Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest Faces Duke
11/8/1999 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 8, 1999
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The Wake Forest football team continues its pursuit of the program's first bowl bid since 1992 as the Demon Deacons face ACC rival Duke at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 13 at Wallace Wade Stadium in Durham, N.C. The game will not be televised. The Deacons are coming off a 19-3 win over North Carolina - their first victory over the Tar Heels since 1989 - and need one more win to ensure their first winning season since '92 and be eligible for one of five ACC bowl bids. Duke is coming off a 58-7 thumping by Clemson, but has otherwise shown strong play in the latter half of the season. A quick look at both teams:
WAKE FOREST vs DUKE Winston-Salem, NC Location Durham, NC 3,836 Enrollment 6,272 Atlantic Coast Conference Atlantic Coast Jim Caldwell Head Coach Carl Franks Iowa '77 Alma Mater Duke '83 22-53 (7th yr) Record at School 2-7 (1st yr) 22-53 (7th yr) Career Record 2-7 (1st yr) 3-8, 2-6 ACC 1998 Record 4-7, 2-6 ACC Multiple Offensive System Multiple Multiple Defensive System Multiple 15 (6/8/1) Starters Returning 18 (9/9/0) 50 (23/25/2) Lettermen Returning 47 (25/20/2)
Last Week in Review
A dominating Wake Forest defense held North Carolina to just 131 yards of total offense, including just 12 yards rushing, as the Demon Deacons spoiled the Tar Heels' homecoming with a 19-3 victory in Chapel Hill. The win snapped the Deacs' nine-year losing streak to Carolina, while the 131 yards of total offense was the fewest allowed by a WFU team since 1961 (when Wake held Virginia to just 120 yards in a 21-15 win).
Deacon placekicker Matthew Burdick accounted for 13 of Wake's 19 points, connecting on a career-high 4-of-4 field goals and one extra point to move into second place on the WFU career scoring list and extend his career field goal mark (see Burdick notes later). Burdick got Wake on the board with 47-yard field goal in the first quarter, but UNC kicked a 48-yarder in the second period to tie the game at 3-3. Wake immediately answered with an eight-play, 80-yard touchdown drive, keyed by several big plays by QB Ben Sankey.
Sankey hit TE James Lik for 27 yards, then added runs of 22 and 19 yards to set up a 5-yard TD pass to Rhamen Love-Lane, giving Wake a 10-3 lead. Love-Lane, a walk-on tight end who was converted to fullback earlier this year, caught the TD pass - his first career reception - on a busted play. PK Tyler Ashe tried a 56-yard field goal just before halftime, but the kick (which was three yards longer than the school record) was blocked as time expired. The Deacs got into the red zone three times in the second half but settled for three more Burdick field goals when they couldn't punch it in the endzone.
The Deacs finished with 257 yards of total offense on the day, 181 of which came from Sankey (132 passing, 49 rushing). WFU tailback Morgan Kane added 71 yards on the ground, while linebacker Kelvin Moses (10 tackles, 1 sack) and free safety DaLawn Parrish (9 tackles, 1 pass break-up) led a stellar defensive effort. UNC quarterback Luke Huard completed just 11 of 30 passes for 101 yards and was sacked five times on the day. The Deacons dominated in time of possession (36:45) and did not allow Carolina into the red zone once all day.
The Series With Duke
Wake Forest and Duke have been competing on the gridiron since 1889, when the Demon Deacons topped then-Trinity College 32-0 in Raleigh. This week's meeting will be the 80th in the historic series which has the Deacs trailing, 52-25-2. However, the competition between the two former neighbors has been quite close during the past two decades. In 20 contests since 1979, each team has won 10 times. Wake Forest has won two of the last three meetings with the Blue Devils, although Duke was victorious in last year's contest in Groves Stadium (19-16). Wake has also won three of the last four games at Wallace Wade Stadium, although the Blue Devils hold a 24-12 edge at their home field since it was built in 1929.
LAST MEETING DUKE 19, WAKE FOREST 16
November 10, 1998 * Groves Stadium (22,037)
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - For the second time in as many weeks, the Demon Deacons were defeated in the closing minutes. This time it was Big Four rival Duke, which snapped a 21-game ACC losing streak when Sims Lenhardt converted a 32-yard field goal with 1:48 remaining to give his team a hard-fought 19-16 decision.
The game was close throughout with the lead changing hands four times. Wake Forest fell behind, 6-0, as Lenhardt converted a pair of 40+-yard field goals. The Deacon attack did put together an 11-play, 72-yard drive in the latter portion of the second period, taking advantage of a roughing the punter penalty against Duke and converting twice on third down passes by Brian Kuklick. The Wake QB covered the final yard himself on a quarterback sneak. The Devils responded on Lenhardt's third three-pointer of the half with 0:11 left before intermission.
Wake Forest rallied again in the third period. After a Tripp Moore punt was downed at the Duke one-yard-line, the Deacs gained field position and took over following a short Blue Devil punt at their own 35. On the first play after the punt, Kuklick connected with Desmond Clark on a 35-yard touchdown play to return the lead to WFU, 13-9.
That lead didn't last, however, as the visitors recaptured a three-point edge by driving 66 yards in a time-consuming (7:27) drive that was capped by a third-down TD pass to Richmond Flowers from Bobby Campbell, who came off the Duke bench to lead his team to the win. The Deacs came back once more when Jeffrey Muyres' interception gave them possession on the Duke 37, but all they could manage was a field goal by Matthew Burdick to tie the count at 16-16, leaving the door open for the Blue Devils to win the contest on Lenhardt's fourth field goal of the night.
