Tag: Demon Deacons

88-yard punt return TD helps Wake Forest usurp No. 14 Virginia

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Three field goals from Connor Calvert, along with Carlos Hernandez’s huge punt return for a score were difference makers in Wake Forest’s 16-9 win over No. 12 Virginia Saturday night in Charlottesville, Va.

The Demon Deacons (6-3, 3-3 ACC) handed the Cavaliers (8-2, 5-1) their first conference loss and beat Virginia for the first time since 2021 when they won 37-17 on the road.

Hernandez had the biggest play of the night, fielding the ball off a bounce and returning it 88 yards for a score, giving the Demon Deacons the lead for good at 7-6 with 1:33 left in the half.

Calvert’s first field goal from 40 yards out with 40 seconds left extended the lead to 10-6 at halftime.

The Cavaliers came in as the lone unbeaten in the ACC but saw their seven-game winning streak end as they failed to score a touchdown for the first time all year.

Two field goals by Will Bettridge accounted for Virginia’s only points of the first half. He added a 35-yarder in the third to cut the deficit to 10-9 but Calvert connected on a 50-yarder with 3:49 left in the quarter to make the score 13-9.

Virginia lost starting quarterback Chandler Morris to an injury in the second quarter after he was hit by two defenders while sliding on a second-down run, laying on the field for a few minutes before getting up and going to the locker room. He was 3-for-6 for 19 yards before exiting and did not return.

Daniel Kaelin filled in and completed 18 of his 28 passes for 145 yards. He also rushed for 49 yards.

Virginia outgained Wake Forest 327-203.

Wake Forest’s 16-play fourth-quarter drive consumed 9:16 and led to a 49-yard field goal by Calvert and a 16-9 edge with 3:53 to play.

Dylan Hazen forced a fumble on a rush by J’Mari Taylor and recovered it at the 26-yard line of Wake Forest with 3:12 remaining to kill off Virginia’s ensuing drive.

The Cavaliers had one last chance to answer with a little over two minutes to play, getting inside to the 5-yard line of the Demon Deacons with 36 seconds to play. But a fourth-and-three pass from Daniel to Jahmal Edrine was broken up at the goal line.

–Field Level Media

Oct 11, 2025; Tallahassee, Florida, USA; Florida State Seminoles head coach Mike Norvell before the game against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Doak S. Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Myers-Imagn Images

Florida State’s Mike Norvell clings to job as Seminoles face Wake Forest

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It feels like Mike Norvell’s Florida State tenure is hanging on by a string.

The Seminoles (3-4, 0-4 in Atlantic Coast Conference) took their fourth straight loss Oct. 18 at Stanford despite being three-score favorites. It doubled as their ninth straight ACC loss.

Florida State athletic director Michael Alford put out a statement two days later that said, in part, “our complete assessment of the football program will be completed at season’s end.”

For Norvell’s sake, the Seminoles badly need a win when they host Wake Forest Saturday night in Tallahassee, Fla.

A problem for Florida State, beyond its own recent struggles, is that what was expected to be a game against one of the ACC’s lesser opponents now looks more challenging.

The Demon Deacons (5-2, 2-2), picked to finish 16th out of 17 in the ACC, already has as many conference wins as it had in either of the last two seasons.

Wake Forest heads south coming off the biggest win of first-year coach Jake Dickert’s tenure, a 13-12 win over SMU that handed the Mustangs their first ACC loss of the season.

“Incredible resolve in our football team,” Dickert said. “I really believe our belief in what we’re doing, really in all three phases, is truly unshakeable. And I think that’s what you experienced.”

The Demon Deacons turned it over five times in the win, but the defense allowed no points on them and held a potent SMU offense to 246 yards.

Quarterback Robby Ashford (thumb) played early in the game despite being limited. Deshawn Purdie got the majority of the reps vs. SMU, throwing for 183 yards and two interceptions.

Dickert didn’t clarify who would start against Florida State, but did say Ashford will only be the full-time starter if he’s 100%.

The Seminoles’ bye after the Stanford loss was a timely one as quarterback Tommy Castellanos (1,607 passing yards, 14 total TDs, five picks) took a hit to the head while sliding late in the game. Norvell said he likely would not have been available last Saturday, but may be able to play this week.

“He was able to get some work towards the end of the week, and I’m excited about what’s ahead for this week,” Norvell said. “But we’ll have to take it day by day as this week unfolds.”

