Week 12, 3:30 P.M.: Go Rake The Leaves

Talk up the upset at our Syracuse blog, Nunes Magician, and our Rutgers blog, Protect R Turf.

Syracuse, NY (Sports Network) – Antwon Bailey, Averin Collier and Delone Carter each ran for a touchdown, as Syracuse upended 25th-ranked Rutgers, 31-13, to pick up its first Big East victory of the season.

The Orange (4-7, 1-5 Big East) racked up 213 yards on the ground in a balanced attack that also saw Greg Paulus throw for 142 yards and a score on 13-of-16 completions. Ryan Nassib completed four passes for 69 yards, as Syracuse snapped a three-game slide.

Syracuse linebacker Doug Hogue had a huge game, breaking the school record for tackles for loss in a game (6 1/2). Hogue also notched 3 1/2 sacks.

The Orange had nine total sacks of Rutgers quarterback Tom Savage and held the Scarlet Knights (7-3, 2-3) to 130 total yards. Savage completed just 7- of-17 passes for 66 yards and was intercepted twice.

Wideout Mohamed Sanu threw the only touchdown pass for Rutgers, which had won its last three contests.

Bailey ended Syracuse’s first drive with a pair of long runs, first going for 24 yards to convert a long second down, then rushing for 14 yards and a TD five minutes into the contest.

After Mike Holmes intercepted Savage on Rutgers’ first series, the Orange drove for a touchdown, going 83 yards and eating up more than six minutes of game clock. Carter ended the progression with a five-yard run across the goal line to make it a 14-0 game with 2:48 left in the opening frame.

The Scarlet Knights picked up a safety early in the second when they blocked a Syracuse punt, but they couldn’t take advantage of the ensuing possession, and the Orange tacked on another score.

Nassib’s 27-yard toss to Donte Davis gave the Orange a 1st-and-goal at the three, and after a Rutgers penalty shortened the field for Syracuse, Paulus completed a one-yard pass to tight end Carl Cutler with 7:35 left in the second.

Rutgers responded quickly, as Sanu completed a 38-yard TD throw to Tim Brown on the first play of the ensuing series.

Syracuse took a 24-10 lead into the break after Ryan Lichtenstein connected on a 44-yard field goal late in the second quarter, while San San Te missed a 46- yarder just before the intermission.

After a scoreless third quarter filled with punts, Te kicked a 25-yard field goal a little more than three minutes into the fourth. But the Scarlet Knights got no closer, as later in the frame, Savage was picked off again by Holmes, giving the Orange the ball at their own 40.

On the first play of the drive, Collier ran 60 yards for a score, sealing the Syracuse victory.

Bailey had a team-high 77 yards for Syracuse on 16 carries, while Carter rushed 22 times for 67 yards. Bailey also caught three passes for 47 yards…Because of the sacks, Rutgers totaled just 34 rushing yards…Syracuse closes its season next week at Connecticut…Rutgers plays at Louisville on Friday.

- Via Sports Network.

For more, check out our Virginia Tech blog, Gobbler Country, and our NC State blog, Backing The Pack.

Blacksburg, VA (Sports Network) – Ryan Williams powered his way to 120 yards and four touchdowns on 32 carries as 16th-ranked Virginia Tech downed North Carolina State, 38-10, at Lane Stadium.

Tyrod Taylor finished 9-of-17 for 197 yards and threw for a score for the Hokies (8-3, 5-2 ACC), who have won three in a row and conclude their season at Virginia next Saturday.

Russell Wilson was 15-of-26 for 234 yards, one score and one interception for the Wolfpack (4-7, 1-6), losers in six of their last seven.

Owen Spencer notched 74 yards and NC State’s lone touchdown on three receptions.

Matt Waldron’s 26-yard field goal and a Williams four-yard run pushed VT ahead 10-0 in the first quarter before NC State countered with Wilson’s 20-yard connection to Spencer.

Williams restored Tech’s 10-point edge early in the second quarter on a one-yard plunge, then a 45-yard make from Josh Czajkowski pulled the visitors within 17-10.

Williams added his third rushing score of the game, another one-yard dash, with 37 seconds left in the half and Tech led 24-10. The freshman back then concluded the Hokies’ first drive of the second half with a 19-yard TD run.

Jarrett Boykin’s 38-yard reception boosted the home team to a 38-10 advantage with 1:42 left in the third quarter and the Hokie defense maintained that advantage through a scoreless fourth.

Virginia Tech has won six of the last nine meetings…NC State finishes its season by hosting North Carolina next Saturday…Boykin finished with 164 receiving yards on six receptions.

- Via Sports Network.

Celebrate the win at Black Shoe Diaries. Weep softly at The Only Colors.