SCORING SUMMARY
1st 2nd 3rd 4th Total Duke 3 6 0 10 19 Wake Forest 0 7 6 3 16DUKE - Lenhardt 48-yard field goal, 9:22 in 1st DUKE - Lenhardt 41-yard field goal, 9:25 in 2nd WFU - Kuklick 1-yard run (Burdick kick), 1:55 in 2nd DUKE - Lenhardt 26-yard field goal, 0:11 in 2nd WFU - Clark 35-yard pass from Kuklick (pass failed), 7:39 in 3rd DUKE - Flowers 8-yard pass from Campbell (Lenhardt kick), 10:37 in 4th WFU - Burdick 37-yard field, 4:19 in 4th DUKE - Lenhardt 32-yard field goal, 1:48 in 4th
WFU STATISTICS DUKE 18 First Downs 20 29 Rushing Attempts 38 93 Net Yards Rushing 104 39 Passes Attempted 42 22 Passes Completed 22 1 Had Intercepted 1 198 Net Yards Passing 204 291 Total Offense 308 5-36.0 Punts-Average 5-42.8 1-0 Fumbles-Lost 0-0 8-86 Penalties-Yards 9-97 28:41 Time of Possession 31:19
TOP INDIVIDUALS
RUSHING - (WF) Kane 11-86
(DU) Hill 26-72
PASSING - (WF) Kuklick 22-39-198-1td-1int
(DU) Campbell 19-34-181-1td-1int
RECEIVING - (WF) Clark 7-89-1
(DU) Flowers 9-78-1
Scouting the Blue Devils
Duke comes into this week's game at 2-7 overall and 2-4 in the ACC. After struggling to an 0-4 start, the Blue Devils began showing dramatic improvement in their play in the last few games. Duke surprised Virginia with a 24-17 double overtime win, then took No. 8 Georgia Tech down to the wire before falling 38-31. After a close loss to NC State (31-24 in overtime), Duke earned a thrilling 25-22 come-from-behind win over Maryland two weeks ago.
After four strong games, however, the Blue Devils suffered a 58-7 wallopping by Clemson last weekend. Duke gave up 558 yards of total offense to the Tigers and turned the ball over five times while managing just 202 yards of offense (including only 31 yards on the ground). Clemson RB Travis Zachery rolled up 141 rushing yards on just 17 carries, while Tiger QB Brandon Streeter passed for 279 yards and two TDs. Duke's lone TD of the game came on a 6-yard run by Letavious Wilks just before halftime. Through nine games, the Blue Devils rank last in the ACC in total defense, yielding 433.7 yards per game to their opponents.
Duke could be especially vulnerable to the Deacon ground attack, as they have allowed opponents nearly 200 rushing yards per game. Offensively, the Devils have averaged 300.2 yards per game, most of which has come through the air (253.3 ypg). Quarterback Spencer Romine has connected on 114 of 216 passes (.528) for 1,547 yards and six touchdowns with 10 interceptions. His primary target is wideout Scottie Montgomery, who ranks fifth in the ACC in receptions (4.8) and receiving yards (79.4) per game.
WR Richmond Flowers averages 4.1 catches for 66.0 yards per game. Montgomery is also a threat on kickoff returns, ranking third in the conference at 23.1 yards per return. Placekicker Sims Lenhardt is also one of the ACC's best, he's hit 14-of-18 field goals this year and leads the team in scoring with 59 points. Defensively, linebacker Ryan Stallmeyer leads the team with 93 tackles, including 58 solo hits, 7 tackles-for-loss and two sacks, while strong safety Darius Clark has 84 tackles (68 solo), four TFLs, two pass break-ups and four interceptions.
Deacon Injury Report
Junior OT Marlon Curtis (shoulder): out for season, junior DT Da'Vaughn Mellerson (knee-MCL sprain): out for season, senior RB Kito Gary (broken arm): out, senior OT/TE Willie Lam (achilles strain): doubtful, senior LB Abdul Guice (knee sprain): doubtful, redshirt freshman FB Ovie Mughelli (shoulder): questionable, sophomore S Tehran Carpenter (foot sprain): questionable, sophomore LB Ed Kargbookorogie (hamstring strain): questionable.
Head Coach Jim Caldwell
Jim Caldwell is in his seventh season as head coach at Wake Forest with a career record of 22-53. A native of Beloit, Wis., Caldwell graduated from Iowa in 1977 with a degree in English literature and played four years for the Hawkeyes as a defensive back. His career includes assistant coaching stints at Iowa (1977), Southern Illinois (1978-80), Northwestern (1981), Colorado (1982-84), Louisville (1985) and Penn State (1986-92). He presently is chairman of the American Football Coaches Association Ethics Committee and is a member of the AFCA's Board of Trustees.
Caldwell Calls the Shots
Seventh-year head coach Jim Caldwell has taken on a new role this fall as the team's offensive coordinator. Caldwell now calls the plays from the sidelines and scripts the play chart for each game. His explanation: "I'm doing it primarily because I want to have more influence on how we go about trying to win." Quarterbacks coach Jamie Barresi and offensive line coach George Belu assist Caldwell with the day-to-day duties assigned to the offensive coordinator.
A Man of His Word
When coach Jim Caldwell promised a greater commitment to the running game this year, he certainly meant it. Wake Forest ranked last in the nation in rushing last year, managing only 65.4 yards per game. Through the first nine games of '99, Wake is averaging 171.2 yards per game - ranking fourth in the ACC and 31st in the nation. It marks the highest per-game rushing average by the Deacs since 1984 (when they netted 181.2 ypg). The Deacs have run the ball 444 times while passing just 173 times, a 72 percent average. In the season opener, Wake gained 320 yards on the ground vs. Army - the most by a WFU team since a 396-yard effort vs. Maryland in 1993. WFU also piled up 266 ground yards vs. NC State and 257 vs. UAB. Nine games into the season, the Deacs have 1,541 rushing yards, more than the team's season totals in each of Caldwell's previous six years.
