Tag: Wake

No. 14 Virginia vies to avoid ‘distraction,’ prepares for Wake Forest

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Picked 14th in the Atlantic Coast Conference preseason poll, first-place Virginia faces a clear path to the conference championship game as the only remaining unbeaten team in ACC play.

Ranked 14th in the first College Football Playoff poll released Tuesday, the Cavaliers (8-1, 5-0) will play two of their last three games in Charlottesville, Va., starting Saturday night against Wake Forest (5-3, 2-3).

After hosting the Demon Deacons, the Cavaliers will visit Duke on Nov. 15 before returning from a bye to welcome rival Virginia Tech on Nov. 29. Those three Virginia opponents are a combined 0-6 this season against teams in the AP Top 25.

This is the highest CFP ranking ever for Virginia. The Cavaliers were 25th in the initial rankings in 2018 and returned for the final two rankings in 2019 at Nos. 23 and 24.

Virginia has won seven consecutive games — three in overtime — since its only blemish, a four-point loss at North Carolina State in a non-conference contest on Sept. 6.

The 8-1 start is the Cavaliers’ best in 35 years, and it’s the first time they’ve ever been 5-0 in the ACC. Defeating Wake Forest would mark their first eight-game winning streak in a single season; they won 10 straight across 1914-15 and 1951-52.

Virginia coach Tony Elliott said he told his players to focus on football and “simplify your life.”

“I’ve tried to tell them that a lot more people are going to come out of the woodwork,” Elliott said Tuesday. “You’re going to get a lot more messages after every game. A lot more people are going to want to be a part of what’s going on, and unfortunately, that becomes a distraction.”

The Demon Deacons are coming off their worst loss under first-year coach Jake Dickert, falling 42-7 last weekend at Florida State. They were outgained 421-247, were penalized 11 times for 93 yards, and committed two turnovers.

“This is a culture test,” Dickert said of his team being able to bounce back this week. “It’s a test of who we are and what we’re about. I know the way our team’s going to respond to this. … We have to be better as a football team. It starts with me and me only, and I’ve got to put our players in a better position to succeed.”

Wake Forest nearly won its only game against a ranked team this season, losing 30-29 in overtime to then-No. 16 Georgia Tech on Sept. 27. The Demon Deacons have dropped eight straight games to Top 25 foes dating to 2022.

“You’re starting to see them formulate an identity under the new staff,” Elliott said of Wake Forest. “They play really hard. They play a physical brand of football. They have some very dynamic weapons on offense that can score at any time. … So don’t let the record or the scores of previous games fool you.”

The Demon Deacons’ weapons include running back Demond Claiborne (639 rushing yards and eight touchdowns) and a pair of quarterbacks — Robby Ashford and Deshawn Purdie — who are capable of engineering an upset.

The Cavaliers will counter with a balanced offense led by Chandler Morris (2,069 passing yards and 16 total touchdowns) and J’Mari Taylor (686 rushing yards and 11 TDs).

Wake Forest has won five of the last six meetings with Virginia, including the last two in Charlottesville (2012, 2021).

–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 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

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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

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

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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 5, 2024; Tallahassee, Florida, USA; Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney reacts during the second half against the Florida State Seminoles at Doak S. Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Myers-Imagn Images

No. 10 Clemson, Wake Forest look to keep riding wave

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No. 10 Clemson has been cranking up the momentum in its season for several weeks. Now Wake Forest is looking to do the same.

The teams will meet Saturday afternoon in an Atlantic Coast Conference game at Winston-Salem, N.C.

Clemson (4-1, 3-0) has won its past four games by double-figure margins. The Tigers are ranked in the AP Top 10 in an in-season poll for the first time since late in 2022. Yet they will be on full upset alert after knowing what transpired last weekend with a bevy of big-time shockers around the country, including then-No. 1 Alabama falling to Vanderbilt.

“College football did us a favor last week,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. “This isn’t a game of ‘supposed to.’ You’ve got to show up and play every single week.”

Wake Forest (2-3, 1-1) sputtered throughout a winless September with three home losses, but the Demon Deacons are back on track after last Saturday’s 34-30 comeback victory against host North Carolina State.

“We fixed our problems, and we’ve got to keep fixing them,” Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson said of the defense. “Clemson is going to come out (with some new wrinkles). It’s going to be another challenge this week.”

