SOUTH ROUNDUP : Florida State Defeats Virginia Tech, 33-20

Florida State’s Terrell Buckley is only halfway through his junior season and he has already worn out his welcome with opposing teams.

Buckley intercepted two passes Saturday, returning one 71 yards for a touchdown, as top-ranked Florida State used big plays to defeat Virginia Tech, 33-20, at Orlando, Fla.

“When is someone going to draft Terrell Buckley and get him in the pros where he belongs?” Virginia Tech quarterback Will Furrer said. “He’s just one of the best corners I’ve ever faced. We might start to say all-world.”

It was the second year in a row Buckley scored on an interception against Virginia Tech.

Kevin Knox caught a 38-yard touchdown pass and set up another score with a 62-yard reception as the Seminoles extended their winning streak to 12 games.

Florida State (6-0) trailed in a game for the second consecutive week, but took a 20-14 halftime lead on Knox’s touchdown.

Buckley’s touchdown gave the Seminoles a 14-7 lead early in the second quarter. He later intercepted his sixth pass of the season to equal the Florida State career mark of 15 established by Monk Bonasorte from 1977 to 1980.

Buckley’s interception-return touchdown was his fourth, matching Deion Sanders’ career mark at Florida State.

Virginia Tech (2-4) held nearly every statistical edge in the game, totaling 420 yards offense and 24 first downs while Florida State managed 343 yards and 19 first downs.

No. 18 Clemson 20, Virginia 20--Michael Husted of Virginia missed a 34-yard field-goal attempt with five seconds left, allowing Clemson to salvage a tie in an Atlantic Coast Conference game at Clemson, S.C.

Nelson Welch of Clemson (3-1-1, 1-0-1) kicked a 40-yard field goal with 46 seconds left to redeem himself from three earlier misses.

Virginia (3-2-1, 1-2-1) led 20-10 with six minutes left. But the Tigers rallied to avoid their second consecutive loss and only their second homecoming loss in two decades.

Georgia Tech 34, Maryland 10--Shawn Jones completed 10 of 21 passes for 227 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Yellow Jackets over the Terrapins in an ACC game at Atlanta.

It was the 14th consecutive home-field victory for Georgia Tech (3-3, 2-2), which took control late in the first half after Maryland (1-4, 1-1) botched a fake field-goal attempt while leading, 3-0.

North Carolina 24, Wake Forest 10--Natrone Means gained 167 yards in 29 carries and scored on runs of 63 yards and one yard as North Carolina won an ACC game at Chapel Hill, N.C.

North Carolina (4-1, 1-1) led 3-0 at halftime after being held to 97 total yards and only 28 on the ground by the league’s worst rushing defense.

Wake Forest (1-4, 0-2) has lost 14 consecutive ACC games.

Louisiana Tech 12, South Carolina 12--Chris Bonoil kicked a 38-yard field goal with seven seconds left to give Louisiana Tech the tie at Columbia, S.C.

Louisiana Tech (4-1-1) trailed 12-7 with 3:10 left after the Gamecocks (2-2-2) scored their second touchdown on a 28-yard pass play from Bobby Fuller to Eddie Miller.

Fuller opted to try for a two-point conversion, but was intercepted by Demise Loyd, who returned the ball 100 yards for a safety that made it 12-9.

Tulsa 34, Southwestern Louisiana 20--T.J. Rubley’s two touchdown passes helped Tulsa build a 17-point halftime lead, and the Golden Hurricane coasted to victory at Lafayette, La.

Tulsa (4-2), which beat Southwestern for the first time in five games, sent the winless Cajuns to their seventh consecutive loss.

Memphis State 17, Southern Mississippi 12--Xavier Crawford rushed for 134 yards and a touchdown to lead Memphis State (3-3), which beat Southern Mississippi (3-3) for the first time since 1984.