A Record Improvement
Should the Deacs maintain their current pace on the ground, it would mark the third-greatest single-season improvement in rushing offense ever by an ACC team. Wake's jump from a 65.4 yards-per-game rushing average last year to a 171.2 average this year marks a +105.8 margin of improvement. The current ACC record for the biggest single-season turnaround is held by North Carolina, who improved their running game by 117.5 yards per game from 1985 to 1986 (135.0 to 252.5). A look at the top rushing game turnarounds in the ACC:
ACC Top Three Single-Season Rushing Improvements
North Carolina, 1985-86 135.0 to 252.5 +117.5 Georgia Tech, 1994-95 104.1 to 211.0 +106.9 Wake Forest, 1998-99 65.4 to 171.2 +105.8
Deacons Begin With "D"
The Deacon defense has also shown a dramatic turnaround since last season's injury-riddled campaign. In 1998, Wake Forest ranked dead last in the ACC in total defense, rushing defense, pass efficency defense and scoring defense. This year, however, the Deacs rank among the top two in the league (and the top 25 in the nation) in each of those categories. They also rank tops in the ACC in first downs allowed after ranking eighth last year. A look at the improvement:
Category '98 (ACC rank) '99 (ACC rank) Improve Improve % Total Defense 400.8 ypg (9th) 304.6 ypg (2nd) 96.2 ypg +24.0 % Rushing Defense 187.2 ypg (9th) 110.1 ypg (2nd) 77.1 ypg +41.2 % Pass Eff. Defense 129.9 pts (9th) 107.0 pts (2nd) 22.9 pts +17.6 % Scoring Defense 30.5 ppg (9th) 15.0 ppg (1st) 15.5 ppg +50.8 % First Downs Allowed 19.2 pg (8th) 16.6 pg (1st) 2.6 pg +13.5 %
Protecting the Ball
Wake Forest has also been significantly more careful with the ball this season. Last year, the Deacs turned the ball over 32 times in 11 games (2.9 per game), but this fall, WFU has committed 11 turnovers in nine games (1.2 per game). Defensively, the Deacs have forced their opponents into 18 turnovers, giving WFU a +0.78 turnover margin for the season, ranking third in the ACC and 14th in the nation. During the five games from Rutgers to UAB, Wake turned the ball over just three times while forcing 12 turnovers - an impressive +2.40 turnover margin in that stretch.
Kane Closing in on 1,000
Senior RB Morgan Kane has been the predominant weapon in Wake's new run-based attack, rushing for 937 yards in the first nine games. That puts him just 63 yards shy of the 1,000-yard mark. Should Kane hit that milestone, he would become Wake's first 1,000-yard rusher since John Leach netted 1,089 yards in 1993. (The school's single-season rushing mark stands at 1,231 yards, set by James McDougald in 1979.) Kane's 104.1 yards per game average currently ranks third in the ACC and 23rd in the nation. He has 229 carries on the year (25.4 per game). At that pace, he will top the school's single-season record for carries (275), also set by McDougald in 1979.
Kane Game-by-Game in 1999
Opponent Rush Yds TD Army 32 211 2 Virginia 20 65 0 NC State 31 147 3 Rutgers 34 120 2 Maryland 30 128 0 Florida St 12 28 0 UAB 22 79 3 Clemson 20 88 0 UNC 28 71 0 Totals 229 937 9
Kane Tops 2,000
With Morgan Kane's 128-yard outing vs. Maryland, the Canada native became just the seventh Deacon ever to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a career. Now with 2,326 rushing yards on 601 carries, Kane ranks fifth all-time at WFU in rushing yardage and fourth in rushing attempts.
WFU Career Rushing Yards WFU Career Rushing Attempts 1. James McDougald (1976-79) 3,865 1. James McDougald (1976-79) 895 2. Michael Ramseur (1982-85) 3,325 2. Michael Ramseur (1982-85) 753 3. Topper Clemons (1982-85) 2,479 3. Larry Russell (1969-71) 659 4. John Leach (1990-93) 2,362 4. Morgan Kane (1996-pres) 601 5. Morgan Kane (1996-pres) 2,326
Kane Collects Seventh 100-Yard Outing
Morgan Kane has topped 100 yards rushing four times in 1999, bringing his career total to seven 100-yard efforts. That ties Kane for fourth on the list of career 100-yard games at WFU:
Morgan Kane's Career 100-Yard Rushing Performances
131 yards at Clemson, 9/28/96 146 yards at Duke, 10/25/97 113 yards at Clemson, 9/26/98 211 yards at Army, 9/11/99 147 yards vs. NC State, 9/25/99 120 yards vs. Rutgers, 10/02/99 128 yards vs. Maryland, 10/09/99
Wake Forest Career 100-Yard Rushing Games
1. James McDougald (1976-79) 15 2. Michael Ramseur (1982-85) 13 3. Larry Hopkins (1970-71) 10 4. Morgan Kane (1996-pres) 7 Ken Garrett (1970-72) 7 Brian Piccolo (1962-64) 7 Larry Russell (1969-71) 7
Kane Tops 200
Kane exploded for a career-high 211 yards in the season opener at Army, becoming just the fifth Deac to eclipse the 200-yard mark. That marked the seventh-best single-game rushing total in school history and was the first time a Deac had eclipsed the bicentennial mark since John Leach's ACC-record 329-yard performance vs. Maryland in 1993.
Wake Forest's 200-Yard Rushing Performances
1. John Leach vs. Maryland (11/20/93) 329 (ACC Record) 2. James McDougald vs. Clemson (10/09/76) 249 3. Nub Smith vs. Wm & Mary (10/22/49) 246 4. Larry Hopkins vs. Clemson (10/17/70) 230 Larry Hopkins vs. Tulsa (10/16/71) 230 6. James McDougald vs. Duke (11/10/79) 213 7. Morgan Kane vs. Army (09/11/99) 211
Sankey in the Air
Senior Ben Sankey took over the starting quarterback duties in 1999 after waiting patiently for four years behind the school's all-time leading passer, Brian Kuklick. In nine games, Sankey has been impressive, ranking sixth in the ACC in pass efficiency (120.9). He has connected on 58 percent of his passes (94-of-161) with five TDs and five interceptions.
