Tag: Wake Forest

Sep 27, 2025; Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA; Wake Forest Demon Deacons quarterback Robby Ashford (2) runs the ball against Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets defensive lineman Brayden Manley (11) during the first quarter at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Zachary Taft-Imagn Images

16 Georgia Tech comes back for OT win vs. Wake Forest

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Haynes King threw for 243 yards and a score, adding 106 yards and two touchdowns on the ground as No. 16 Georgia Tech escaped with a 30-29 overtime victory over Wake Forest in Winston-Salem, N.C., in Atlantic Coast Conference play on Saturday.

King ran for a 2-yard touchdown to begin overtime, before Demond Claiborne’s 25-yard rush cut Wake’s deficit to 30-29. Wake Forest elected to go for the game-winning two-point conversion but Robby Ashford’s pass fell incomplete, sealing the Georgia Tech win.

Eric Rivers had eight catches for 77 yards and a score for the Yellow Jackets (5-0, 2-0 ACC), who extended their best start to a season since 2014.

Ashford threw for 229 yards, adding a score on the ground, while Claiborne ran for 119 yards and two scores for Wake Forest (2-2 ,0-2 ACC).

After Connor Calvert’s 24-yard field goal pushed Wake’s lead to 20-3, Georgia Tech finally found the end zone on King’s 14-yard touchdown pass to Rivers with 5:39 left in the third quarter.

The Yellow Jackets then cut their deficit to three on King’s 5-yard rushing score with 17 seconds left in the third.

Georgia Tech knotted the score on Aidan Birr’s 19-yard field goal with 9:49 left in the fourth, before Calvert missed a 27-yarder that kept the score tied with 6:54 remaining.

Jamal Haynes then fumbled, leading to Calvert’s 29-yard field goal to put Wake Forest ahead 23-20 at the 5:07 mark.

After Wake’s punt, King led Georgia Tech to a game-tying drive as Birr’s 33-yard field goal with two seconds left sent the game to overtime.

Georgia Tech struck first on Birr’s 35-yard field goal with 8:09 left in the first quarter.

Facing a fourth-and-six on Wake Forest’s 39-yard line, Georgia Tech punter Marshall Nichols found Will Kiker on a fake punt pass, but the gain was for five yards, turning the ball over on downs to Wake Forest with 13:11 remaining in the second quarter.

Two plays later, Ashford connected on a 35-yard pass to Chris Barnes, pushing the Demon Deacons’ drive to Georgia Tech’s 20-yard line. Claiborne then broke off a 16-yard rush, leading to Ashford’s 4-yard rushing score to give Wake Forest a 7-3 edge at the 10:46 mark of the first half.

The Demon Deacons tacked on with Claiborne’s 27-yard rushing score and Calvert’s 24-yard field goal to give Wake Forest a 17-3 halftime lead.

–Field Level Media

Sep 20, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets quarterback Haynes King (10) throws a pass against the Temple Owls in the first quarter at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

No. 16 Georgia Tech pursues 5-0 start against rested Wake Forest

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Quickly approaching a return to national relevance with a chance to match the program’s best start in 11 years, No. 16 Georgia Tech will hit the road to face Wake Forest on Saturday afternoon in an Atlantic Coast Conference game in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Georgia Tech (4-0, 1-0) has won its first four games for the first time since starting 5-0 in 2014. The Yellow Jackets finished with 11 wins that season, marking their most recent appearance in the ACC Championship Game and a New Year’s Six bowl.

With a legitimate chance to contend for a conference title and its first College Football Playoff appearance this season, Georgia Tech is in uncharted territory — a scenario it wanted.

“We’re going to get 100 percent from every team we face. We don’t have margin to let up, at all,” coach Brent Key said. “Every game is going to be a close game; that’s the way we look at it. Every week is a challenge. I love it. To be in this environment at Georgia Tech, this is something that we’ve really craved for a long time.”

Leading an offense that is averaging 38.8 points per game on 492.3 yards per contest, quarterback Haynes King has asserted himself as a potential ACC Player of the Year. In three games, he has thrown for 515 yards and two touchdowns and has 274 yards and five scores on the ground.