–Field Level Media

Sep 11, 2025; Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA; Wake Forest Demon Deacons wide receiver Chris Barnes (10) returns the opening kickoff for a touchdown in the first half against North Carolina State Wolfpack at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Luke Jamroz-Imagn Images

CJ Bailey delivers 3 TD passes as NC State overtakes Wake Forest

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CJ Bailey threw three touchdown passes and Hollywood Smothers ran for 163 yards to help North Carolina State rally past Wake Forest for a 34-24 victory in both teams’ Atlantic Coast Conference opener on Thursday in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Tight end Justin Joly caught two touchdown passes, and NC State took its first lead on Bailey’s 12-yard pass to Keenan Jackson with 12:37 remaining.

NC State (3-0, 1-0 ACC) scored the game’s final 20 points, capped by Kanoah Vinesett’s 37-yard field goal with 6:19 remaining. Bailey finished 23 of 32 for 201 yards in the air, while Smothers had 24 carries.

Wake Forest’s only first down of the second half prior to the two-minute timeout came on an NC State penalty.

Chris Barnes returned a kickoff for a touchdown and hauled in a long reception to set up the game’s second touchdown for the Demon Deacons (2-1), who lost for the first time under first-year coach Jake Dickert.

Wake Forest quarterback Robby Ashford went 21-for-35 for 242 yards and two interceptions. Standout running back Demond Claiborne was held to 35 rushing yards and a touchdown on 12 carries.

Joly’s second touchdown reception on a 4-yard play with 6:22 remaining in the third quarter allowed the Wolfpack to pull even at 24-24.

After lots of first-half offense for Wake Forest, the Demon Deacons picked up only 3 yards total on their three third-quarter possessions.

Barnes returned the game’s opening kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown. Claiborne’s 1-yard run pushed the Demon Deacons to a 14-0 lead less than eight minutes into the game.

NC State got on the board on its next possession as Bailey’s 5-yard touchdown toss to Joly on fourth-and-1 completed a 75-yard march. The score was even at 14-14 before the end of the first quarter courtesy of 276-pound defensive tackle Isaiah Shirley’s 41-yard interception return for a touchdown.

Wake Forest needed nine plays to retake the lead on Ashford’s 1-yard run. The lead grew to 24-14 on Connor Calvert’s 28-yard field goal.

The Wolfpack pulled within 24-17 before halftime on Vinesett’s 24-yard field goal. Smothers rushed for 81 first-half yards.

–Field Level Media

Sep 6, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack wide receiver Keenan Jackson (8) celebrates an interception with North Carolina State Wolfpack quarterback CJ Bailey (11) to win the game during the second half of the game against Virginia Cavaliers at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images

Undefeated NC State, Wake Forest tangle in ACC opener

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There are different preparation timetables for NC State and Wake Forest as they get ready for Thursday night’s game at Winston-Salem, N.C.

Yet both teams want the same results they’ve experienced so far.

“For this football team, (it’s) our first road test and the short week,” NC State coach Dave Doeren said. “We’ve had a Thursday game coming out of training camp, a long prep getting ready for Game 2, now a short prep for Game 3. We have no routine, and that’s our routine right now. It’s different every week.”

It’s the Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both, even though NC State (2-0) topped Virginia on Saturday in a nonleague matchup between ACC members.

Wake Forest (2-0) will play its third consecutive home game under coach Jake Dickert.

“I think the biggest message to our team is there’s a lot of noise about it, a lot of talk about it,” Dickert said of facing a traditional in-state rival. “… You’re wrong if your preparation changes. You’re wrong if your intensity toward this game changes.”

Dickert said their opponents are “battle-tested” after NC State had narrow victories against East Carolina and Virginia.

Wake Forest cruised past Western Carolina 42-10 on Saturday in a game that involved three hours’ worth of lightning-related delays. But the Demon Deacons were able to get running back Demond Claiborne out of the game early in the third quarter after he ran for three touchdowns and 193 yards.

“You can see what happens when Demond Claiborne is out there,” Dickert said.

NC State will arrive with loads of confidence because of late-game playmaking in its first two games.

“It builds confidence, for sure,” Doeren said. “We’ve had two good football games where we had to finish to win, and we did that in both cases. And so it definitely ratchets up guys’ belief that they can win any game.”

It also helps the Wolfpack to have quarterback CJ Bailey, whose versatility has been on display. He has thrown for 518 yards and two scores while rushing for 65 yards and three touchdowns.

The road team has won the past two meetings, with Wake Forest pulling off a 34-30 upset last year in Raleigh. Claiborne had two touchdown runs and 136 rushing yards in that game. Bailey threw for 272 yards in relief of Grayson McCall, who was carted off the field in the first quarter.