Clemson has climbed back into the polls after a disappointing opening-game loss to then-No. 1 Georgia. Yet Swinney said the Tigers haven’t peaked even with the positive trend.

“There’s a lot of good things,” he said. “I don’t think we’re playing our best football. I see it in spurts. Good news is we’re still in control, still where we want to be.”

The ACC-leading Tigers have 400 or more yards of offense in four straight games for the first time in four years. Quarterback Cade Klubnik (14 TD passes, 1,219 passing yards) has excelled and has found a variety of targets to deliver the big production.

“It’s a good room with good depth that has been a couple of years in the works,” Swinney said.

Clemson receiver Antonio Williams notched a career-high 157 all-purpose yards in a 29-13 victory at Florida State last week. He has four touchdown catches this season. Freshman receiver T.J. Moore made a TD catch last week in a bid for more time on the field.

“I’m going to keep working until I’m at the top,” Moore said.

Meanwhile, quarterback Hank Bachmeier helped spark the Wake Forest comeback against North Carolina State, which included two fourth-down conversions on the winning touchdown drive.

“He has played a lot of football, and it shows,” Swinney said. “He doesn’t get rattled.”

The Tigers have dominated the Demon Deacons through the years, winning the past 15 meetings. Wake Forest gave Clemson a scare last year before falling 17-12, while the 2022 meeting was decided in double overtime.

“Always a tough matchup, always a great challenge,” Clawson said. “The last two years have been very competitive.”

This year, both teams have defeated North Carolina State.

Clemson receiver Adam Randall and offensive lineman Collin Sadler didn’t play in the Florida State game last week because of injuries but could be ready for this weekend’s game.

“Around this time of the year, you’ve always got a few guys managing things,” Swinney said.

–Field Level Media

Nov 18, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Syracuse Orange running back LeQuint Allen (1) is pressured by Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets linebacker Trenilyas Tatum (7) in the second half at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

After firing, Syracuse eyes bowl eligibility vs. Wake Forest

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Dino Babers finally ran out of chances at Syracuse, and Wake Forest’s Dave Clawson might not be far behind.

Six days after firing their coach, the Orange will host the Demon Deacons on Saturday in the regular-season finale for both teams.

Babers posted two winning seasons in eight years at Syracuse and just watched his team collapse following a 4-0 start in non-conference action. The Orange (5-6, 1-6 ACC) have lost six of seven games since then and are coming off a 31-22 defeat at Georgia Tech last Saturday.

That loss proved to be the final straw for Babers, who was relieved of his duties Sunday. Tight ends coach Nunzio Campanile was named interim coach and will try to get Syracuse into a bowl game, which it will be eligible for with a win against Wake Forest.

Nevertheless, the school felt it was time for a change.

“What the exit really boils down to is November. We’ve not had the success in November,” Syracuse athletic director John Wildhack said Monday.

The Demon Deacons (4-7, 1-6) are looking to end the season on a high note, having dropped seven of their last eight after a 3-0 start. They were trounced 45-7 by Notre Dame last Saturday and have scored 21 points or less in eight straight contests.

Still, Clawson — who is wrapping up his 10th season with the team — is holding his head high.

“I think our guys played hard, and I can’t fault their effort,” Clawson said. “We have one more week to play as a team. I’m really impressed with the way these guys have stuck together and they continue to practice hard and give effort.”

Michael Kern made his first career start in the loss to Notre Dame and went 11 of 20 for 81 yards without a touchdown or an interception.

Syracuse has quarterback questions of its own, as Garrett Shrader (upper-body injury) has been severely limited in recent weeks, forcing the Orange to adopt a creative wildcat offense in which running back LeQuint Allen and tight end Dan Villari have taken the bulk of the snaps.

The Demon Deacons have won the last three matchups against the Orange, including a 45-35 win in 2022.

–Field Level Media

Sep 9, 2023; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils quarterback Grayson Loftis (12) hands off the ball to wide receiver Quran Boyd (17) against the Lafayette Leopards during the second half at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

Duke rallies past Wake Forest on last-second field goal

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Todd Pelino’s 26-yard field goal as time expired gave Duke a 24-21 victory against visiting Wake Forest on Thursday night in Durham, N.C.

That was the only lead of the game for Duke (6-3, 3-2 Atlantic Coast Conference), which snapped a two-game losing streak and became bowl-eligible despite using a third-string quarterback.

