ORLANDO, Fla. -- Deshaun Watson bolstered his Heisman Trophy candidacy by passing for three touchdowns and running for two more to lead third-ranked Clemson to a 42-35 victory over No. 23 Virginia Tech in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game Saturday night.
Winning consecutive league titles for the first time in 28 years likely will send the Tigers (12-1) back to the four-team College Football Playoff for the second consecutive year, providing Watson with an opportunity to resolve unfinished business from last January, when his team lost to Alabama in the national championship game.
The Clemson star completed 23 of 34 passes for 288 yards, including TDs of 21 and 10 yards to Jordan Leggett and 15 yards to Hunter Renfrow for a 42-28 lead midway through the fourth quarter. He also rushed for 85 yards on 17 attempts for the Tigers. They've won back-to-back ACC titles for the first time since winning three consecutive from 1986-88.
Watson's Virginia Tech counterpart, Jerod Evans, was just as impressive. The 6-foot-3, 238-pounder ran for two touchdowns and rallied the Hokies from a 21-point deficit to make it close at the end.
The Hokies (9-4) scored on three consecutive possessions, trimming what was once a 35-14 deficit to seven points on Evans' 5-yard run early in the fourth quarter and Cam Phillips' 26-yard TD reception with just under six minutes remaining.
CONFERENCE USA
Wales, White lead WKU
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -- Anthony Wales rushed for 209 yards and four touchdowns, Mike White threw for 421 yards and three more scores and Western Kentucky defeated Louisiana Tech on Saturday in the Conference USA championship game.
The Hilltoppers (10-3) and Bulldogs (8-5), who won the regular-season matchup 55-52 on Oct. 6, combined for 1,163 yards of total offense in the highest scoring championship game in C-USA history. It is the second consecutive title for Western Kentucky, which is headed to its third bowl in a row and fourth in five years.
Following a 1-yard run by Kam McKnight that gave the Bulldogs their only lead of the second half at 38-34, Western Kentucky would take control in outscoring the Bulldogs 24-6 over the final 24 minutes.
Wales would score twice on runs of 15 and 13 yards, with the last proving to be the backbreaker and provided the final margin.
Ryan Higgins threw for 502 yards and three touchdowns for the Bulldogs.
Sports on 12/04/2016