SPORTS ITEMS

Lawrence ACC Rookie of Year; Swinney named Coach of Year

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GREENSBORO, N.C. - Clemson freshman quarterback Trevor Lawrence has been selected as the 2018 Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie of the Year.

Lawrence led the way in balloting among a select panel of 46 media members and the league's 14 head coaches. Syracuse safety Andre Cisco received the nod as the 2018 ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year.

A five-time ACC Rookie of the Week, Lawrence has thrown for 2,488 yards in his freshman season, and the Cartersville, Georgia, native's 22 touchdown passes are tied for the ACC lead. Lawrence has thrown for at least 300 yards on three occasions, and his 393 passing yards in the regular-season finale against South Carolina were the most by a Clemson quarterback in the series' 116-game history.

Clemson's Swinney ACC Coach of Year

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Clemson's Dabo Swinney has been selected as the 2018 Atlantic Coast Conference Football Coach of the Year following the Tigers' unbeaten regular season and fourth consecutive Atlantic Division title.

Swinney, whose Tigers are 12-0 entering Saturday's ACC championship game against Pittsburgh, led the way in balloting among a select panel of 46 media members and the league's 14 head coaches. Swinney received 27 votes, followed by Syracuse's Dino Babers with 22. Pat Narduzzi, who guided Pitt to its first ACC Coastal Division championship, placed third with nine votes.

North Carolina brings back Mack Brown as football coach

Mack Brown is North Carolina's new football coach in a second stint with the Tar Heels.

The school officially announced the move in a news release Tuesday morning. Financial and contract terms were not immediately available, though the school has scheduled a news conference for later Tuesday with Brown, athletic director Bubba Cunningham and Chancellor Carol Folt.

Brown replaces Larry Fedora, who was fired Sunday after seven seasons.

Watson leads Texans to franchise-record 8th straight win

HOUSTON - Deshaun Watson threw for 210 yards and two touchdowns and ran for a third as the Houston Texans set a franchise record with their eighth straight win, 34-17 over the Tennessee Titans on Monday night.

Demaryius Thomas scored his first two touchdowns as a Texan and Lamar Miller ran for 162 yards, including a 97-yard TD.

In the first game since founder and owner Robert "Bob" McNair died on Friday, the Texans (8-3) honored him by wearing decals on the back of their helmets in the shape of a football with white block letters bearing his initials of "RCM."

With that reminder on their helmets, they became the first team in NFL history to win eight games in a row after opening a season 0-3.

The Texans trailed by 10 early before reeling off 27 straight points. Tennessee (5-6) finally scored again on a 48-yard reception by Corey Davis late in the third quarter, but the second TD by Thomas - this one for 10 yards - made it 34-17 with just more than eight minutes left.