Grayson Loftis was 7-for-19 for 86 yards with a touchdown and an interception, but he helped the Blue Devils on their final drive.

Ryan Smith’s interception with 4:12 left gave the Blue Devils a chance to drive for the winning points. The final drive was aided by two penalties, including a third-down pass interference call on Wake Forest (4-5, 1-5).

Wake Forest quarterback Mitch Griffis was 16-for-19 for 241 yards with an interception. Demond Claiborne rushed for 81 yards on 19 carries.

Griffis scrambled 5 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter to put Wake Forest ahead.

Duke tied it at 21-21l with 11:40 remaining on Loftis’ 29-yard throw to Jordan Moore.

Duke was without standout quarterback Riley Leonard and normal second-string QB Henry Belin IV, both out with injuries.

Griffis was 8-for-8 in the first half, but the score was 14-14 at halftime.

Duke pulled even with one minute to play in the first half on Jordan Waters’ 4-yard run.

Wake Forest’s Tate Carney ran 3 yards for the opening points. Wake Forest had a chance to build the lead when a fumble by Duke on the ensuing possession gave the ball back at the Blue Devils’ 15. Matthew Dennis missed a 27-yard field goal.

Duke pulled even on the second play of the second quarter when Jaquez Moore ran 32 yards for a touchdown. Moore had all 60 yards on the drive, needing just three plays to cover that ground.

Wake Forest reached the Duke 25 before Carney was stuffed on a fourth-and-1 carry. But Quincy Bryant intercepted a pass by Lofts, who was hit as he threw, on the next snap.

Wake Forest took over at the Duke 22, with Griffis running 8 yards for a touchdown four plays later.

Dennis missed again, this time from 39 yards, to end Wake Forest’s first possession of the second half.

–Field Level Media

Oct 28, 2023; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Duke Blue Devils quarterback Riley Leonard (13) looks to pass the ball against the Louisville Cardinals during the second half at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports

Duke coach seeks response when Wake Forest visits

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Duke has been put in several situations to showcase its overall improvements this season.

Now comes a game against visiting Wake Forest where getting back on track will be the main storyline.

Having lost three of their last four, the Blue Devils will face the Demon Deacons in Atlantic Coast Conference play on Thursday in Durham, N.C.

“I have to put these guys in better positions to be successful because we don’t have much time,” Duke coach Mike Elko said. “I believe that we will respond.”

Duke (5-3, 2-2 ACC) has fallen out of the national rankings after holding spots in the polls since conquering Clemson in its first game of the season. More recently, the Blue Devils have dropped games to nationally ranked Notre Dame, Florida State and Louisville — with that trio now all in the top 15 nationally.

Wake Forest (4-4, 1-4) has lost four of its last five games, the exception being a comeback to upend Pitt in the final seconds two games ago.

“The fight is always going to be there,” Wake Forest defensive back Malik Mustapha said.

For a team that reached the 2021 ACC championship game and was expected to contend last year, there has been a drop-off for the Demon Deacons.

“We have a lot of hard work to do to get back to that level,” Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson said.

Clawson said the Demon Deacons wouldn’t dwell on Saturday’s 41-16 home loss to Florida State.

“We have to get past this one and get ready for a game against an in-state rival on the road,” he said.

Duke’s offense has been out of sorts since an ankle injury to quarterback Riley Leonard. He has started the past two games, but mobility appears to be an issue. The quick turnaround for this game might not help matters.

“We’re moving on to the next one and will get it figured out before Thursday,” Duke receiver Jordan Moore said.

Wake Forest has had injuries at quarterback as well. Mitch Griffis returned to action against the Seminoles after sitting out the Pitt game.

Elko is a former defensive coordinator from 2014-16 under Clawson at Wake Forest. His first Duke team beat the Demon Deacons a year ago.

This year’s matchup between in-state rivals is in Durham for the second season in a row after a reconfiguration of the conference schedule when the league nixed a divisional set-up. Duke won 34-31 last year in the regular-season finale for both teams.

This is Duke’s only home game amid a five-game stretch.

–Field Level Media

Sep 16, 2023; Norfolk, Virginia, USA; Wake Forest Demon Deacons quarterback Mitch Griffis (12) fumbles the ball while being tackled by Old Dominion Monarchs defensive end Amorie Morrison (4) and linebacker EJ Green (24) during the second quarter at Kornblau Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports

Mitch Griffis helps Wake Forest rally past Old Dominion

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Mitch Griffis threw three touchdown passes and Wake Forest overcame a 17-point deficit to defeat host Old Dominion 27-24 on Saturday afternoon at Norfolk, Va.

