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Clemson reaches 1st Orange Bowl in 30 years

Dec 4, 2011 - 8:23 AM Charlotte, NC (Sports Network) - Tajh Boyd threw for 240 yards and three touchdowns as No. 21 Clemson used a strong third quarter to capture its first ACC title since 1991 with a 38-10 win over No. 5 Virginia Tech in the ACC Championship Game.

Andre Ellington ran for 125 yards and a score, and Boyd added a one-yard rushing touchdown for Clemson (10-3), which clinched its first Orange Bowl bid since 1981.

"We're excited about going to Miami," Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said.

DeAndre Hopkins caught seven passes for 92 yards, and Sammy Watkins had five receptions for 80 yards and a touchdown.

David Wilson, the ACC's Offensive Player of the Year, ran for just 32 yards on 11 carries for Virginia Tech (11-2), which had won each of its previous four appearances in the ACC Championship Game.

Logan Thomas threw for 274 yards on 22-of-44 passing with a touchdown and two fourth quarter interceptions.

D.J. Coles caught seven balls for 116 yards and a score in defeat.

The score was tied 10-10 at the half, but the Tigers used a dominant third quarter -- outscoring the Hokies 21-0 -- to turn the game into a rout.

Clemson went 87 yards in 10 plays on its first possession of the half to take a 17-10 lead. Boyd found a wide-open Allen in end zone for an eight- yard score to cap off the drive.

After a Hokies punt, Boyd found an open Watkins streaking down the field on the first play of the possession for a 53-yard TD strike to give Clemson a 24-10 lead.

Virginia Tech then went three-and-out for a third consecutive time, and the Tigers took over in prime field position at the Hokies' 41-yard line.

Clemson needed just three plays to take a 31-10 lead as Ellington broke free down the left sideline for a 29-yard score.

The Hokies moved the ball 38 yards to Clemson's 30-yard line on their ensuing series, but Drager dropped a pass on 4th-and-2 to give the Tigers the ball back.

Boyd then led the Tigers 69 yards in nine plays before sneaking in from a yard out to give Clemson a 38-10 advantage early in the fourth quarter.

"They got rolling and we didn't do a good job of stopping it," Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer said.

Earlier, Stephone Anthony stripped Thomas on Virginia Tech's first offensive play from scrimmage, and Clemson took over at the Hokies' 24-yard line. Boyd found Allen for a 24-yard score three plays later to give Clemson a quick 7-0 lead.

The Hokies answered late in the first quarter to tie the score when Thomas found Coles for a 45-yard TD strike.

Clemson used an 11-play, 71-yard drive to regain the lead when Chandler Catanzaro kicked a 20-yard field goal to make it 10-7 advantage midway through the second quarter.

Cody Journell was good on a career-long 42-yard field goal before the half to knot the game at 10.

Game Notes

Clemson won the national championship in 1981...The Tigers have won 14 ACC Championships...Clemson forced its first turnover in four games...With the win, the Tigers defeated their fourth ranked opponent this season, a new school record...Its the first time that Virginia Tech has lost to the same opponent twice in a season.