Wake Forest (2-1, 0-1) will have had 15 days to prepare for its fourth consecutive home game. The Demon Deacons last played on Sept. 11, when they saw an early 14-0 lead disappear in a 34-24 loss to North Carolina State.

Looking for the first marquee victory in head coach Jake Dickert’s first season at Wake Forest, he is eager to return to action.

“Watching college football one Saturday is OK. Twice gets me really antsy,” Dickert said. “It feels like it’s been awhile since we’ve taken the field. Four straight home games to start a season is unique, but what an opportunity. I’m really excited about getting our guys back out there and showing the work we’ve had against a nationally-ranked opponent.”

Wake Forest hasn’t beaten a ranked opponent since 2022, when it defeated No. 23 Florida State, and the Demon Deacons haven’t topped Georgia Tech since the 2006 ACC Championship Game.

Dickert said he knows a lot has to go right for both of those streaks to end.

“Coach Key obviously has that program rolling in a high capacity,” Dickert said. “One of the biggest things I look for in an opponent is their identity. It screams off the tape; it’s their physicality and toughness. It’s all over film. It’s the way they play.”

Demon Deacons quarterback Robby Ashford, a transfer from Auburn and South Carolina, has thrown for just one touchdown through three games this season. Running back Demond Claiborne is averaging 82.3 rushing yards per game after posting 1,049 in his third-team All-ACC campaign a year ago.

–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

Jan 25, 2025; Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA; New Wake Forest Demon Deacons football coach Jake Dickert speaks to the fans during the first half between the Wake Forest Demon Deacons and the Duke Blue Devils at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Wake Forest blows out Western Carolina despite multiple delays

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Wake Forest’s 42-10 blowout of visiting Western Carolina on Saturday in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, took more than six hours to complete, but the Demon Deacons didn’t even need one minute to score on any of their six touchdown drives.

Wake Forest (2-0) scored on drives of 57, 42, five, 42, 37 and 41 seconds. Each quick-strike trip to the end zone came on a play of 27 yards or more, including three such runs from running back Demond Claiborne.

Claiborne carried for touchdowns of 27, 33 and 85 yards to highlight his 10-carry, 193-yard day.

Quarterback Robby Ashford got the scoring started following a weather delay of more than two hours, rushing 42 yards to pay dirt.

Wake Forest piled up 21 points in a stretch of just 5:30 of first-quarter game time and took a 21-3 lead into halftime over Western Carolina (0-2).

Another weather delay of almost an hour at intermission did not help the Catamounts, who surrendered Demon Deacons touchdowns on Claiborne’s 85-yard carry, Ashford’s 51-yard pass to Sterling Berkhalter and back-up quarterback Deshawn Purdie’s 27-yard throw to Jeremiah Melvin.

The third-quarter deluge wrapped up a lopsided win in which Wake Forest totalled 542 yards of offense, split almost perfectly between 269 through the air and 273 on the ground. Ashford contributed on both fronts, running for 66 yards and finishing 13-of-22 passing for 227 yards.

Chris Barnes hauled in six passes for 149 yards, including a 64-yard reception.

Western Carolina finally broke through into the end zone late in the fourth quarter when Markel Townsend capped a 14-play, 75-yard drive with his fourth-down carry at the goal line.

Freshman reserve quarterback Isaac Lee led the scoring drive after subbing in for starter Bennett Judy. Judy finished 18-of-32 for 155 yards and an interception.

Lee went 8-of-10 for 49 yards and carried for a team-high 40 yards. The Catamounts officially managed just 34 yards, the result of five Wake Forest sacks decimating Western Carolina’s already paltry output on the ground.

–Field Level Media

Wake Forest Head Coach Jake Dickert answers questions from the media during ACC Media days at Hilton Charlotte Uptown. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Wake Forest intends to improve run game vs. WCU

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Wake Forest will take the win, but wouldn’t mind shedding the cliffhanger finish when the Demon Deacons play the second of a four-game homestand to open the season on Saturday in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Western Carolina is next up for the Demon Deacons (1-0), who used a late third-quarter Connor Calvert field goal to pull ahead of Kennesaw State in a nail-biter to begin the 2025 season last week.