Wake Forest (3-0) seized its first lead of the game with 6:48 remaining on Griffis’ 4-yard touchdown pass to Jahmal Banks. The touchdown pass came just two plays after the Demon Deacons recovered a fumble at the Old Dominion 6-yard line.

Griffis, who threw two touchdown passes to Taylor Morin, finished 24-for-41 for 312 yards with two interceptions.

LaMareon James scored two touchdowns on returns off turnovers for Old Dominion (1-2). Quarterback Grant Wilson threw for 233 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

Old Dominion racked up 277 first-half yards but only 23 after intermission.

Wake Forest produced its key turnover on Jacob Roberts’ sack of Wilson to set up the go-ahead touchdown. The Monarchs had two more possessions, but never picked up another first down.

The Demon Deacons didn’t score until Morin’s 27-yard touchdown reception from Griffis on the eighth snap of the second half.

The momentum didn’t carry to the next time Wake Forest had the ball because James picked off Griffis and went 66 yards for a touchdown and a 24-7 lead.

Matthew Dennis kicked two field goals from 36 yards out before the end of the third quarter.

The Demon Deacons closed within 24-20 after Griffis and Morin hooked up for a 48-yard touchdown play to complete another eight-play drive, this one covering 86 yards.

Old Dominion led 17-0 at halftime despite a rather uninspiring opening stretch. On their first four possessions, the Monarchs had three punts and a missed field goal.

But they got cranked up when Javon Harvey went 68 yards on a pass from Wilson less than two minutes into the second quarter.

That was followed by James’ 80-yard return of a fumble for a touchdown. Ethan Sanchez connected from 49 yards out for a field goal with 2:27 to play in the half.

Wake Forest posted only 107 yards of total offense in the first half.

–Field Level Media

Nov 12, 2022; Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA; Wake Forest Demon Deacons head coach Dave Clawson calls out to an official during the second half against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Truist Field. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Mitch Griffis powers to Wake Forest to rout of Elon

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Mitch Griffis, taking over full-time quarterback duties, threw for three touchdowns as Wake Forest defeated visiting Elon 37-17 on Thursday night in both teams’ season opener at Winston-Salem, N.C.

Griffis, who started last year’s opener when record-setting Sam Hartman was dealing with a medical issue, completed 19 of 30 passes for 329 yards and an interception on Thursday.

Elon, coming off a season in which it reached the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs, trailed 24-0 at halftime. The Phoenix had 66 yards of total offense at that juncture before Jalen Hampton ran for a 49-yard touchdown on the team’s first possession of the second half.

Just four minutes later, it was 27-14 after Elon’s Caleb Curtain intercepted a Griffis pass and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown.

Matthew Dennis’ third field goal of the game late in the third quarter restored order for the Demon Deacons, who added a 10-yard Demond Claiborne touchdown run with 4:09 left.

Elon quarterback Matthew Downing, who previously played for Georgia, Texas Christian and Louisiana Tech, made his Phoenix debut. He was replaced in the second quarter by Justin Allen, who was intercepted twice and threw for 128 yards.

Downing was 3-for-7 for 17 yards.

It was a spectacular opening 3 1/2 minutes to the season for Wake Forest, which forced a three-and-out and then went 53 yards in seven plays to score on Griffis’ 18-yard pass to Wesley Grimes. Griffis was 5-for-5 for 46 yards on the drive.

Wake Forest was up 10-0 later in the first quarter on Dennis’ 34-yard field goal.

On the third play of the second quarter, Griffis connected with Jahmal Banks for a 33-yard touchdown play.

The Phoenix reached the Wake Forest 8-yard line late in the first half, but Demarcus Rankin intercepted Allen in the end zone. The Demon Deacons wasted no time in converting, as three snaps later Griffis and tight end Cameron Hite hooked up for a 69-yard touchdown pass.

That put Griffis at 11-for-14 for 230 yards in the half.

The Demon Deacons scored on Dennis’ 29-yard field goal on the opening drive of the second half.

Wake Forest is 12-0-1 all-time vs. Elon, with the most recent matchup in 2019. Thursday night marked the first time in the series that Elon reached a double-digit point total.

–Field Level Media