Ben Sankey's Career Passing Statistics
Year G-S Comp Att Pct Yds TD Int Lg 1996 5-0 13 30 43.3 180 1 0 29 1997 6-2 54 93 58.1 606 1 5 43 1998 5-0 38 58 65.5 468 4 2 61 1999 9-9 94 161 58.4 1120 4 5 46 Totals 25-11 199 342 58.2 2374 11 12 61
Sankey On the Ground
QB Ben Sankey's great mobility has added a new dimsension to the Deacon offense this year, allowing Wake to utilize the option more frequently. A real threat on the ground, Sankey ranks second on the team and 12th in the ACC with a 32.1 rushing yards per game average. Discounting yardage lost on sacks (24 for -148 yards), and Sankey has averaged 4.6 yards per carry and 48.5 rushing yards per game. Sankey achieved a rare feat in the UAB game, becoming just the second quarterback in WFU history to rush and pass for 100 yards in the same game (108 yards rushing, 132 passing). Previously, former WFU head coach John Mackovic had been the only one to do so vs. Virginia in 1964. Sankey accounted for 61 percent of the Deacs' total offense vs. UAB (260 of 396 yds). On the year, he leads the Deacs and ranks eighth in the ACC in total offense (156.6 ypg).
Sankey's Game-by-Game Rushing Statistics
Opponent Rush Yds Avg TD Army 12 29 2.4 1 Virginia 12 28 2.3 0 NC State 11 35 3.2 0 Rutgers 15 49 3.3 0 Maryland 14 3 0.2 2 Florida St 12 -16 -1.3 0 UAB 12 108 9.0 1 Clemson 10 4 0.4 0 UNC 20 49 2.5 0 Totals 118 289 2.4 4
Deese Among ACC's All-Time Leading Receivers
For the second straight year, WFU will see one of its players finish among the ACC's all-time reception leaders. Desmond Clark set new school and ACC marks last year, graduating with 216 career receptions. This year, senior WR Jammie Deese is also ascending the ACC charts. Deese led the team and ranked second in the ACC with 68 receptions last year - the second-best total ever by a Wake Forest player. Deese recorded his eighth career 100-yard receiving game earlier this fall, catching six passes for 106 yards vs. Rutgers. With 27 catches in the first nine games, Deese now has 179 career receptions, which ranks him third all-time at WFU and eighth in the ACC. His 2,314 career receiving yards ranks fifth all-time at WFU and 18th in the ACC.
WFU Career Reception Leaders
1. Desmond Clark (1995-98) 216 (1st ACC) 2. Ricky Proehl (1986-89) 188 (5th ACC) 3. Jammie Deese (1996-pres) 179 (8th ACC)
WFU Career Receiving Yardage Leaders
1. Ricky Proehl (1986-89) 2,949 (4th ACC) 2. Desmond Clark (1995-98) 2,834 (7th ACC) 3. Wayne Baumgardner (1979-81) *2,431 (11th ACC) 4. Jammie Deese (1996-pres) 2,314 (18th ACC)
* does not include 1979 Tangerine Bowl
On the Lam
How versatile do you think a 6-4, 305-lb. football player can be? Pretty versatile, if you're Deacon senior Willie Lam. Lam, who entered the season as a reserve offensive tackle, caused a few folks to do a double-take when he caught a TD pass as a tight end vs. NC State. Then, at Florida State he lined up as a fullback a few times, as the Deacs had a shortage of bodies at that position. And vs. UAB, he played much of the game at right tackle in place of starter Todd Hollowell. (Lam wears No. 62 as a tackle and No. 94 when lining up as a tight end or fullback.) His TD reception vs. NC State was the first (and only) catch of his collegiate career. A high school quarterback, Lam has added nearly 70 pounds to his frame since enrolling at WFU and has played tight end, guard, tackle, and fullback for the Deacs during his career.
Tight Ends Seeing More Action
Tight ends at Wake Forest have not garnered much of the offensive spotlight in recent years, as they were primarily used as blockers. In 1998, Deacon TEs caught just 10 of 255 balls, and in '97, they snared just 13 of 244. This year, Wake has utilized its tight ends as receivers a bit more often, however. In addition to Willie Lam's TD catch (above), senior James Lik has caught 12 passes for 142 yards (a 11.8 average).
Other Targets
Don't let Wake's run-oriented attack fool you into overlooking the Deacons' arsenal of receivers. The Deacon QBs have distributed their 98 completions this year among 13 different targets, including Deese, Lik and Lam (above), WRs Ira Williams (12 for 183), Jimmy Caldwell (12 for 110 yards), Marvin Chalmers (8 for 95), Fabian Davis (3 for 31) William Merritt (3 for 43), Jon Jordan (1 for 7), RBs Morgan Kane (14 for 82) and Chris McCoy (3 for 48), and FB Rhamen Love-Lane (1 for 5). Even OG Brian Wolverton (1 for 1) has caught a pass (tipped by a defender).
Linebacker M*A*S*H* Report
Wake Forest suffered a slew of injuries at linebacker last season, losing starters Dustin Lyman and Kelvin Moses for the season with knee injuries. Unfortunately, the LB curse carried over to the early '99 campaign as well, as Lyman reinjured his knee and Abdul Guice - who had started in place of Moses in 1998 - suffered a knee injury as well. Wake slowly got its linebacking corp back in healthy condition this year, however. Lyman and Moses, who was granted a rare sixth year of eligibility, both returned to the starting lineup early this fall and have had an immeasurable impact on the Deacon defense. Moses currently ranks second on the team in tackles with 49 in eight games, while Lyman is fourth with 39 in seven outings. Guice returned to the lineup vs. UAB at outside linebacker - his first time on the field in nearly a year - but injured his knee vs. UNC last week and is doubtful for the Duke game. Sophomore LB Ed Kargbookorogie, who played last year as a true freshman, has missed three games due to injuries and is questionable for this week.
Ray Among ACC Leaders in Sacks, TFLs
Junior DE Bryan Ray has stepped up to become a dominant defensive force in the ACC this fall. Currently, Ray ranks second in the ACC in quarterback sacks (8) and tackles for loss (16) through nine games. He has recorded at least one TFL in seven of the first nine games and at least one sack in five of the first nine outings. Ray had his best outing of the year vs. NC State, collecting five TFLs and three sacks - one of which forced the fumble that set up the Deacs' second TD - to earn ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors.