It will be NC State receiver Wesley Grimes’ first game in Winston-Salem since he transferred from Wake Forest after spending 2022 and 2023 with the Demon Deacons. Grimes compiled 121 receiving yards and a touchdown in this year’s opener vs. East Carolina.

These teams, who have met annually since 1910, have split their last 10 meetings. Since 2000, NC State has gone 3-9 on the road in the series.

–Field Level Media

Nov 23, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Wake Forest Demon Deacons head coach Dave Clawson looks on against the Miami Hurricanes during the second quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Reports: Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson stepping down

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Dave Clawson is stepping down as head coach of Wake Forest, ESPN and The Athletic reported Monday.

Clawson, 57, made the decision to step down and plans to continue at the school in an advisory role, according to the reports.

Clawson came to Wake Forest in 2014 and helped the Demon Deacons reach a bowl game in seven straight seasons, winning five of them. They were ranked as highly as No. 10 in the AP poll in both 2021 and 2022, and they went on to win the Gator and Gasparilla Bowls in those seasons.

Clawson had a decorated FCS career before coming to Bowling Green, where he coached for five seasons. He is the only coach on record with a double-digit win season at four different Division I programs — Fordham (2002), Richmond (2007), Bowling Green (2013) and Wake Forest (2021).

In 200 FBS games, Clawson went 99-101 with a 5-5 record in bowl games.

Wake Forest’s season is over after a second consecutive 4-8 record meant no invite to a bowl game.

–Field Level Media

Oct 26, 2024; Stanford, California, USA; Wake Forest Demon Deacons running back Demond Claiborne (1) breaks a tackle by Stanford Cardinal linebacker Tristan Sinclair (8) during the second quarter fr a first down at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-Imagn Images

Matthew Dennis kicks winning FG to lift Wake Forest over Stanford

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Matthew Dennis kicked a 23-yard field goal with 1:48 to play and Wake Forest’s defense came up with another turnover to preserve a 27-24 victory at Stanford in Atlantic Coast Conference play on Saturday.

Nick Andersen intercepted Ashton Daniels’ pass with 22 seconds left after Stanford moved into Wake Forest territory. The pick clinched the outcome, giving the Demon Deacons (4-4, 2-2 ACC) back-to-back road triumphs going into an open week. Hank Bachmeier threw for three touchdowns in a return to his home state.

Bachmeier was 20-for-31 for 245 yards with an interception and teammate Demond Claiborne rushed for 127 yards on 23 carries.

Stanford (2-6, 1-4) has a five-game losing streak, with three of those at home.

Daniels threw for 214 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions. Stanford committed four turnovers, with the Demon Deacons scoring touchdowns after the first two.

Wake Forest’s winning drive was set up by Taylor Morin’s 36-yard punt return to midfield. The Demon Deacons used 10 plays before the field goal for the final points in a game they never trailed.

After the Cardinal made a goal-line stand to stay within 24-17, Stanford marched 99 yards in 15 plays to tie the game on Daniels’ 16-yard pass to Sam Roush with 8:41 remaining.

Wake Forest took a 14-0 lead in the first quarter with Bachmeier throwing 30 yards to Micah Mays Jr. and 39 yards to Tate Carney.

The Cardinal got even about six minutes into the second quarter. Justin Larson ran in from 1 yard out and then Tevarua Tafiti returned Bachmeier’s fumble 44 yards for a touchdown.

The Demon Deacons went back ahead on their next possession on Dennis’ 35-yard field goal and boosted the edge to 24-14 on Bachmeier’s 18-yard pass to Morin just five plays after Andersen recovered a Stanford fumble.

Stanford closed within 24-17 by halftime on Emmet Kenney’s 40-yard field goal. He missed from 46 yards away in the first quarter.

–Field Level Media

Oct 19, 2024; East Hartford, Connecticut, USA; Wake Forest Demon Deacons head coach Dave Clawson watches from the sideline as they take on the Connecticut Huskies at Rentschler Field at Pratt & Whitney Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images

Wake Forest defense steps up in win over UConn

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Demond Claiborne ran for two touchdowns and Wake Forest’s defense did much of the heavy lifting in a 23-20 victory against host Connecticut on Saturday afternoon at East Hartford, Conn.

Claiborne gained 60 yards on 24 carries, Hank Bachmeier threw for 274 yards with an interception and Taylor Morin had 104 receiving yards for the Demon Deacons (3-4).

UConn quarterback Nick Evers was 26-for-43 passing for 247 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.

UConn (4-3) didn’t move above the 200-yard mark of total offense until about five minutes into the fourth quarter. But the Huskies engineered a 13-play, 88-yard mark to pull within 23-20 on Evers’ 25-yard scoring pass to Louis Hansen with 2:27 left.