East Lansing, MI (Sports Network) – Daryll Clark threw for 310 yards and four touchdowns, as 13th-ranked Penn State used an explosive third quarter on the way to a 42-14 win over Michigan State in both teams’ regular-season finale.

Three of Clark’s touchdown throws came during the third quarter, in which the Nittany Lions (10-2, 6-2 Big Ten) outscored the Spartans 28-0.

Clark completed 19-of-27 passes, while Evan Royster ran for 114 yards on 13 carries for Penn State, which closed the 2009 campaign with two consecutive wins. The Lions now await a bowl selection, though they won’t be making a return trip to the Rose Bowl, as Ohio State claimed the conference title and had already claimed the Big Ten’s spot in that bowl.

Graham Zug and Andrew Quarless each caught two touchdown passes in the victory.

Kirk Cousins completed 16-of-28 passes for 155 yards and a touchdown. He was also picked off twice as the Spartans (6-6, 4-4) had a two-game win streak broken, but are likely headed for a third consecutive bowl appearance.

The game was tied at halftime, but Penn State came out hot in the third quarter, scoring quickly on the frame’s opening possession. Stephfon Green set the Lions up in prime territory with a 37-yard return, and Clark completed a 22-yard pass to Derek Moye before a roughing-the-passer call got the ball to the MSU 14. On the next play, a halfback pass, Curtis Drake found Quarless between two defenders for a score, less than a minute into the quarter.

Penn State then started a drive with just under eight minutes left and scored in just three plays. Royster ran for 30 yards on the second play before Clark found Joe Suhey for a 30-yard TD pass and a 21-7 PSU lead.

Nick Sukay intercepted Cousins on the ensuing Michigan State drive, as the Lions took over at the Spartans’ 32. Clark found Zug for a score on the first play to start turning the game into a blowout.

Cousins was again picked off, this time by Sean Lee, and Penn State started its final scoring drive of the third at the MSU 43. Again Clark went to Zug, and the 27-yard TD pass pushed the Lions’ lead to 35-7 with just 15 seconds left in the third.

The game was essentially decided in that quarter, and Kevin Newsome’s one-yard run with 2:53 left in the contest provided PSU’s final score. Keith Nichol found Keshawn Martin on a 71-yard catch-and-run with 1:44 left to account for the final margin.

Neither team scored in a punt-filled first quarter, and Penn State got on the board first, late in the second.

The Nittany Lions drove 56 yards in five plays, and the progression ended on Clark’s 29-yard pass to Quarless.

Michigan State countered with its own score, an 11-yard pass from Cousins to Charlie Gantt.

Penn State leads the all-time series, 14-12-1. The Lions defeated the Spartans by a 49-18 score at home last season…Nichol ended 4-of-5 for 84 yards for MSU…Zug had four catches for 99 yards, while Quarless caught four passes for 62…Edwin Baker led the Spartans with 48 rushing yards on nine carries.

- Via Sports Network.

Read more at SB Nation’s Clemson blog, Shakin The Southland.

Clemson, SC (Sports Network) – Kyle Parker completed 19-of-26 passes for 234 yards with two touchdowns, as 18th-ranked Clemson secured the ACC Atlantic Division title after defeating Virginia, 34-21, in a conference matchup.

C.J. Spiller totaled 97 all-purpose yards, including a rushing score for Clemson (8-3, 6-2 ACC), which clinched the top spot in the Atlantic even before stepping onto the field, as Boston College lost to North Carolina earlier on Saturday. The Tigers, who have won six straight, will play Georgia Tech in the ACC Championship game on December 5.

Jacoby Ford had a huge game, catching six passes for 106 yards and a touchdown, while Andre Ellington carried the ball five times for 29 yards and a TD.

Jameel Sewell completed 11-of-17 throws for 160 yards and a TD, and also ran for a score for Virginia (3-8, 2-5), which has dropped five straight after a three-game winning streak. Vic Hall tossed a touchdown pass and Mikell Simpson added a scoring grab.

With Clemson in front 24-21 at the half, Ellington stretched the lead to double-digits when he ran for a five-yard score with 7:17 left in the third. The drive covered 66 yards on six plays and took only 2:50 off the game clock. Richard Jackson made it a 34-21 game after he nailed a 24-yard field goal with eight seconds remaining in the third.

The Tigers then used a smothering defense to keep Virginia off the board in the fourth quarter.

Parker’s 16-yard touchdown pass to Dwayne Allen opened the scoring with nearly six minutes left in the first quarter, but Virginia quickly tied the game on its ensuing drive.

Chase Minnifield returned the kickoff 34 yards to the Clemson 45 and the Cavaliers found the end zone soon after, when Sewell ran it in from six-yards out.

