2011 Atlantic Coast Conference Football Championship: ACC Championship Game

Sometimes, it’s just your night, or rather in Virginia Tech’s case, not so.

But for Clemson, it wasn’t just the night – this was the Tigers’ season, capturing their first ACC title since 1991 by dominating the Hokies in the ACC Championship Game rematch, 38-10.

Clemson (10-3, 7-2 ACC) rode a quick-strike third quarter with three touchdowns in just over four minutes to seize a 31-10 lead before a largely orange-clad crowd at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.

Virginia Tech (11-2, 7-2 ACC), after sustaining season-lows in offensive totals in a 23-3 home loss to the Tigers earlier this season, didn’t have answers on how to attack them this time around either.

ACC leading-rusher Hokies running back David Wilson was held to 32 rushing yards on 11 carries, while his quarterback Logan Thomas couldn’t solve the Clemson secondary – picked off twice with nine passes broken up as well.

Turnovers told the story of the game about as much as anything else – the Hokies with three and the Tigers posting a bagel in the category.

A fumble on play one by Thomas got things rolling for Clemson early, where Tigers quarterback Tajh Boyd hit tight end Dwayne Allen on the sidelines and he did the rest for a 24-yard touchdown.

But Virginia Tech wasn’t quite done yet, Thomas connecting on playaction 45 yards to wide receiver D.J. Coles in the endzone to tie it up in the first quarter.

The second quarter was marked by promising drives stalled – Clemson moving to the Hokies’ 2 before settling for a 20-yard field goal.

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While momentum coming off a late-hit call on third down in Virginia Tech’s favor towards the end of the half – ended the same way after a crucial holding call, once again tying it up, 10-10.

The Hokies’ hopes for a fifth ACC title in eight seasons were dashed, and fast in the third quarter though.

After a 61-yard punt by Virginia Tech punter/receiver Danny Coale, Clemson moved the ball 87 yards and Boyd hit Allen for his second touchdown of the game, eight yards, to regain the lead.

The Hokies’ spiral continued when a third-down conversion was called back on offensive pass interference, leading to another punt, and Clemson coach Dabo Swinney’s crew didn’t waste any time – hitting a 53-yard touchdown to star freshman receiver Sammy Watkins on play one.

With the pro-Clemson crowd on its feet, the Tiger defense dominated – forcing a third-straight three-and-out of the half, where three plays later, running back Andre Ellington delivered the dagger, a 29-yard rush up the middle then down the sidelines, taking a 31-10 lead.

The Tigers scored three touchdowns in 4:24 off the game-clock, while the defense forced two interceptions, two punts and two series turned over on downs with only 151 yards allowed in the second half.

Clemson’s Boyd, after throwing seven interceptions to four touchdowns in his previous four games, regained the form of his hot start – hitting 20-of-29 passes for 240 yards and three touchdowns. Boyd finished with single-season school records in passing touchdowns (31), total touchdowns (36) and passing yards (3,578).

The Tigers earned a trip to their first Orange Bowl since winning a national title there in the 1981 season, and face Big East champion West Virginia (9-3).

ACC Championship Game Recap