Sep 20, 2024; Pullman, Washington, USA; Washington State Cougars head coach Jake Dickert looks on during a game against the San Jose State Spartans in the first half at Gesa Field at Martin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-Imagn Images

Reports: Wake Forest hiring Washington State’s Jake Dickert

Wake Forest is hiring Washington State coach Jake Dickert to fill the vacancy left by Dave Clawson’s resignation, multiple outlets reported on Wednesday.

Dickert, 41, is 23-20 with the Cougars since taking over midway through the 2021 season. That includes an 8-4 record this season heading into the Dec. 27 Holiday Bowl against Syracuse.

Clawson, 57, stepped down on Monday after 11 seasons and seven bowl berths with the Demon Deacons, who finished 4-8 for the second straight year in 2024.

Dickert was elevated from defensive coordinator to interim coach at Washington State in October 2021 after head coach Nick Rolovich was fired for refusing to comply with the state’s COVID-19 vaccination mandate.

The Cougars went 3-3 under his leadership in 2021 and lost to Central Michigan in the Sun Bowl. They were 7-6 in 2022 and lost to Fresno State in the LA Bowl before slipping to 5-7 in 2023.

–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

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

Nov 30, 2024; Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA;  Duke Blue Devils wide receiver Jordan Moore (8) runs for yardage pursued by Wake Forest Demon Deacons defensive back Jamare Glasker (25) during the first half at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Touchdown pass on final play lifts Duke over Wake Forest

Jordan Moore caught a 39-yard pass from Maalik Murphy on the game’s final play as Duke rallied to beat host Wake Forest 23-17 in Saturday afternoon’s regular-season finale at Winston-Salem, N.C.

The Blue Devils went 76 yards in seven plays in a hurry-up approach after forcing a Demon Deacons fumble.

Moore broke free for the deep pass from Murphy, who hadn’t allowed enough time for a last-second field goal, but it didn’t matter.

Duke (9-3, 5-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) holds a three-game winning streak going into a bowl after coming back from a 14-point deficit in the second half.

Murphy threw for 235 yards with one interception. Moore, who was briefly injured early in the second half, made five catches for a team-high 98 yards.

Wake Forest (4-8, 2-6) has back-to-back losing seasons, this one ending with four straight losses. Hank Bachmeier threw for 207 yards and a touchdown.

A Duke fumble gave the Demon Deacons the ball at the Blue Devils’ 14 early in the third quarter. Three plays later, Bachmeier threw to Horatio Fields for a 9-yard touchdown pass.

The Blue Devils, trailing 17-3, finally got going after an exchange of punts. They went 42 yards in four plays with Star Thomas running 3 yards for a touchdown.

Then Wake Forest fumbled the ensuing kickoff, with the Blue Devils recovering at the Demon Deacons’ 45. Duke was back in the end zone in seven plays on Murphy’s 2-yard keeper.

Todd Pelino’s 45-yard field goal provided the game’s first points in the second quarter after Wake Forest’s Matthew Dennis missed earlier on a 43-yarder with the ball bouncing off the left upright.

Tate Carney’s 8-yard run and Dennis’ 37-yard field goal gave Wake Forest a 10-3 lead by halftime.

Duke’s defense recorded five sacks.

In the first half, Wake Forest fifth-year player Taylor Morin became the program’s all-time leader in receiving yards. He ended the game with 47 yards on eight catches, putting his career total at 2,974 yards.

–Field Level Media

Oct 26, 2024; Durham, North Carolina, USA;  Duke Blue Devils wide receiver Eli Pancol (4) runs out prior to the first half of the game against Southern Methodist Mustangs at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images

Bowl-bound Duke aware of “winning state” as Wake Forest wobbles to finish

Duke rolls into its regular-season finale to take on host Wake Forest on Saturday afternoon at Winston-Salem, N.C.

Duke (8-3, 4-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) has consecutive wins and could bolster its spot in the bowl pecking order with another victory.

There’s also a mythical state championship on the line for the Blue Devils. They’re 3-0 against North Carolina, North Carolina State and non-league foe Elon and could add another checkmark to win the prideful regional prize.

“Winning in our state is something our guys are fully aware of,” Duke coach Manny Diaz said.

Wake Forest (4-7, 2-5) carries a three-game losing streak into Saturday. The Demon Deacons will miss the postseason for the second year in a row and another defeat would secure a second-to-last place finish in the ACC.

“It’s where we are,” Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson said. “We’re certainly a lot more competitive than we were a year ago. If you look at this year’s season, we’re a lot more competitive.”

