While Saturday’s game came down to another last-minute drive for State, Wake Forest’s ability to counteract big plays and momentum with a big play of its own ended up being enough to give N.C. State its first loss in ACC play this season.
Wake Forest scored on two of its first three possessions with a 15-yard run by redshirt freshman running back Kevin Harris, and a 51-yard field goal by redshirt sophomore kicker Sam Swank, giving the Demon Deacons a 10-0 lead.
After the fast start by the Demon Deacons, the Wolfpack countered in the second quarter after sophomore running back Andre Brown’s one-yard touchdown leap at the goal line, and a three-yard touchdown run by sophomore running back Toney Baker with 5:38 left in the quarter — giving State a 14-10 lead.
On the ensuing Wake Forest possession, the Demon Deacons were able to suppress the scoring surge of the Pack with a big play of their own.
After a delay of game penalty causing second-and-13 for the Demon Deacons, redshirt junior wide receiver Kenneth Moore ran 37 yards on a reverse play that set up a 53-yard field goal by Swank.
On State’s first play from scrimmage on the next possession, Brown fumbled the ball into the end zone where redshirt senior offensive tackle James Newby jumped on the ball, resulting in a safety. The fumble was Brown’s first of the season.
Brown said the fumble resulted from seeing something on the field and trying to change directions.
“I was reversing the field and was trying to switch it to my other hand,” Brown said. “A guy came up there and put a hit on me as I was switching and it fell out.”
With only 35 seconds left in the half, Wake had another big play that changed the momentum of the game heading into halftime.
On second-and-3, redshirt sophomore quarterback Riley Skinner avoided pressure by the Pack’s defensive line by scrambling out of the pocket, then finding redshirt senior wide receiver Nate Morton for a 58-yard touchdown right before the half, putting the Deacons ahead by the score of 22-14.
Wake Forest scored a total of 12 points within the last five minutes of the second quarter, including nine points in the last 1:27.
Baker said the Deacon’s scoring before the half influenced the momentum of the game and the team heading into the locker room.
“We felt like we lost a little bit of focus. It did sting a little bit going into halftime,” Baker said. “Our mentality was that we were going to stick together and play a whole new half.”
Coach Chuck Amato said the touchdown before the half had several flaws, and had a huge affect on the game as a whole.
“There were people that were supposed to be back there covering him and they didn’t,” Amato said. “We still had a chance to tackle him though. You put him down, and they have to kick one there and that is four less points.”
During the second half, State’s defense held Wake Forest to 61 yards of total offense, only allowing three more points by the Deacons on a 53-yard field goal by Swank.
And after a 27-yard field goal by redshirt senior kicker John Deraney, and a 13-yard run by Baker in which he broke several tackles, even pushing teammate freshman wide receiver Donald Bowens out of the way, the Pack found itself in a similar situation to the past two weeks — in need of a late-game drive to win the game, down 25-23.
Starting the drive on State’s 22-yard line with 2:44 left, the Pack had to move the ball 88 yards for a score, or at least try to get inside of Deraney’s range for a possible game-winning field goal.
Deraney said while on the sideline watching the final drive, he was anxiously anticipating the opportunity to win the game.
“I was waiting to,” Deraney said. “It’s something I have always wanted to do.”
After a couple first downs for State, Wake Forest once again made a big play when it had to.
On second-and-five with 45 seconds remaining, Evans, while being pressured by the Demon Deacon’s defense, threw a pass down field that was intercepted by redshirt free safety Josh Gattis of Wake Forest, sealing a 25-23 win for the Deacons.
Darrell Blackman, a junior wide receiver, said the loss wasn’t as frustrating as it was disappointing because of the team’s effort during the game.
“We went out there and played our hearts out,” Blackman said. “We turned the ball over at key points of the game, and they capitalized on it.”
For Wake Forest, Swank tied a school record on two kicks. His first field goal of 51-yards tied for fifth longest in Wake Forest football history, while his two 53-yard field goals both tied for longest in Wake Forest football history.
Amato said the difference was that Wake Forest was able to make the big plays.
“They made the plays. They made the plays,” Amato said.