UConn forced a Wake Forest punt and got the ball back at its own 20-yard line with 2:02 remaining. The Huskies picked up a first down before an incomplete pass on fourth down near midfield halted the final threat.

Wake Forest’s defense made a big impact. After a defensive-oriented first half, the teams traded touchdown drives in the first eight minutes of the second half.

Wake Forest extended its advantage to 20-6 with Claiborne’s 1-yard run completing an eight-play, 60-yard drive.

UConn responded by going 50 yards in seven plays, with Evers throwing 20 yards to Jasiah Gathings to cut the deficit to 20-13.

A chance for Wake Forest to rebuild a double-digit lead was thwarted when Matthew Dennis’ 42-yard field goal attempt was blocked late in the third. On the Demon Deacons’ next possession, Dennis connected from 36 yards out for a 23-13 lead with 11:13 to play.

Wake Forest led 13-6 at halftime, outgaining the Huskies 228-124 prior to the break. Both teams collected an interception in the first half.

Dennis kicked Wake Forest field goals of 32 and 31 yards and Chris Freeman booted UConn field goals of 35 and 53 yards. The difference was Claiborne’s 5-yard run early in the second quarter. The second Dennis field goal put the Demon Deacons up 13-3.

–Field Level Media

Sep 28, 2024; Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA; Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin Cajuns quarterback Ben Wooldridge (10) throws a touchdown pass under pressure by Wake Forest Demon Deacons defensive lineman Jasheen Davis (30) during the first half at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Louisiana edges Wake Forest on Kenneth Almendares’ FG

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Kenneth Almendares delivered the go-ahead 31-yard field goal with 52 seconds left to lift Louisiana over Wake Forest 41-38 in a non-conference game Saturday in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Ben Wooldridge completed 20 of 29 passes for 257 yards and three touchdowns without an interception for Louisiana. Two of his touchdowns went to Lance Legendre, who finished with six catches for 123 yards for the Ragin’ Cajuns (3-1).

Wake Forest quarterback Hank Bachmeier tallied for 254 yards with a touchdown and an interception on 30-of-36 passing. Tate Carney had three 1-yard rushing touchdowns for the Demon Deacons (1-3), who never led in the game.

Carney’s third touchdown tied the score with 1:55 remaining, but Zylan Perry returned the ensuing kickoff 57 yards to the Wake Forest 43, leading to the winning kick.

Bachmeier drove the Demon Deacons to the Louisiana 24, but Matthew Dennis’ 42-yard field goal hit the left upright and fell into the end zone as time expired.

Louisiana received the second-half kickoff and drove to Almendares’ 50-yard field goal that increased the Cajuns’ lead to 24-17.

On the ensuing possession, Demond Claiborne, who left the game in the first half because of a knee injury, ran 60 yards for a touchdown to tie the score.

Louisiana answered with Wooldridge’s 48-yard touchdown pass to Legendre to take a 31-24 lead.

Carney’s second touchdown run tied the score at the end of the third quarter.

Tyree Skipper intercepted Bachmeier for the game’s only takeaway and returned it to the Wake Forest 38 early in the fourth quarter. Louisiana capitalized on Bill Davis’s 2-yard run to pull ahead 38-31 with 8:07 left.

On the Cajuns’ first possession of the game, Wooldridge completed all eight of his passes for 57 yards, including a 2-yard touchdown throw to Tavion Smith for a 7-0 lead.

The Deacons drove to Dennis’ 39-yard field goal before Davis’ 60-yard run set up Wooldridge’s 1-yard plunge that gave Louisiana a 14-3 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Carney’s first touchdown trimmed the lead to 14-10 before Wooldridge threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Legendre.

Bachmeier answered with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Deuce Alexander, leaving Louisiana with a 21-17 halftime lead.

–Field Level Media

Sep 7, 2024; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin watches during a time-out during the second half against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Jaxson Dart helps No. 5 Ole Miss trounce Wake Forest

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Jaxson Dart had two scoring passes and a touchdown run and Henry Parrish Jr. ran for two touchdowns as No.5 Mississippi rode a strong start to a 40-6 road victory against Wake Forest on Saturday night in Winston-Salem, N.C.

The Rebels (3-0) scored 20 first-quarter points and that set the tone for another comfortable victory.

Dart completed 26 of 34 passes for 377 yards with an interception. Parrish gained 148 yards on the ground on 23 carries.

Quarterback Hank Bachmeier of Wake Forest was 22-of-39 passing for 239 yards, but couldn’t direct the Demon Deacons to the end zone.