The Demon Deacons are 1-5 in home games, but their last two setbacks came in road outings against North Carolina and nationally ranked Miami. Bookending the season with a home victory is the goal.

“We owe it to our seniors in our program,” Clawson said. “I want those guys walking out with a great memory. We’re going to treat this like a playoff game.”

Duke receiver Eli Pancol is coming off a three-touchdown, 188-yard effort stemming from his five catches in last weekend’s Virginia Tech game. An 86-yard TD reception marked the sixth-longest pass play in team history.

Quarterback Maalik Murphy of Duke threw for three touchdowns and three interceptions last week.

“Murphy has been a good quarterback. He throws a beautiful deep ball,” Clawson said. “And it helps when you guys like (Jordan) Moore and Pancol.”

Duke will need to be attentive in dealing with Wake Forest’s spread-option offense.

“It’s unique in a lot of ways because it’s very hard to practice against,” Diaz said.

Duke has won the last two matchups with Wake Forest, with three-point margins each time.

“I think Manny and his staff have done amazing jobs in Year 1,” Clawson said. “I think Mike (Elko) did a really good job of building the program, and Manny has done a phenomenal job.”

–Field Level Media

Nov 9, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward (1) throws a pass against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the third quarter at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

No. 8 Miami focuses on ‘alignment’ in key ACC matchup vs. Wake

The eighth-ranked Miami Hurricanes are guaranteed to reach the Atlantic Coast Conference title game if they win their final two regular-season games.

They start the challenge Saturday afternoon when Miami (9-1, 5-1) hosts Wake Forest (4-6, 2-4) in an ACC matchup.

Miami is powered by senior quarterback Cam Ward, who leads the nation in passing yards (3,494) and passing touchdowns (32).

The Hurricanes are coming off a 28-23 loss at Georgia Tech on Nov. 9, and then a bye week.

Miami is 5-0 at home this season, but Wake Forest, despite its overall struggles, is 3-1 on the road.

The Hurricanes, who lead the nation in scoring with an average of 45 points per game, haven’t been as good on defense (57th at 23.1 ppg), and Miami coach Mario Cristobal said this week that he knows the problem.

“When you say tackling and getting off blocks, it’s about alignment,” he said. “If you are not in the correct position, you eat it as a team.”

Miami could get some help on Saturday from a pair of starter-level defensive players who appear likely to return from injury: cornerback Damari Brown and defensive lineman Elijah Alston.

Brown, at 6-foot-2, is a shutdown-type corner but hasn’t played since Miami’s opener on Aug. 31. Alston, a fifth-year senior, has 12 career sacks.

Both players have been medically cleared and are practicing. Cristobal said he expects them to play this week or next.

Wake Forest, meanwhile, has allowed 30 or more points seven times this season and is 1-6 in those games.

The Deacons also are 3-3 in games decided by one score.

It remains to be seen if Wake Forest can stop Miami wide receiver Xavier Restrepo (934 receiving yards, 10 touchdowns) or Miami’s 1-2 running back punch of Damien Martinez (676 rushing yards, eight TDs) and Mark Fletcher Jr. (444s, six).

Restrepo on Saturday could reach 1,000 yards for the second straight season. And Miami’s running game is a concern for Wake Forest after the Demon Deacons allowed Omarion Hampton to rush for 244 yards last week in a 31-24 loss at North Carolina.

To stop Restrepo, Ward and the rest, Wake Forest’s best defense might be its offense.

For example, running back Demond Claiborne has the ability to help the Demon Deacons chew the clock. He ranks fifth in the ACC with 919 rushing yards and tied for fourth with 11 rushing TDs.

Another Wake Forest weapon, Taylor Morin, ranks seven in the league in receiving yards (676 yards).

Wake Forest quarterback Hank Bachmeier didn’t finish the North Carolina game due to an injured left shoulder. But Bachmeier – who has 14 TD passes and nine interceptions this season — is expected to play Saturday.

Overall, Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson indicated his team is capable of scoring a huge upset over Miami, which will finish the regular season at Syracuse on Nov. 30.

“As opposed to last year, we go into every game feeling we have a chance,” Clawson said. “We are capable of moving the ball and scoring points. We have flashes of playing well, but we haven’t yet sustained a 60-minute complete game.”

–Field Level Media

Oct 12, 2024; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA;  North Carolina Tar Heels running back Omarion Hampton (28) with the ball as Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets linebacker Kyle Efford (44) defends in the fourth quarter at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Wake Forest, UNC gear up for another tight scrap

Tight finishes have defined recent meetings between Wake Forest and North Carolina. Another thriller could unfold Saturday night in Chapel Hill, N.C.