Ray's eight sacks this season already rank as the third-best season total in WFU history (the record is 16, set by current Baltimore Raven Mike McCrary in 1992). With 11 career sacks, Ray is already tied for fourth on the WFU all-time sack list.
Ray G-b-G UT AT Tot TFL/Yds Sack/Yds Army 9 3 12 2/-8 1/-2 Virginia 4 3 7 3/-18 2/-15 NC State 5 1 6 5/-26 3/-24 Rutgers 3 1 4 2/-2 0/0 Maryland 1 4 5 1/-10 1/-10 Florida St 1 1 2 2/-10 1/-7 UAB 1 0 1 0/0 0/0 Clemson 2 1 3 0/0 0/0 UNC 3 0 3 1/-3 0/0 Totals 29 14 43 16/-77 8/-58
Wake Forest Career Sack Leaders
1. Mike McCrary (1989-92) 31 2. James Parker (1976-79) 15 3. Rudy Thompson (1989-92) 13 4. Bruce Hopkins (1974-77) 11 Gary Baldinger (1982-85) 11 Maurice Miller (1989-92) 11 Bryan Ray (1997-pres) 11
Curtis Lost To Shoulder Injury
Junior OT Marlon Curtis was lost for the season after injuring his shoulder vs. NC State. Curtis was the Deacs' starting center in '98 before going down with a shoulder injury. He had surgery last year and was moved to tackle in '99, backing up Todd Hollowell prior to the season-ending injury.
Safety Patrol
Senior free safety DaLawn Parrish, the Deacs' leading tackler for the second straight year, suffered a foot and ankle sprain vs. Florida State and missed the UAB game. He reinjured the foot vs. Clemson but still netted six tackles, and added nine hits vs. UNC while still not fully healed. Reserve safety Tehran Carpenter has missed the last two games entirely with a bad foot sprain, while reserve safety Michael Clinkscale (fractured hand) has played both games with a cast on his hand. Senior strong safety David Moore - the healthiest of the Deacon safeties - has had an outstanding year thus far with 39 tackles, including a team-high 32 solo stops, three TFLs and four pass break-ups.
Parrish a Defensive Leader
In seven games, FS DaLawn Parrish has tallied a team-high 52 stops (including a team-high 32 solo hits) and two interceptions. He also led the team in hits last year with 75, including a team-high 59 solo stops, 10 tackles-for-loss and two interceptions. Parrish played most of '98 at safety, but moved to outside linebacker for the final four games when injuries decimated the linebacking corps. This year, Parrish has a chance to make the ACC Academic Honor Roll for a fourth straight year, he would be just the fourth athlete in ACC history to do so.
"Iron Man" Streaks Snapped
Wake Forest's "iron men," offensive guards Sam Settar and Brian Wolverton, both saw their impressive streaks of consecutive plays snapped this year. Neither had missed a single offensive snap in a game dating back to the 1997 season. Settar's streak was halted vs. NC State when he went down with a sprained knee and ankle. He had played every offensive down for the Deacons since joining the starting lineup as a sophomore in 1997, a streak of 1,729 consecutive offensive plays covering 25 games. Wolverton's streak had reached 1,913 consecutive snaps when he was finally given a break in the UAB blowout. He had played every single snap since the Georgia Tech game in 1997, a streak covering 27 games.
Sagarin Ratings
Wake Forest is currently ranked No. 33 in the Sagarin Ratings through games of Nov. 6th. The Demon Deacons' schedule ranks as the 30th-toughest in the nation. This week's opponent, Duke, is ranked 70th by the Sagarin computer and has a strength of schedule rating of No. 2 in Division I-A.
Mughelli Paves The Way One of the major reasons for Wake's success running the ball this year is the blocking of redshirt freshman FB Ovie Mughelli (pronounced Muh-HAY-lee). A steamroller on the field, the 6-2, 232-lb. Mughelli has made quick work of numerous linemen and linebackers this season. As Coach Jim Caldwell put it, "He just loves to hit people." In addition to his strength (he can squat 625 lbs.), Mughelli possesses good quickness and is a talented ball-carrier. Although he has not carried the ball much at WFU, he rushed for over 4,500 yards and nearly 70 TDs in his high school career. Mughelli has been hampered by a shoulder injury, however, and he is listed as questionable for Duke after missing the UNC game.
Burdick Breaks Career Field Goal Record, Ranks Second in Scoring
Senior PK Matthew Burdick continues to rewrite the kicking section of the Wake Forest record book. Two weeks ago, he broke the school career field goal record with his 23-yard boot vs. Clemson. That was his 38th career field goal, which topped Wilson Hoyle's career mark of 37. Burdick added four three-pointers vs. UNC to up his record-setting total to 41 field goals. Burdick's 13 points vs. Carolina also upped his career point total to 198, which pushed him from fourth to second place on the WFU career scoring list.
Last season, Burdick was a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award, presented to the nation's top kicker. He has converted 42-of-63 field goal attempts in his career, including 30-of-34 (.882) from inside the 40. He has nailed 72-of-75 career PATs and is 20-of-20 so far this season in that statistic. In 1997, Burdick booted 15 field goals, one shy of the WFU single-season record set by Hoyle in 1987. His 53-yard field goal vs. App State last year tied the school record for the longest kick.
WFU Career Scoring Leaders
1. Wilson Hoyle (1986-89) 230 2. Matthew Burdick (1996-pres) 198
WFU Career Field Goal Leaders
1. Matthew Burdick (1996-pres) 38 2. Wilson Hoyle (1986-89) 37
Burdick a Star in the Classroom as Well
In addition to breaking records on the field, PK Matthew Burdick has been a star in the classroom as well. On Oct. 31 he was named Wake Forest's Male-Scholar-Athlete of the Year, becoming the first student-athlete at WFU to win the award twice. Burdick carries a perfect 4.0 GPA in the Master of Education program after having earned his undergraduate degree in less than three years.
