courtesy GoDeacs.com
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — The Wake Forest football team opened up the ACC slate in style, defeating the Florida State Seminoles, 35-14, Saturday at Truist Field.
The Demon Deacons (3-0, 1-0 ACC) outgained Florida State (0-3, 0-1 ACC) by an overall tally of 484 to 318 yards, including 225 on the ground compared to the Seminoles’ 92 yards. Additionally, Wake Forest had double the amount of first downs FSU had.
The Wake Forest defense was stifling throughout the entire game, forcing six turnovers (three interceptions and three forced fumbles), the most in the Dave Clawson era.
The Deacons jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter on scores by AT Perry (49-yard pass from Sam Hartman) and Christian Beal-Smith (seven-yard run). Following Florida State’s first score, the Deacs responded with a 12 play, 75-yard drive that was capped off by a 12-yard touchdown pass from Hartman to Donald Stewart and gave Wake Forest a 21-7 lead.
Wake Forest has now started its season 3-0 for the sixth-time this century (2019, 2017, 2016, 2008, 2006) and the fourth time in the Dave Clawson era. Finally, Saturday’s win marks the Demon Deacons second-straight win over Florida State, with their last coming in 2019. This is the first time Wake Forest has defeated the Seminoles in back-to-back contests since it won three-straight from 2006-08.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After the Deacs turned over the ball on the game’s opening possession, Wake Forest’s defense answered with a turnover of its own. Linebacker Ryan Smenda Jr. caused a fumble and second-year cornerback Caelen Carson recovered it to get the ball back.
On the ensuing drive, QB Sam Hartman completed a 49-yard touchdown pass to AT Perry to put Wake Forest up 7-0 with 12:40 left in the opening quarter.
On Wake Forest’s fourth possession of the game, running back Christain Beal-Smith powered his way into the end zone to increase Wake Forest’s lead to 14-0 with three and a half minutes left in the first stanza.
The Deacs’ drive continued following a roughing the punter penalty by Florida State.
After trotting back on the field, Wake Forest’s offense ran the ball six-straight times, including back-to-back big plays from Hartman (24-yard gain) and Christain Turner (15-yard gain).
Florida State responded on their next drive with their first touchdown of the game, cutting Wake Forest’s lead (14-7) in half with less than a minute remaining in the opening quarter.
Undaunted, the Deacons answered on their ensuing offensive possession with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Hartman to Donald Stewart, capping off a 12 play, 75-yard drive that used 5:03 minutes of game action.
Wake Forest received the ball just three plays later as Nasir Greer intercepted his first pass of the season and returned it 14 yards to Florida State’s 38-yard line.
With 3:25 left in the first half, Nick Sciba connected on a 42-yard field goal to give the Deacs a 24-7 lead.
The Seminoles cut into the Deacs’ lead with a passing touchdown prior to the half ending, but Nick Sciba connected on his second field goal of the game to increase Wake Forest’s advantage to 27-14 as the teams went into intermission.
In the first half, Wake Forest produced 332 yards of offense (208 passing and 124 rushing) compared to Florida State’s 174 yards (113 passing and 61 rushing).
Wake Forest’s defense kept Florida State off the scoreboard on their opening drive of the second half. The Deacs recorded the game’s final score after embarking on a 14-play, 90-yard drive over the next 4:56.
The drive was capped off by a one-yard rush by Justice Ellison.
Wake Forest converted a two-point conversation as Hartman dove into the end zone.
Florida State went for it on fourth-and-two from Wake Forest’s 11-yard line, but Rondell Bothroyd stuffed the Seminoles for a loss of two yards as the Deacs regained possession.
With 12:40 left in the game, Wake Forest’s defense made another huge stop, recovering a Florida State fumble in the end zone for a touchback.
Traveon Redd registered Wake Forest’s third interception of the game on their own 15-yard line as the Deacs held on to their 35-14 lead halfway through the fourth quarter.
Halfway through the fourth quarter (5:26), Luji Vilain forced another Florida State fumble and was recovered by Chase Jones which ultimately secured a Demon Deacons ACC win.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
A.T. Perry caught seven passes for a career-high 155 yards and one touchdown. His 49-yard TD catch on the Deacons second offensive possession of the game marked his second receiving touchdown of the season, which set a new career high. Perry’s 22.1 yards per catch is the most by a Demon Deacon in a game since Donavon Greene on Nov. 30, 2019.
STAGGERING STATISTICS
Nick Sciba could not only be on his way to becoming the best kicker in program history, but potentially the best kicker in the history of the ACC and NCAA. Sciba connected on two first half field goals from 42 yards and 22 yards, which marked his 15th and 16th-straight successful try, the longest-active streak in the NCAA.
In his career, Sciba owns a .897 field goal percentage (61-of-68), which ranks second in NCAA history, first in ACC history (min. 50 att.) and is a Wake Forest program record. Sciba now needs just 17 (last updated after FG) points to break the Wake Forest record for career points currently held by Sam Swank with 337 career points.
Additionally, Sciba is a perfect eight-of-eight in three career games against the Seminoles.
FROM COACH CLAWSON – “It was a good day for Wake Forest University and Wake Forest football. I want to thank the students for how loud they were and how they factored into the game. I am proud of our players. We knew the level of competition was going to step up and that we were going to have to play a four-quarter game.
“It was a complete team win. The offense did a great job of controlling the clock. We controlled the line of scrimmage. We ran the ball really well. Defensively, this was one of our best efforts. We did well on third down. We generated turnovers, which were a huge part of the game and we played to the whistle. The kicking game was also solid. Once again, this was a complete team win and we’re going to need more of this as we move forward towards a very good Virginia team next week.”
UP NEXT
The Deacs head out on the road for the first time in 2021 against Virginia on Friday, Sept. 24 in Charlottesville at 7 p.m. on ESPN2.
