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3 takeaways from Wake Forest’s come-from-behind win against rival NC State
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RALEIGH, N.C. – The law of averages finally caught up with Wake Forest.
In a good way.
After losing twice in the final 2 minutes this season and 7 times in the last 8 trips to NC State, the Deacons finally came up a winner on Saturday. Demond Claiborne capped a dominating 2nd half by scoring 2 late touchdowns to lead his team to a 34-30 victory against its in-state rival.
Claiborne ran for 105 of his 136 yards after halftime. He capped a 10-point 4th quarter comeback with a 32-yard touchdown run with just under 9 minutes remaining, then put Wake ahead on a 3-yard score with 1:01 remaining.
The final drive was set up by a key decision by coach Dave Clawson, who chose to go for it on 4th-and-1 from the 26-yard line rather than kicking the tying field goal and playing for overtime. Quarterback Hank Bachmeier made the call pay off when he completed a pass to Deuce Alexander to extend the possession.
The win reverses earlier defeats against Virginia and Louisiana in which the opposition scored the winning points in the final 2 minutes.
Here are 3 takeaways from the win that improves the Deacons to 2-3 (1-1 ACC) while dropping the Wolfpack to 3-3 (0-2):
Turnovers don’t hurt Wake
Win the turnover battle, win the game.
Right.
It didn’t necessarily work out that way Saturday. The Deacons turned the ball over twice, with both of the miscues coming in the 3rd quarter with Wake clinging to a 1-point lead. But instead of being a huge momentum swing in the Wolfpack’s favor, it was the Deacons that came away with the advantage as its defense – and a little luck – prevented the opposition from cashing in on either mistake.
They survived a strip sack by Sean Brown that gave State possession on the plus-35 yard line by forcing a quick 3 and out, punctuated by a missed 49-yard field goal by the usually reliable Kenoah Vinesett.
Then on the following possession, Bachmeier was intercepted by Bishop Fitzgerald just on the Wolfpack side of midfield. But again the defense held on 3 plays, forcing a punt, limiting the damage and keeping what ended up being a 10-point deficit from being any larger.
Grayson McCall was back. But not for long
McCall’s return to the lineup after missing the past 2 games lasted only 7 plays. The transfer quarterback completed 3 of his 5 passes for 42 yards and had his team inside the Wake 20. But his day came to an abrupt end as he tried to run for a 1st down on a 3rd-and-11 play.
Just as he approached the line to gain, McCall was met head-on by Deacons linebacker Quincy Bryant. His tackle had so much force that it sent McCall’s helmet flying in one direction and the ball in another while the Wolfpack captain collapsed to the ground.
McCall lay motionless on the ground surrounded by teammates as Wake’s Evan Slocum picked up the loose ball and returned it 88 yards to the State 2. The Deacons scored a touchdown 2 plays later to go ahead 10-0.
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It took medical personnel several minutes to stabilize McCall on a backboard and onto a cart. He gestured to the crowd as he was transported off the field, drawing a cheer from the crowd. It was an encouraging sign. But the injury is a troubling one considering the nature of McCall’s history with concussions. He suffered one last year at Coastal Carolina that forced him to miss significant time and is believed to have incurred another one this season during the Wolfpack’s win against Louisiana Tech on Sept. 14.
No love lost for transfer Wesley Grimes
Saturday was a reunion game for the Wolfpack receiver, who played his 1st 2 seasons at Wake before transferring to State. Although Grimes might have been happy to see some of his old teammates, the Deacons made it clear early that they weren’t all that excited about meeting him again.
On Grimes’ 1st touch of the game, a 5-yard catch across the middle on a 3rd-and-3 play, he took a hard hit from Wake nickel Devaugh Patterson. As the tackle was being made, Patterson embellished the hit with a forearm to Grimes’ head, drawing a targeting call and ejection that was upheld upon review.
Grimes had 20 catches for 339 yards and 4 touchdowns for the Deacons last season. He finished Saturday’s game with 4 receptions for 46 yards.
Award-winning columnist Brett Friedlander has covered the ACC and college basketball since the 1980s.