In Remembrance
Senior PK Matthew Burdick sports a black armband this season in memory of his older brother, Bryon, who died of leukemia in 1989.
Kicking Ashe
Sophomore PK Tyler Ashe has continued to be a valuable weapon for the Demon Deacons this year with his powerful leg on kickoffs. This season, Ashe has booted 35 of 42 kickoffs into (or out of) the endzone - an 83 percent average. Of those 35 endzone kicks, 28 resulted in touchbacks. Of the 14 kickoffs that opponents have run back, however, they've averaged 27.9 yards per return. Ashe even pitched in on kickoff coverage vs. NC State, earning his first career tackle when he helped bring down Rahshon Spikes on NCSU's lone kickoff return. Against UAB, Ashe nailed both of his first two career field goal attempts, a 23-yarder and a 46-yarder in the fourth quarter.
First-Timers
Three true freshmen have seen action for the Deacs this season - the most since 1996. QB C.J. Leak has played as a reserve in five games, going 4-for-12 with one TD and one interception. His first career TD came against the nation's No. 1 team, a 1-yard strike to Fabian Davis on the final play of the Florida State game. Leak has also added 27 yards on the ground. Injuries at running back and linebacker have forced RB Tarence Williams and LB Jamaal Argrow into action as well. Williams has contributed 50 yards on 10 carries in four games, while Argrow has tallied eight tackles in nine games. Last season, WFU redshirted 13 of the 14 members of its freshman class, and only four returnees on the roster have not redshirted during their careers (senior PK Matthew Burdick, senior SS David Moore, senior CB Reggie Austin, and sophomore LB Ed Kargbookorogie).
Myers, DeOrio Depart
Sophomore FB Matt Myers and sophomore LB Mark DeOrio both recently elected to leave the football squad for personal reasons. Myers, who was the Deacs' No. 2 fullback, decided to leave the university entirely just prior to the Florida State game. DeOrio left the team two weeks ago but will remain at the university to complete his degree. He started the first six games of '99 at outside linebacker, tallying 15 tackles and two pass break-ups.
Wolverton, Ray Named ACC Players of the Week for Sept. 27
Wake Forest senior OL Brian Wolverton and junior DL Bryan Ray were named ACC Players of the Week on Sept. 27 for their performances vs. NC State. Wolverton earned Offensive Lineman of the Week honors after paving the way for a 266-yard rushing effort. Ray was named ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week after recording six tackles, including five tackles for loss and three sacks. One of his sacks forced a fumble which set up a 4-yard TD pass on the next play.
Deacs Earn First Win vs. a Ranked ACC Team in Groves
The victory over No. 25 NC State marked Wake's first-ever win over an AP-ranked ACC team in Groves Stadium. The Deacs had only won three times in 58 previous tries vs. ranked ACC foes (3-54-1), and all three had come on the road. The Deacs are now 13-87-1 vs. all AP-ranked teams and 4-18 in Groves Stadium.
Already an ACC Champion
Redshirt freshman punter Matt Brennie can already lay claim to being a member of an ACC championship team. Last season, Brennie was on the roster of Wake Forest's baseball squad that won its second consecutive ACC crown. A knee injury forced Brennie to redshirt the season, but he is expected back on the Diamond Deacs' squad this spring as an outfielder. Brennie is currently averaging 36.6 yards per punt and has put 10 boots inside the 20 this year.
A Family Affair
Wake Forest football is a family affair for head coach Jim Caldwell. His oldest son, Jimmy Caldwell, is a sophomore wide receiver for the Deacs and ranks as Wake's fifth-leading receiver on the year. Last year Jimmy lettered as a redshirt freshman, catching three passes for 48 yards. This year, he's caught 12 passes for 110 yards, including a career-high four catches for 61 yards vs. Virginia. Caldwell also serves as the holder for kicker Matthew Burdick, a role he also held when both were teammates at Mount Tabor High School.
Petz Out
Junior DE Mat Petz is sitting out this season after being declared academically ineligible. Last season Petz tallied 61 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and six sacks. His TFL total was the third best in the ACC. Petz can regain his eligibility for 2000.
A Veteran Lineup
Wake welcomed 14 starters and 50 letterwinners back this fall, including three starters from 1997 who missed most of '98 with injuries. With 24 fifth-year seniors on the roster, Coach Jim Caldwell boasts the most experienced team in his tenure at WFU. The returning starters and their cumulative career starts: LB Kelvin Moses# (41), DT Fred Robbins (41), OG Brian Wolverton (37), FS DaLawn Parrish (33), WR Jammie Deese (31), LB Dustin Lyman# (28), RB Morgan Kane (28), OG Sam Settar (27), CB Reggie Austin (24), DE Kelvin Jones# (21), DE Bryan Ray (18), OT Michael Collins (15), LB Abdul Guice (14), OT Marlon Curtis (7). (# started in 1997 but missed most of '98 due to injury)
Bachelor's Degree
Senior LB Abdul Guice picked up an impressive preseason honor this summer, but it didn't come in The Sporting News, Street & Smith, or any other football publication. Guice was named the most eligible bachelor in North Carolina by Cosmopolitan magazine in its July "All About Men" issue. Guice's neighbor, Ryan Smith, saw an advertisement in the magazine and submitted his nomination. She wrote a paragraph and included a photo from Guice's modeling portfolio. Guice's mailing address was included in the magazine and he has received several dozen letters inquiring about his bachelor status. The attention has earned him a new nickname among his teammates, "Cosmo."
Speed Demons
Four members of the WFU football team made a tremendous impact during the 1999 ACC Outdoor Track & Field Championships, winning three league titles. Wide receiver John Stone was involved in all three, capturing the 100- and 200-meters and combining with Reggie Austin (who was second in the 100), Jammie Deese and Chris Justice to win the 4x100 relay. Deese had a full day of activity last April 17th, driving from Clemson (site of the ACC Championships) to Winston-Salem that afternoon to arrive in time to catch a touchdown pass in the Deacons' Spring Game in Groves Stadium.