Clemson and UV then traded touchdowns. First it was Spiller finishing off a 71-yard, six-play drive with a four-yard TD scamper. Virginia then went into its bag of tricks as Hall hit Sewell for a 30-yard pass, taking it to the CU five-yard line before Hall tossed to a wide-open Joe Torchia in the back of the end zone.

The Tigers then scored 10 consecutive points. Jackson tacked on three with a 21-yard field goal before a Parker-to-Ford 24-yard TD hookup made it a 24-14 game with just under two minutes left in the half.

Virginia struck for a score as time expired, though, marching 80 yards on nine plays. Sewell quickly led the offense inside Clemson territory after Simpson rushed for 22 yards to the Tigers’ 47. Then five plays later, Sewell hit Simpson in stride down the far sideline for a 23-yard score. The play was briefly reviewed by officials, but was upheld and Clemson was ahead by three at the intermission.

Clemson will play its regular-season finale next Saturday at South Carolina, while Virginia hosts Virginia Tech…Clemson owns a commanding 37-8-1 series advantage over Virginia, which includes a 13-3 victory over the Cavaliers last season.

- Via Sports Network.

Yeah, yeah, BYU fans…you played some good football against Air Force, but I’m betting you can’t fly a plane to save your life. Talk it up at our Cougars blog, Vanquish the Foe.

Provo, UT (Sports Network) – Max Hall tossed five touchdowns as 19th-ranked BYU easily handled Air Force, 38-21, in a Mountain West Conference battle at LaVell Edwards Stadium.

Hall went 33-for-45 with 377 yards and two interceptions to win his 30th game at BYU and surpass former Heisman Trophy-winner Ty Detmer for most wins in school history.

Harvey Unga also set two school records as he passed Curtis Brown for most carries and most yards in school history thanks to an 11-carry, 67-yard performance for the Cougars (9-2, 6-1 MAC), who have won their past three games. Dennis Pitta caught two scores while O’Neill Chambers, Andrew George and Luke Ashworth each had a touchdown catch in the win.

Ben Cochran went just 5-for-18 with 88 yards, one touchdown and one interceptions while Savier Stephens and Jonathan Warzeka each had a rushing touchdown for the Falcons (7-5, 5-3), who had a three-game winning streak coming into the game, their last of the regular season.

BYU got the ball into the red zone on its first possession, but a pass interference call pushed the team back 15 yards and a 48-yard field goal attempt by Mitch Payne was blocked.

Air Force was held to a three-and-out on its next touch and the Cougars were able to put together a successful drive as Payne was successful from 49 yards out for a 3-0 lead with six minutes to play in the first.

Tim Jefferson fumbled a carry on the Falcons’ next touch and the Cougars were able to take advantage. On the third play of the second quarter, Hall hit Pitta near the end zone and he stretched across the line for an eight-yard score and a 10-0 lead early in the second.

Air Force again turned the ball over as Jefferson was picked off by Andrew Rich, who returned the ball 39 yards to the Air Force 16. On the next play, Hall found Pitta in the end zone for a 17-0 lead.

Air Force put together a long drive on its next possession, but a 37-yard field goal attempt by Erik Soderberg went barely to the right of the goal post.

BYU then made it a 24-0 game in just six plays as Hall capped the 80-yard drive with a nine-yard toss to Ashworth with 5:15 to play in the first half.

Thanks to a short kickoff, Air Force got the ball back at its own 38 and just four plays later were able to get on the board as Cochran and Josh Cousins hooked up on a 27-yard score to make it a 24-7 game with just over three minutes left in the first half.

The Falcons continued to have ball problems with their first possession of the second half as Cochran fumbled the ball and Shawn Doman recovered. Two plays later, Hall connected with Chambers in the end zone from 10 yards out.

Just 42 seconds into the fourth quarter, Air Force got into the end zone as Warzeka punched the ball in from three yards out, but the team went for a two- point conversion that failed and it was a 31-13 game.

Hall was picked off by Chris Thomas on BYU’s next possession, but Air Force went for it on 4th-and-6 at the BYU 28 and Cochran’s pass to Warzeka was broken up by Andrew Rich.

The Cougars then sealed the win with an 11-play drive that Hall capped with a nine-yard touchdown pass to George.

Air Force finished the scoring in the game with 1:57 to play as Stephens took the ball into the end zone from four yards out and Cochran ran in the two- point conversion.

BYU hosts Utah next Saturday…BYU has won six straight against Air Force and is 24-6 in the series…Pitta finished the game with nine catches for 111 yards…Jared Tew had 19 carries for 82 yards for the Falcons while Cochran added 47 yards on 13 carries.

- Via Sports Network.