Courtesy GoDeacs.com
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Behind a stellar effort from the entire Wake Forest University defense, along with an efficient and effective output from its offense, the Demon Deacons (5-1) powered past Army (1-4) in front of a sellout crowd (32,524) at Truist Field on Saturday night, 45-10.
Saturday’s attendance crowd marked the first time since 2011 that the Deacs have hosted three-straight sellouts. Additionally, the contest marked Wake Forest’s fifth sellout in the six games dating back to last season. The passionate and faithful crowd witnessed the Demon Deacons 11th-straight victory during the month of October and their 12th-straight non-conference victory inside Truist Field.
The complete defensive performance was highlighted by redshirt freshman linebacker Dylan Hazen, as he totaled 12 tackles, three of which were solo, and grabbed his first-career interception at the end of the first half. Overall, the Demon Deacons defense held the Black Knights to 10 total points and one touchdown.
Additionally, Wake Forest held Army scoreless in the first half marking the first time this season that the Deacs held an opponent to zero points in the opening stanza.
Offensively, redshirt junior wideout A.T. Perry continued his stellar play against Army as over the last two matchups he has recorded 11 receptions for 264 yards and two touchdowns. On Saturday night, the Lake Worth, Fla. native caught five passes for 118 yards and had one score.
Wake Forest scored on seven occasions in the game. Saturday night marked the 10th time the Demon Deacons have held an opponent to seven points or less in head coach Dave Clawson era.
As the Demon Deacons enter the halfway point in their season and the bye week, Wake Forest has scored a program record 275 points this season and is 299 points from reaching its record-setting 574 point total from a season ago.
Overall in the series, Wake Forest is now 7-1 against the Black Knights in Winston-Salem and is now 18-3 inside Truist Field since the 2019 season.
Following an open date on Oct. 15, Wake Forest will host Boston College on Saturday, Oct. 22. While Wake Forest will learn the kickoff time for that contest on Monday, Oct. 10, fans can purchase tickets now. Additionally, click here to grab our super affordable four-pack ticket offer for $89, including a parking pass.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- After winning the coin toss and choosing to defer, Wake Forest forced an Army turnover, as junior Chase Jones jarred the ball loose from an Army ball carrier and recovered it.
- The defensive play was Jones’ first forced fumble and fumble recovery of the season.
- Additionally, the fumble recovery marked the first time this year that Wake Forest secured a turnover on an opponent’s opening possession.
- On the ensuing possession, redshirt junior Sam Hartman connected with fellow redshirt junior A.T. Perry on a 46-yard pass to put the Demon Deacons deep into Army territory.
- Redshirt junior Christian Turner then punched in a one-yard rushing touchdown to give the Deacs their first points of the night.
- Turner’s touchdown marked his fourth of the season and his second consecutive game with a rushing score.
- Wake Forest forced an Army punt, before going on a five-play, 56-yard drive that was capped off by a three-yard rushing touchdown by sophomore Justice Ellison.
- On the drive, Ellison had four carries for 50 yards.
- Afterward, the two sides each forced a turnover on downs. The Demon Deacons then took possession after forcing an Army three-and-out and scored on a one-yard rush by sophomore Quinton Cooley.
- Cooley’s touchdown marked his second of the season and the fourth of his career.
- On the following drive, redshirt freshman Dylan Hazen recorded his first career interception with four seconds remaining in the first half.
- Wake Forest then took a knee following the turnover to head into the halftime break up 21-0.
- The Demon Deacons held Army to just 82 passing yards in the opening half.
- This marked the first time Wake Forest held an opponent scoreless in any half this season.
- On the opening play of the second half, Hartman connected with Perry on an 11-yard pass.
- Hartman then scrambled for four yards, but an unnecessary roughness call against Army added an additional 15 yards.
- After an 11-yard rush from Hartman and an eight-yard rush from Ellison put the Deacs deep into Army territory, Wake Forest extended its lead to 28-0 on a 26-yard touchdown pass from Hartman to Perry.
- On the ensuing Army possession, the Black Knights drove into Wake Forest territory, before missing a 42-yard field goal attempt wide right.