Consecutive Starts
Several Deacs have long consecutive starting streaks heading into the UNC contest: DT Fred Robbins (37), OG Brian Wolverton (37), WR Jammie Deese (31) and CB Reggie Austin (21).
Deacons with Diplomas
The Deacon roster includes eight players who have already earned their undergraduate degrees and are enrolled in graduate programs at WFU. Six fifth-year seniors graduated last May, and two others completed their degrees over the summer. The list of grads includes QB Dan Bradley (Communications), PK Matthew Burdick (Education), LB Abdul Guice (Sociology), LB Kelvin Moses (Communication), DB DaLawn Parrish (History), QB Ben Sankey (History), TE Ben Stafford (Sociology) and OL Brian Wolverton (Communication). Burdick completed his degree last summer, less than three years after he enrolled at WFU.
Academic Excellence
Part of Wake Forest football tradition is excellence in the classroom. Last year, WFU was again recognized by the American Football Coaches Association for having one of the top graduation rates in the nation. Wake Forest earned "Honorable Mention" status for graduating over 70% of the freshmen that entered school in 1993. It marked the eighth time in the last nine years that WFU has been among the top institutions in this survey, including 1995 when the Deacs tied for the best graduation rate in the country. Wake sported a 67 percent grad rate for its class that entered in 1992 - 17 percent higher than the national average of 50 percent. The University's overall graduation rate for all student-athletes was 69 percent, well above the national average of 58 percent.
Gary Lost to Broken Arm
The rushing attack lost the services of senior TB Kito Gary after he suffered a broken arm vs. NC State. Gary, an exeptionally quick runner, had just returned to the lineup after being slowed by a preseason injury. He had surgery on the arm and will likely be out for the remainder of the season. Gary totaled 526 yards on 140 carries in his career.
Getting Stronger
The Deacs' off-season conditioning program has paid tremendous dividends in recent years. This season 34 players bench pressed over 400 pounds during their annual testing, up from 24 players in 1998. In 1995, only one player topped the 400-pound bench press mark, and in 1994, no players accomplished it. The top mark on the team of 465 pounds belongs to senior DE Kelvin Jones.
A Cameron Legend
Sophomore LB Ed Kargbookorogie hopes to make as big of a bang on the football field this season as he did last year on the basketball court. Kargbookorogie has gained legendary status at Duke's Cameron Indoor Stadium among the Cameron Crazies. Last year, as a walk-on member of the men's basketball team, Kargbookorogie was taunted by Duke fans during pregame warmups that he could not dunk. He responded by dunking the ball so hard that he shattered the backboard, delaying the start of the nationally-televised game by 23 minutes.
Captains The captains for the 1999 Wake Forest football team are wide receiver Jammie Deese, quarterback Ben Sankey, linebacker Dustin Lyman and free safety DaLawn Parrish, who were selected by their teammates in a preseason vote.
In the Red Zone
The Wake Forest offense has performed well in the red zone this year, scoring on 26 of 31 attempts through seven games (84 percent). Fifteen of those scores were touchdowns, while 11 were field goals. On the defensive side, Deacon opponents have gotten in the red zone 24 times and scored 20 times (83 percent) - 11 times on TDs and nine times on field goals.
Red Zone Scoring Att TD FG Fail Pct. Wake Forest 31 15 11 5 .839 Opponents 24 11 9 4 .833
THIS WEEK'S GAME
Opponent: Duke
Date: Nov. 13, 1999
Time: 1:30 p.m.
Site: Wallace Wade Stadium (33,941)
Durham, N.C.
Radio: Wake Forest ISP Radio Network
(WXII 830 AM flagship)
Stan Cotten (play-by-play)
Ed Bradley (color analyst)
Mike Pratapas (color analyst)
Internet: Radio cybercast available at
www.wakeforestsports.com
Tickets: Call 1-888-758-DEAC
Series: Duke leads, 52-25-2
Lt Meeting:Duke won, 19-16
10/10/98 in Winston-Salem, N.C.
1stMeeting:Wake Forest won, 32-0
3/29/1889 in Raleigh, N.C.
In Wallace Wade: Duke leads, 24-12
WAKE ON THE WEB
Keep up with all of Wake Forest's 18 varsity sports teams on the internet.
