fourth consecutive ACC title. He surpassed Duke’s Ben Bennett and Virginia’s Shawn Moore, who shared the record.

Maryland’s Jermaine Lewis also moved into the ACC record book, catching nine passes to become the league’s leading receiver with 193 catches. The old mark of 189 was held by Duke’s Clarkston Hines.

Maryland’s Geroy Simon matched the ACC single-game mark with 16 catches, equaling Charlie Carr’s performance 29 seasons ago at North Carolina.

Kanell completed 24 of 34 passes for 346 yards, and Maryland’s Scott Milanovich completed 46 of 62 passes for 380 yards. His 46 completions broke his own school record.

Florida State shares the ACC title with Virginia, the only team to defeat the Seminoles since they joined the league in 1992.

North Carolina 28, Duke 24--Mike Thomas threw two four-yard scoring passes in the fourth quarter and the Tar Heels (5-5, 3-4) kept alive their slim bowl hopes with a victory over the Blue Devils (3-8, 1-7) at Chapel Hill, N.C.

Thomas, who completed 23 of 30 passes for 192 yards, drove the Tar Heels 62 yards, ending in a four-yard touchdown pass to Freddie Jones.

Clemson 38, South Carolina 17--Clemson tailback Raymond Priester, stung by a stretched and sore hamstring, got the running game going after halftime to help the Tigers (8-3) roll past the Gamecocks (4-6-1) at Columbia, S.C.

Priester sat out most of the first half, but shook off the injury to rush for 80 yards and a six-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter as Emory Smith also gained 102 yards in 12 carries and scored twice to help Clemson total 323 yards rushing.

“Our defense was on the field mighty long, so being able to run the ball really gives them a breather,” Priester said.