- Hartman then completed passes of 24 and 37 yards to set up a four-yard rushing touchdown by Turner.
- It was Turner’s third multi-touchdown game of his career.
- The Demon Deacons then forced an Army three-and-out, before upping its lead to 38-0 on a 38-yard field goal from redshirt freshman Matthew Dennis.
- The redshirt freshman extended his streak of six consecutive games with a made field goal.
- Army scored its first points of the night with 13:53 remaining in the fourth quarter, doing so on a 20-yard touchdown catch.
- Wake Forest then went three-and-out, as the Black Knights once again took over the field.
- After suffering a false start penalty, Army notched a first down before the Deacon defense made stops on causing incomplete passes and registering two sacks in the process.
- Wake Forest ultimately forced an Army turnover on downs when Kendron Wayman hauled in a sack for a five-yard loss.
- Making his first appearance of the evening, redshirt freshman Mitch Griffis paced a Deacon drive that ultimately resulted in another touchdown thrown, as the redshirt freshman found freshman Wesley Grimes in the end zone for 13 yards.
- Just over four minutes remained in regulation at the time.
- Capitalizing on a 67-yard yard throw, Army reached the Wake Forest red zone.
- Nevertheless, the visitors were unable to convert another touchdown and ended up kicking in a 33-yard field goal to cut into the deficit, down 38-10.
- Four straight rushes by Demond Claiborne put a cap on the evening during Wake Forest’s final drive, as the clock timed out and the Deacs earned their third home victory of the fall.
- Wake Forest defeated Army, 45-10.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Redshirt freshman linebacker Dylan Hazen steadied the Demon Deacons’ complete defensive showing, as he totaled a career-high 12 tackles. Three of his pull-downs were solo, and his first-career interception occurred moments before the first half concluded, when he snatched an Army throw at the Wake Forest 20-yard line. Hazen ended up returning the pick for 21 yards.
Overall, the Deacs’ defense held the Black Knights to 10 total points and one touchdown.
STAGGERING STATISTICS
Wake Forest University announced a sellout for Saturday’s game, which marked the first time since 2011 that Truist Field hosted three-straight sellouts. Additionally, today marked the Deacs fifth sellout in the six games dating back to last season.
- 2022:
- Oct. 8 vs. Army – 32,524
- Sept. 24 vs. No. 5 Clemson – 32,903
- Sept. 17 vs. Liberty – 32,891
- 2011:
- Nov. 5 vs. Notre Dame – 36,307
- Oct. 15 vs. Virginia Tech – 35,026
- Oct. 8 vs. Florida State – 33,116
From a student perspective, Truist Field hosted an Opening Night record 3,752 students for the VMI game on Sept. 1 and the Clemson game on Sept. 24 total with 4,216 students in attendance. On Oct. 8 as a part of Family Weekend, parents of Wake Forest students were invited to join their son or daughter in the Student Tailgate prior to the game.
Meanwhile on the field, Saturday’s win over Army marked the Demon Deacons 11th-straight win in the month of October dating back to 2019, and Wake Forest’s 12th-straight non-conference victory inside Truist Field dating back to its matchup with Notre Dame in 2018.
FROM COACH CLAWSON
“That was another good team win,” said head coach Dave Clawson. “Anytime you can face Army and defend that offense, it requires effort, and I was proud of our team. Our execution level was very high. We had a great week of practice, and the scout team did an awesome job. To be able to finish the non-conference schedule, on a high note for now, is a big deal. I give credit to Army. Their guys kept playing hard, and I knew they would – that is what they are trained to do. Through the last three weeks, we have played complimentary football. The turnovers we picked up in the first half were big, stopping two drives.
“Offensively, this game was definitely not as easy compared to a year ago, but it was still efficient. Coming out in the second half, it was big for us to get that drive to go up. Putting together a 28-0 score was huge in our momentum. We executed on offense and forced turnovers. We found ways of getting off the field on defense.
“I just want to thank all of our fans. This is our third-straight sellout game, and we have really appreciated the crowd support. So, in all, it’s a good win and feels nice to next have a bye week following a victory. We’ll enjoy the week, try to heal up and get healthy, and prepare for a stretch run.”