The kick became vital because Kennesaw State’s missed point-after attempt following a first-quarter touchdown made up the difference in a 10-9 Wake Forest win in coach Jake Dickert’s debut.

Dickert took over at Wake Forest in the offseason, coming over from Washington State where he coached the Cougars to three bowl games in four seasons.

“The players we have can execute. We showed that at times throughout the game,” said Demon Deacons offensive coordinator Rob Ezell, who joined Dickert’s staff from South Alabama.

“Just didn’t do it consistently enough, and that’s what we’re trying to build right now is our consistency.”

Wake Forest failed to generate push up front.

The Deacons averaged only 2.8 yards per rush, with quarterback Robby Ashford’s 42 yards on the ground leading the team. Ashford accounted for the only Wake Forest touchdown, a 5-yard carry to cap a 75-yard drive in the first quarter.

Running back Demond Claiborne, who rushed for 1,049 yards and 11 touchdowns last season, suffered a rib injury after only three touches. Dickert told reporters Claiborne is day-to-day, and his status might not be fully determined until gameday.

Western Carolina (0-1) struggled with a different problem in its season-opening loss to Gardner-Webb.

The Catamounts scored effectively, rushing for 221 yards to help fuel a 45-point effort.

Gardner-Webb rolled off 24 of its 52 points in the fourth quarter for a come-from-behind win. Western Carolina gave up 627 yards of offense, including 335 on the ground.

Quarterbacks Bennett Judy and Isaac Lee both played significant reps in Week 1, but Lee struggled through a 3-of-9 passing performance for 82 yards with 69 coming on a touchdown pass to Malik Knight.

Both quarterbacks threw an interception, and Lee lost a fumble. Western Carolina coach Kerwin Bell said on his radio show Monday that both will again play in Week 2 with Judy making the start.

Bell also emphasized the need for a dramatic defensive improvement after what he considered a disappointing showing from that group last week.

“I’m going to ride [the defense] until the end, because By God, I think we’ve got the talent and the coaches to get it done,” he said. “They took [Saturday’s performance] personal.”

–Field Level Media

Sep 30, 2017; Winston-Salem, NC, USA; A closeup view of a Wake Forest Demon Deacons helmet during the game against the Florida State Seminoles at BB&T Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-Imagn Images

Wake Forest squeaks past Kennesaw State in debut of coaches

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Transfer quarterback Robby Ashford threw for 218 yards and scored Wake Forest’s only touchdown as the Demon Deacons survived for a 10-9 victory against visiting Kennesaw State in coach Jake Dickert’s debut with the team Friday night at Winston-Salem, N.C.

Dickert, who departed Washington State in December after Dave Clawson left his coaching post with the Demon Deacons, had to rely on his team’s defense.

Kennesaw State had a late possession, taking over at its own 16 with 2:07 remaining following a Wake Forest punt. That possession lasted four plays, gaining only one yard. That allowed Wake Forest to run out the clock with kneel-downs because the Owls had no timeouts remaining.

It also was the Kennesaw State debut for coach Jerry Mack.

Wake Forest held a 10-9 lead entering the fourth quarter after Connor Calvert’s 22-yard field goal.

Running back Demond Claiborne, who figured to be the workhorse for Wake Forest’s offense, suffered an injury to his midsection in the first quarter and was finished in the second quarter. He had three carries for 19 yards.

Ashford was 20-for-28 in the air.

Coleman Bennett rushed for 66 yards and a touchdown for the Owls. Quarterback Dexter Williams III was 12-for-33 for 149 yards, with Gabriel Benyard’s 103 receiving yards coming on five catches.

Kennesaw State had 307 yards of total offense compared to Wake Forest’s 348.

Ashford scored the game’s first points on a 5-yard scramble to cap a 14-play, 75-yard drive that opened the game and consumed more than seven minutes.

Kennesaw State needed only 10 plays to go 75 yards on its first possession, with Bennett running 19 yards for a touchdown. The extra-point kick was off the mark.

