Wake Forest Demon Deacons

Deacs Clip Eagles, 23-13

Game Report Posted: October 26, 2008 15:53  

In a tighter-than-expected game, the Wake Forest Demon Deacons held on for a 23-13 win over the Boston College Golden Eagles.

Wake won primarily on the strength of their defense and special teams. The Deacons held the Eagles running game in check, and garnered 8 sacks. Alex Frye also had a key interception. Freshman Pat Wheatley connected on all three of his field goal attempts.

The Deacons scored on a Josh Adams touchdown run in the first half to tie the score at 10 shortly before halftime.

In the fourth quarter, backup quarterback Brett Hodges broke a 13-13 tie by audibling out of a play, then scoring on a 57-yard option keeper, which proved to be the decisive touchdown. After forcing a turnover on downs, the Deacons tacked on another Wheatley field goal.

Wake Chases Away Wolfpack, 35-28

Game Report Posted: November 07, 2008 07:15  

In a sloppy, mistake-filled game, the Wake Forest Demon Deacons topped the NC State Wolfpack 35-28.

Although the Wolfpack jumped out to an early lead on Darrell Davis's first of three touchdown catches on the day, Wake responded with a Kevin Harris 1-yard run. A long Wolfpack drive was foiled when Alex Frye picked off a Mike Glenn pass and returned it 80 yards, just short of the end zone. Brett Hodges scored on an option keeper to give Wake a 14-7 lead.

Davis added two touchdown catches in the second quarter to give the Wolfpack a 21-14 halftime lead.

Wake responded with an explosive third quarter. Hodges connected with Marshall Williams for a 16-yard touchdown pass. After the defense forced a three-and-out, Brandon Pendergrass returned a punt 68 yards for a score. After another turnover, Josh Adams ran for a 43-yard score.

In the fourth quarter, disaster nearly struck. As Wake sought to run out the clock, Hodges made an ill-advised pass that was intercepted and returned for a touchdown by linebacker Nate Jarvis with under three minutes remaining. After Wake was forced to punt, NC State got the ball back with a final chance to force overtime. NC State repeatedly called for short passes, and the clock ran out on them.

Deacons Fumble Away Victory, Fall to Noles 28-21

Game Report Posted: October 06, 2008 05:41  

The Wake Forest Demon Deacons had ample opportunity to upset the #6 Florida State Seminoles, but could not put them away in the second half.

The Deacons took a 14-7 lead into halftime. Josh Adams opened the scoring with an 8-yard touchdown run. After the Seminoles tied the score, Wake's Brendan Pendergrass took a punt 65 yards down the left sideline for a touchdown.

Wake was able to open up a lead in part due to an injury to FSU quarterback E.J. Manuel, who was sacked in the first series of the game by freshman defensive lineman John Holloway. Manuel missed the rest of the first half, but came back to throw three touchdown strikes in the second half.

Wake, after forcing a key punt with about 90 seconds left, had a chance to tie the game. But Pendergrass tried to return the punt, and instead, he fumbled the punt. When FSU recovered the muff, the game was effectively over.

Adding injury to insult, quarterback Riley Skinner suffered a shoulder injury midway through the fourth quarter, and is expected to miss about three weeks.

Deacons Edge Duke in Shootout, 37-35

Game Report Posted: November 12, 2008 06:59  

In a wild shootout at Wallace Wade Stadium, the Wake Forest Demon Deacons beat the Duke Blue Devils 37-35 on a 38-yard Shane Popham field goal with a second left to play.

Moments before, the Devils seized a most improbable lead, with Zack Asack throwing a 91-yard bomb to Austin Kelly for a touchdown, giving the Devils a 35-34 lead with 18 seconds left. After the ensuing kickoff, Deacons quarterback Brett Hodges connected with Devin Brown on a 30-yard pass to the right sideline, then followed with a 23-yard pass to Casey Hill to set up the Popham field goal.

The Devils jumped out to a shocking 21-0 first half lead, behind another touchdown strike from Asack to Kelly, Randez James's return of a Josh Adams fumble, and a 52-yard run by Sheldon Bell on a reverse.

The Deacons struck back, behind three rushing touchdowns by Skinner, and another one from Adams, who had 161 yards on the ground for the game.

The game was tied 28-28 after three quarters. Wake added two short field goals by Popham to take a 6 point lead with less than two minutes left. Wake appeared to have the game clinched when Jeff Shelby recovered a fumble near midfield with little more than a minute left. Duke, however, forced Wake to punt, and after two unsuccessful plays, Asack struck gold by connecting on the 91-yard strike to Kelly. But it was not meant to be.

Cavs Conquer Deacons, 31-18

Game Report Posted: November 25, 2008 06:44  

The Virginia Cavaliers jumped out to an early lead which they never surrendered, as they prevailed over the Wake Forest Demon Deacons 31-18. Wake moved the ball consistently throughout the second half, but failed to put points on the board.

UVA jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead when Peter Lalich connected with Vic Hall for a 40-yard touchdown. After a Wake field goal, Lalich hit Staton Jobe on a quick slant, which he took 79 yards for a score. Wake rallied late in the first half when Riley Skinner hit Devon Brown on a 13-yard comeback route, but Lalich connected with Chris Dalton to set up a third UVA touchdown shortly before halftime.

Wake struggled to run the ball consistently, and fumbled three option pitch plays. Trailing throughout the second half, they opened up the playbook, and Skinner threw for a season high 382 yards. Wake struggled to move the ball in the red zone, however, and their cause was impaired by two shanked field goals by Shane Popham.