Wake Forest Drops Season Opener
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Football
September 5, 1998
AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AP) - Qualario Brown ran for a career-high 166 yards and the Air Force defense regained its stifling form of a year ago in a 42-0 win over Wake Forest on Saturday.
Brown, whose previous best was 158 yards, had a 73-yard touchdown run as Air Force (1-0) dominated from the opening kick. Blane Morgan added two TD runs, and Dylan Newman recovered a muffed punt in the end zone for the Falcons.
Wake Forest (0-1), which averaged 22 points and 359 yards a game in 1997, managed only 7 yards in the first quarter and finished with 306. Air Force was third nationally in scoring defense last year, allowing 12.4 points.
It was Air Force's most lopsided shutout since a 54-0 win over Hawaii in 1966. Wake Forest lost to Maryland 52-0 two years ago.
The Falcons held highly touted wide receiver Desmond Clark to just four receptions for 15 yards. Clark needs 34 catches to set the Atlantic Coast Conference career reception record.
The Demon Deacons had only two good scoring chances, but Tim Curry picked off Brian Kuklick's pass at the goal line late in the second quarter, and Wake Forest turned the ball over on downs at the Air Force 16 in the third.
Air Force, 13-2 in homer openers under coach Fisher DeBerry, led 21-0 at halftime and went up 28 on Newman's recovery. Tony Metters picked up a blocked punt by Curry and went 17 yards for the score midway through the fourth quarter and Air Force closed the scoring on Matt Paroda's 5-yard run.
The Falcons converted three third-down conversions on their opening drive, capped by Morgan's 1-yard keep. After holding Wake Forest to 7 yards on its first two possessions, Air Force scored on another Morgan plunge 11 seconds into the second quarter.
Wake Forest managed its first first down on the ensuing possession, but could not advance past midfield, and then surrendered the 73-yard scoring run to Brown, who had 148 yards by halftime.