The Owls had a chance to go ahead in the second quarter, but Britton Williams missed a 36-yard field goal attempt at the end of an 11-play drive that covered 73 yards.

Wake Forest tried a 54-yard field goal at the end of the half, but Connor Calvert’s attempt was blocked by Adam Watkins.

Kennesaw State had a lead for the first time on Daniel Kinney’s 29-yard field goal early in the third quarter.

–Field Level Media

Jul 23, 2025; Charlotte, NC, USA; Wake Forest Head Coach Jake Dickert answers questions from the media during ACC Media days at Hilton Charlotte Uptown. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Wake Forest, Kennesaw State bid to bounce back in 2025

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With new coaches and teams looking for bounce-back seasons, Kennesaw State and Wake Forest have plenty in common going into their opener Friday night in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Jake Dickert has taken charge at Wake Forest, moving across the country from Washington State. Jerry Mack is the new coach at Kennesaw State.

Both teams had losing records in 2024 and will go with well-traveled quarterbacks as the season begins.

Dickert’s assignment follows Dave Clawson’s 11 seasons as Wake Forest’s head coach before Clawson resigned. The Demon Deacons are coming off back-to-back 4-8 seasons.

“I think since Day 1 the guys have really embraced the change,” Dickert said.

Robby Ashford — formerly of Oregon, Auburn and South Carolina — will start at quarterback for Wake in the opener, but the Demon Deacons will rely heavily on running back Demond Claiborne, who had 1,049 rushing yards, 254 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns last year.

Ashford completed 23 of 32 passes for 324 yards and two touchdowns last season for South Carolina, with no interceptions. He ran for 227 yards and two scores on 41 carries.

“It isn’t going to be one player; it’s going to be us as a collective,” Dickert said.

Kennesaw State is turning to Dexter Williams II as its starting quarterback, making his debut with the team and after stops at Indiana and Georgia Southern.

“He has played and he has been in college before,” Mack said of Williams, who passed for 248 yards and three touchdowns at Georgia Southern last year. “… He has led teams to victory. He just has a lot of experience, being on the field. He understands what it’s supposed to look like.”

Another area to watch for Kennesaw State will be Davis Bryson, who started 11 games at quarterback last year and has shifted to receiver.

“I love myself with the ball in space,” Bryson said. “That’s what I pride myself on.”

The Owls, who went 2-10 last year in their first FBS season, will have plenty of questions going into the opener, especially along the offensive line.

“Whenever you get so many men in a room that have never played together, come from all different backgrounds … has been really a challenge,” Mack said.

Mack most recently was running backs coach with the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars. Until he was hired by Kennesaw State in December, his only previous job as a head coach came from 2014-17 at North Carolina Central, where his teams won three Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championships.

–Field Level Media

Oct 12, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback Robby Ashford (1) throws a pass during the first half at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-Imagn Images

Reports: Robby Ashford named Wake Forest’s starting QB

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Well-traveled Robby Ashford has been named the starting quarterback at Wake Forest, according to multiple reports on Sunday.

Demon Deacons coach Jake Dickert reportedly announced the news to the team.

Ashford, a former starter at Auburn, beat out DeShawn Purdie for the gig.

Wake Forest opens the season on Friday night against visiting Kennesaw State.

Ashford is at his fourth school on a journey that began at Oregon, moved to Auburn and continued at South Carolina. He transferred to Wake Forest in January.

Ashford, a four-star recruit, didn’t make any appearances in his two seasons with the Ducks (2020-21) before he departed for Auburn. He was the main starter in 2022 when he passed for 1,613 yards, seven touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also rushed for 710 yards and seven scores.

In 2023, Hugh Freeze was Auburn’s coach and he picked Payton Thorne as the starter. Ashford threw just 27 passes but did rush for 217 yards and five touchdowns before exiting the program following the season.

Ashford was the backup to LaNorris Sellers at South Carolina last season and completed 23 of 32 passes for 324 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 227 yards and two touchdowns before again departing.

Purdie is a transfer from Charlotte. He passed for 1,802 yards, 10 touchdowns and six interceptions last season.

–Field Level Media

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

Posted on | by Field Level Media

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