Check out the Demon Deacons on-line at: www.wakeforestsports.com
STATISTICAL COMPARISON
WFU Average DU 17.0 First Downs 17.1 171.2 Rushing Offense 61.7 129.0 Passing Offense 253.3 300.2 Total Offense 315.0 20.2 Scoring Offense 18.8 110.1 Rushing Defense 193.9 107.0 Pass Effic Defense 129.4 304.6 Total Defense 433.7 15.0 Scoring Defense 32.2 35.0 Net Punting 37.8 11.0 Punt Return Avg. 8.6 29.9 Kickoff Return Avg. 20.3 +0.78 Turnover Margin -0.33 32:25 Time of Possession 28:46 .403 3rd Down Conv. .336 .571 4th Down Conv. .571 53.4 Penalty Yards 59.7 2.7 Sacks Per Game 1.6
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Wake Forest Rushing Morgan Kane 104.1 ypg Receptions Jammie Deese 3.0 rpg Receiving Yards Jammie Deese 45.6 ypg Pass Efficiency Ben Sankey 120.9 pts Total Offense Ben Sankey 156.6 ypg Scoring Morgan Kane 6.7 ppg All-Purpose Morgan Kane 115.1 ypg Punt Returns Reggie Austin 10.8 ypr Kickoff Returns John Stone 25.7 ypr Interceptions Adrian Duncan 0.3 ipg Tackles DaLawn Parrish 6.5 tpg Sacks Bryan Ray 0.9 spg
Duke
Rushing B.J. Hill 29.6 ypg Receptions Scottie Montgomery 4.8 rpg Receiving Yards Scottie Montgomery 79.4 ypg Pass Efficiency Spencer Romine 112.8 pts Total Offense Spencer Romine 248.2 ypg Scoring Sims Lenhardt 6.6 ppg All-Purpose Scottie Montgomery 126.8 ypg Punt Returns Ben Erdeljac 7.5 ypr Kickoff Returns Scottie Montgomery 23.1 ypr Interceptions Darius Clark 0.4 ipg Tackles Ryan Stallmeyer 10.3 tpg Sacks four players with 0.4 spg
DEACS VS. DUKE
Some individual Demon Deacon highlights from past meetings with North Carolina:
Morgan Kane 98: 11 rushes, 95 yds
97: 17 rushes, 146 yds, 1 TD
Dustin Lyman 97: 8 tackles, 1 sack, 1 PBU
98: 9 tackles, 1 TFL
Kelvin Moses 97: 9 tackles, interception
96: 9 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 sack, 1 PBU
WAKE FOREST IN THE ACC AND NCAA RANKINGS
INDIVIDUAL ACC/NCAA
Rushing M. Kane 104.1 ypg 3rd/23rd
B. Sankey 32.1 ypg 12th
Receptions J. Deese 3.0 rpg 11th
Receiving Yds J. Deese 45.6 ypg 10th
Pass Efficiency B. Sankey 120.9 pts 6th
Total Offense B. Sankey 156.6 ypg 8th
M. Kane 104.1 ypg 10th
Scoring M. Kane 6.7 ppg 9th
M. Burdick 6.2 ppg 11th
All-Purpose M. Kane 115.1 ypg 6th/50th
Punt Returns R. Austin 10.8 ypr 5th/33rd
Kickoff Returns none
Interceptions A. Duncan 0.3 ipg 9th
Punting M. Brennie 36.6 ypp 8th
Field Goals M. Burdick 1.3 pg 3rd/25th
T. Ashe 0.2 pg 10th
TEAM ACC/NCAA Total Offense 300.2 ypg 8th Total Defense 304.6 ypg 2nd/17th Rushing Offense 171.2 ypg 4th/31st Rushing Defense 110.1 ypg 2nd/21st Passing Offense 129.0 ypg 9th Pass Eff. Defense 107.0 pts 2nd/21st Scoring Offense 20.2 ppg 7th Scoring Defense 15.0 ppg 1st/9th Kickoff Returns 19.9 ypr 5th Punt Returns 11.0 ypr 4th/32nd Net Punting 35.0 ypp 7th 1st Downs 17.0 pg 7th 1st Downs Allowed 16.6 pg 1st 3rd Down Offense .403 3rd 3rd DownDefense .390 7th Penalty Yards 53.4 ypg 2nd Sacks 2.7 spg 4th Turnover Margin +0.78 3rd/14th
1999 ACC STANDINGS
ACC Overall Team W L W L Florida State 7 0 9 0 Clemson 5 2 5 4 Georgia Tech 4 2 6 2 Virginia 4 3 5 4 NC State 3 4 6 4 Maryland 2 4 5 4 Wake Forest 2 4 5 4 Duke 2 4 2 7 North Carolina 0 6 1 8
Last Week's Scores:
Wake Forest 19, North Carolina 3 NC State 30, Maryland 17 Clemson 58, Duke 7 Virginia 45, Georgia Tech 38
This Week's Games:
11/11 N. Carolina vs NC State @ Charlotte ESPN 8:00
11/13 Clemson at Georgia Tech JP 12:00
Buffalo at Virginia 1:00
Wake Forest at Duke 1:30
Maryland at Florida State ABC 3:30
GAME-BY-GAME STARTING LINEUPS
OFFENSE
ARMY UVA NCSU RUT MD FSU UAB CLEM UNC WR Deese Lam (TE) Deese Deese Deese Lam (TE) Deese Deese Deese T Hollowell Hollowell Curtis Hollowell Hollowell Hollowell Lam Hollowell Hollowell G Settar Settar Settar Moosbrug Moosbrug Moosbrug Moosbrug Settar Settar C Azzolina Azzolina Azzolina Azzolina Azzolina Azzolina Azzolina Azzolina Azzolina G Wolverton Wolverton Wolverton Wolverton Wolverton Wolverton Wolverton Wolverton Wolverton T Collins Collins Collins Collins Collins Collins Collins Collins Collins TE Lik Lik Lik Lik Lik Stafford Lik Lik Lik QB Sankey Sankey Sankey Sankey Sankey Sankey Sankey Sankey Sankey FB Mughelli Mughelli Mughelli Mughelli Mughelli Love-Lane Mughelli Mughelli Love-Lane RB Kane Kane Kane Kane Kane Kane Kane Kane Kane WR Davis Deese Chalmers Davis Merritt Deese Chalmers Chalmers Chalmers
DEFENSE
ARMY UVA NCSU RUT MD FSU UAB CLEM UNC DE Ray Ray Ray Ray Ray Ray Ray Ray Ray DT Robbins Robbins Robbins Robbins Robbins Robbins Robbins Robbins Robbins DT Shacklefd Shacklefd Shacklefd Shacklefd Shacklefd Shacklefd Shacklefd Shacklefd Shacklefd DE Jones Jones Jones Jones Jones Smith, B. Smith, B. Smith, B. Jones LB Hopkins Hopkins Lyman Lyman Lyman Lyman Lyman Lyman Lyman LB Kargbo. Moses Moses Moses Moses Moses Moses Moses Moses LB DeOrio DeOrio DeOrio DeOrio DeOrio DeOrio Guice Guice Guice CB Austin Austin Austin Austin Austin Austin Austin Austin Austin FS Parrish Parrish Parrish Parrish Parrish Parrish Carpenter Parrish Parrish SS Moore Moore Moore Moore Moore Moore Moore Moore Moore CB Smith, Ky Smith, Ky Smith, Ky Smith, Ky Smith, Ky Smith, Ky Smith, Ky Smith, Ky Smith, Ky
