Charlotte, NC (Sports Network) - James Wilder Jr. rushed for a pair of scores
on Saturday night, and the Seminoles' second-ranked defense came up big in the
closing minute, as No. 13 Florida State held off Georgia Tech, 21-15, to win
the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship game at Bank of America Stadium.
Wilder carried the ball 10 times for 69 yards, while Devonta Freeman added 59
yards and a score on 13 carries to help Florida State (11-2) earn its 13th ACC
championship in school history and a berth in the Orange Bowl.
EJ Manuel finished 16-of-21 for 134 yards, but threw an interception late in
the fourth quarter to give Georgia Tech one final shot at a go-ahead
touchdown.
Yellow Jackets quarterback Tevin Washington then led his squad near midfield
by converting a 4th-and-1 with a 5-yard surge, but Florida State defensive
back Karlos Williams intercepted Washington's next pass and returned it 41
yards to the Georgia Tech 4 to seal the victory.
Washington finished just 4-of-14 for 76 yards, but added 20 rushing yards and
a score on 10 carries for Georgia Tech (6-7), which finished with the same
record as Miami-Florida in the ACC Coastal, but earned a berth in the title
game because of the Hurricanes' self-imposed sanctions.
David Sims rushed for 91 yards on 19 carries in the setback.
The Sports Network