“We’ve had some unbelievable games with Wake Forest since we’ve been back,” said North Carolina coach Mack Brown, who is in his second stint with the Tar Heels.

“They’ve come down to the end, just about every one of them, and expect this to be the same way on Saturday night. We’ll have our hands full.”

Wake Forest (4-5, 2-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) is 3-0 in road games, winning those by a combined 10 points. The Demon Deacons are trying to bounce back from a 46-36 loss to Cal.

“You play with fire, you’re going to get burned,” Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson said. “We’ve played with fire too much this year.”

However, there’s no time for the Demon Deacons to mope.

“There’s nothing like … when you play a Big Four game,” Clawson said of a matchup with an in-state ACC rival. “We still have goals this season.”

North Carolina (5-4, 2-3) won two in a row before having last weekend off.

“We’ve had a great week of practice,” Brown said.

The two-game winning streak was defined by a defense that collected a total of 17 sacks in those outings.

North Carolina quarterback Jacolby Criswell has thrown for 11 touchdowns with three interceptions this season, and his recent progress has been encouraging.

“He’s not turning the ball over,” Brown said. “He’s protecting the ball better. He’s making plays with his feet. I really like the decisions that he’s making.”

North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton has gained more than 100 yards in eight out of nine games this season for a total of 1,178 yards and 13 rushing touchdowns.

“When you can run the ball, everything else works,” Brown said.

Wake Forest has a ground attack led by running back Demond Claiborne, who has 824 rushing yards and nine touchdowns.

“He’s a guy that can beat you because he’s quick, he’s fast, he’s tough, he breaks tackles,” Brown said.

The Tar Heels have won three consecutive matchups with Wake Forest, though the teams didn’t meet last year. The 58-55 final in 2021 and the 36-34 result in 2022 were full of momentum swings in both directions.

The programs don’t meet annually anymore, but Wake Forest hasn’t won in Chapel Hill since its 2006 ACC championship season.

–Field Level Media

Nov 8, 2024; Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA; California Golden Bears quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) throws against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons during the first half at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Fernando Mendoza helps Cal top Wake Forest for first ACC victory

Fernando Mendoza threw for two touchdown passes and ran for another to help Cal beat Wake Forest 46-36 on Friday night in Winston-Salem, N.C., for the Bears’ first Atlantic Coast Conference win.

Mendoza threw for 385 yards by completing 40 of 56 passes with an interception.

Derek Morris kicked two field goals and Ryan Coe booted a 54-yarder in the fourth quarter for Cal (5-4, 1-4 ACC), which dropped its previous four conference games by a total of nine points. The Bears are first-year ACC members.

Demond Claiborne rushed for 113 yards and a touchdown and added a scoring reception for Wake Forest (4-5. 2-3). Hank Bachmeier was 19-for-36 for 274 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions.

Liam Johnson intercepted Bachmeier’s pass on the first play after the two-minute timeout. Five plays later, Jaivian Thomas’ 11-yard TD run sealed the victory.

Bachmeier threw a 45-yard touchdown pass to Donavon Greene with 7:43 left in the third quarter to trim Wake Forest’s deficit to 29-21.

The Demon Deacons were poised to score again, but a blocked field goal flipped momentum. Cal capitalized as Mendoza scored on a 5-yard run to cap a six-play drive with 18 seconds left in the third quarter.

But Bachmeier’s 4-yard TD run and two-point conversion pass closed the gap to 36-29 with 11:46 left. Coe kicked a 54-yard field goal, but Wake Forest converted on fourth down in its own territory and went on to score on Tate Carney’s 2-yard run with 3:57 left.

Mendoza was 30-for-40 for 289 yards in the first half, which ended with the Bears up 29-14.

Cal scored the game’s first 10 points in a nine-second span. After driving 64 yards and settling for a field goal, Hunter Barth forced a fumble on Claiborne’s kickoff return and Miles Williams made a 16-yard return for a touchdown.

The Demon Deacons scored five plays after Nick Andersen’s 28-yard interception return to the Cal 30. Claiborne plowed in from 1 yard out.

Cal had a chance to increase its 20-7 lead, but an incomplete pass on fourth-and-2 at the Wake Forest 32 halted that threat.

On the next possession, the Demon Deacons used a reverse that resulted in Bachmeier’s 44-yard pass to wide-open Claiborne for a 44-yard touchdown.

Then the Bears scored 10 points in the last 90 seconds of the half.