Wake Forest (1-2) only scored on a pair of Matthew Dennis field goals. The Demon Deacons, who suffered a one-point home loss to Virginia a week earlier, finished with 46 yards on the ground.

It was the only power-conference nonconference opponent for Ole Miss and the only road game out of the Southeastern Conference, but the Rebels were certainly up to the task.

The Rebels stretched their lead to 30-6 with Dart plowing into the end zone on a 13-yard run late in the third quarter.

Earlier, Ole Miss needed less than three minutes to go 75 yards for the first touchdown, coming on Parrish’s 25-yard run.

The Rebels took their next possession inside the Wake Forest 20-yard line before Dart’s fumble. The Demon Deacons got on the board on Dennis’ 42-yard field goal later in the opening quarter.

Dart threw 75 yards to Jordan Watkins for one score and Parrish ran 22 yards for a touchdown as the Rebels built a 20-3 lead before the first quarter ended.

Ole Miss collected 282 yards of total offense in the opening quarter compared to Wake Forest’s 57.

It was 23-6 at halftime after Caden Davis’ 33-yard field goal for Ole Miss and Dennis’ 37-yarder accounted for the only points of the second quarter.

Ole Miss won for the first time in three all-time meetings with the Demon Deacons.

–Field Level Media

Sep 7, 2024; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Jaxson Dart (2) drops back to pass during the second half against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

No. 5 Ole Miss finally gets power conference test vs. Wake Forest

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It will be a step up in competition for No. 5 Ole Miss when the Rebels visit Wake Forest on Saturday night.

Even with the way the Rebels have been rolling, there’s no telling what kind of challenge they’ll encounter for the game in Winston-Salem, N.C.

“I think it’s a really good measuring stick for where we’re at,” Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin said.

The Rebels (2-0) will play their first road game and their first matchup with a power-conference team. This is the only power conference opponent on their nonconference schedule.

Wake Forest (1-1) is trying to recover from last Saturday night’s 31-30 home loss to Virginia in its Atlantic Coast Conference opener. The Demon Deacons led for most of that game.

The Demon Deacons aren’t uncomfortable being underdogs.

“We’re embracing the challenge,” Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson said. “We know it’s going to be hard.”

Ole Miss destroyed Middle Tennessee 52-3 on Saturday after flattening Furman 76-0 in the opener. This matchup is bound to have a different feel for the Rebels.

“We’re going to have our hands full,” Kiffin said. “We have done a really good job of not having lapses, no looking at the scoreboard.”

The road assignment will provide a different environment for Ole Miss, which might be equipped to handle it.

“A veteran team that has played a lot of road games, haven’t necessarily played together so there’s a challenge with that,” Kiffin said. “You got to just weather storms when you’re on the road. The challenges will get harder, the opponents will get harder.”

The Demon Deacons will want to slow down Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart, who was two completions shy of an NCAA record when he completed his first 24 throws of the game against Middle Tennessee. The effort did set a SEC record.

For Ole Miss, there’s not much emphasis in mid-September on the national ranking.

“That means nothing,” Kiffin said. “They’ve been talked extensively from me about how rankings mean nothing. … Guys are in the right mindset.”

That message seems to be clear and accepted by the players.

“Keeping our heads down and working, and not looking too far ahead and not looking too far back,” Ole Miss running back Henry Parrish Jr. said. “Grinding every day, putting work in day in and day out with my guys.”

The Rebels have rolled on offense by scoring on 20 of 27 possessions this season, racking up 17 touchdowns.

“A lot of good things we did to get to 2-0,” Kiffin said. “I think we’re relatively healthy and actually looked good.”

From Wake Forest’s perspective, it’s difficult to detect flaws in how Ole Miss operates on offense.

“As fast as they play and as wide open as they play, (they rarely have turnovers),” Clawson said. “They’re that efficient.”

Neither Furman nor Middle Tennessee have reached the 50-yard rushing mark against the Rebels. Yet Kiffin said there’s a need for Ole Miss to address some mental lapses that have been evident in pass coverage.

“This will be the best passing team, by far, that we’ve played,” he said.

Hank Bachmeier, a transfer who spent time at Louisiana Tech and Boise State, became Wake Forest’s starting quarterback last week after entering in relief in the opener. He has thrown for four touchdowns without an interception this year.

Clawson’s Wake Forest teams are 4-0 all-time against SEC opponents (defeating Vanderbilt twice plus bowl victories vs. Texas A&M and Missouri).

The Demon Deacons have won both previous meetings with Ole Miss, prevailing in 2006 on the road and in 2008 at home.

–Field Level Media