–Field Level Media

Sep 28, 2024; Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA;  Wake Forest Demon Deacons head coach Dave Clawson leads his team onto the field against the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin Cajuns during the first half at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Wake Forest, Cal race for win No. 5

Cal and Wake Forest are four-win teams in vastly different situations as they prepare for their first November game of the season.

Only one of them will have a winning record after Friday night’s game at Winston-Salem, N.C. in an Atlantic Coast Conference game marking the first meeting between the teams.

Wake Forest (4-4, 2-2 ACC) has won its past two games. Cal (4-4, 0-4) also is coming off a victory.

“This feels like a 4-4 team that is ascending,” Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson said of his team.

Preparation time was plentiful with neither team playing a game since Oct. 26, when Wake Forest won 27-24 at Stanford, while nearby at Cal the Bears defeated former Pac-12 rival Oregon State 44-7.

The Bears have lost their four ACC games by a combined nine points, including a pair of one-point setbacks.

“There are people out there that would have crumbled and not been able to bounce back,” Cal coach Justin Wilcox said. “I’m really, really proud and pleased with our guys for battling back.”

Cal and Wake Forest look evenly matched in many areas, Clawson said.

“Whatever team executes best is going to win,” he said. “This should be a very competitive game.”

Clawson said he views the Bears as a stronger team than their record indicates. He also said the Demon Deacons have had a split of good fortune and bad luck.

“You always look at the extremes of it,” Clawson said. “We could be sitting here 6-2 or we could be sitting here 1-7.”

The Demon Deacons expect to be challenged by Cal’s defense.

“I would put these guys defensively right up there with the Ole Miss-es and Clemsons of the teams we’ve faced,” Clawson said.

Cal received a career-high 364 passing yards from redshirt sophomore quarterback Fernando Mendoza in the Oregon State game. Also in that game, kicker Derek Morris tied a single-game program record with five field goals.

Wilcox said Tuesday that linebacker Cade Uluave is expected to be back from injury to play vs. Wake Forest.

Transfer quarterback Hank Bachmeier, a Californian, has continued to give the Demon Deacons boosts.

“Some of the plays he has given us with his feet have really helped,” Clawson said.

Cal’s big edge this season has come in the third quarters, when the Bears have a combined 61-8 scoring advantage. Wake Forest has a third-quarter scoring edge of 55-45.

–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

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 quarterback Hank Bachmeier (9) throws a looks to pass the ball against the Connecticut Huskies in the second quarter at Rentschler Field at Pratt & Whitney Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images

Wake Forest treks to Stanford, shooting for .500 mark

Urgency exists for Wake Forest to make the most of a trip to the West Coast.

The Demon Deacons (3-4, 1-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) take on host Stanford (2-5, 1-3) on Saturday. Wake Forest has won two of its last three games but must continue climbing out of an early hole to approach bowl eligibility.

“For us, to get a fourth win and go out there and get it before the bye week is very important if we want to get where we want to get,” Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson said.

Stanford will play on homecoming a week after getting crushed at home to nationally ranked SMU. The Cardinal, losers of four straight, also got blown out by Clemson, which is now in the Top 10.

“I look at Stanford as a good team with a hard schedule,” Clawson said. “Sometimes your record is a function of what your schedule is.”

Wake Forest quarterback Hank Bachmeier will play in his home state. His brother Tiger Bachmeier is a Stanford receiver.

But the big question involving the Cardinal might be at quarterback. Freshman quarterback Elijah Brown of Stanford came on in relief in the SMU game, throwing for a touchdown and two interceptions. He took the place of Ashton Daniels, a junior.

“We’re not sure what quarterback we’re going to see,” Clawson said.

Stanford coach Troy Taylor said Brown has been making strides.

“We kind of brought him along,” Taylor said. “He has had a lot of reps through fall camp. I think he’ll continue to feel more comfortable.”

Stanford’s 133 yards per game on the ground aren’t enough, in Taylor’s opinion.

“We’ve got to run the football to help our quarterbacks,” he said.

Stanford has been aggressive on offense, attempting 24 fourth-down plays (second most nationally) and converting 12 times.

Wake Forest has posted narrow victories in its only two road outings, rallying past North Carolina State 34-30 and holding off Connecticut, 23-20. Stanford is 1-3 at home.

“We have a tough stretch of really good opponents,” Taylor said. “We have another opportunity to play another home game.”

Wake Forest is trying to win for the 15th time in its last 20 October games, dating to the 2020 season.

This will be the third all-time meeting between the teams, which each won at home when they met in 2009 and 2010 nonconference games. Stanford’s victory was a 68-24 romp in the rematch.

–Field Level Media