Football to Stamp Out Season Against Georgia Tech
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Football
November 16, 1998
Wake Forest plays its final game of the 1998 season this Saturday in Atlanta against a Georgia Tech team that will be playing for a share of the ACC championship. The Demon Deacons, in addition to serving in the role of spoiler against the nationally ranked (#21 in both major polls) Yellow Jackets, will be seeking to match their win total (3) in conference play of a year ago and gain a finish of 6th (and possibly even a tie for 5th) in the final league standings.
Kickoff time at Bobby Dodd Stadium for the non-televised contest is 1 p.m.
THE SERIES WITH GEORGIA TECH -
The Demon Deacons have dropped three in a row to Georgia Tech, with two of those losses coming by a total of three points. Wake Forest lost to Tech in 1995 in Winston-Salem, 24-23, then was defeated by the visiting Jackets last year, 28-26. The last time that Wake journeyed to Atlanta, though, it came home with a lopsided 30-10 loss (in 1996). Overall, the Deacons trail in the series, 15-5, with those five wins coming in the last 12 seasons (since 1986). Their last win over the Techsters came at Grant Field in 1994, 20-13.
LAST YEAR'S GAME -
Wake Forest squandered a 17-7 halftime lead, then fought back from an 11-point deficit with two scores in the final six minutes, but still fell to visiting Georgia Tech, 28-26, last September 20th in Groves Stadium. A 41-yard interception return by Dustin Lyman gave WFU an early 7-0 lead, which grew to 10 points at halftime. Tech rallied on three TD passes by Joe Hamilton to hold a 28-17 lead with 9:00 left. A Matthew Burdick field goal with 5:44 remaining pulled the Deacs to within eight, then after recovering an onside kick, they scored on a 30-yard pass from Brian Kuklick to Morgan Kane at the 3:40 mark. A pass for the tying two-point conver-sion was broken up, however, and the Yellow Jackets retained possession the rest of the way.
Team Data
WAKE FOREST (3-7 / 2-5 in ACC) GEORGIA TECH (7-2 / 6-1 in ACC)
Offense: Multiple Offense: Multiple
(20.0 ppg / 331.5 ypg) (34.1 ppg / 371.2 ypg)
Defense: Multiple Defense: Multiple
(27.2 ppg / 388.5 ypg) (32.7 ppg / 381.2 ypg)
Head Coach: Jim Caldwell (6th year) Head Coach: George O'Leary (4th year)
W-17, L-48 W-25, L-21
same record overall same record overall
1-4 vs Georgia Tech 3-1 vs Wake Forest
1998 Schedule 1998 Schedule
9/5 at Air Force L 0-42 9/5 Boston College L 31-41
9/10 Navy W 26-14 9/12 New Mexico State W 42-7
9/26 at Clemson W 29-19 9/26 at North Carolina W 43-21
10/3 Appalachian State L 27-30 (ot) 10/3 Duke W 41-13
10/10 Duke L 16-19 10/10 at NC State W 47-24
10/17 at Maryland W 20-10 10/17 Virginia W 41-38
10/24 North Carolina L 31-38 10/24 Florida State L 7-34
10/31 Virginia L 17-38 10/31 at Maryland W 31-14
11/7 at NC State L 27-38 11/12 at Clemson W 24-21
11/14 Florida State L 7-24 11/21 Wake Forest
11/21 at Georgia Tech 1:00 11/28 at Georgia
THE DEACS LAST WEEK -
Wake Forest turned in an outstanding effort against visiting Florida State but fell to the nationally 5th-ranked Seminoles, 24-7. The Demon Deacons surrendered just 379 yards to the high-powered FSU attack (fewest against Florida State in seven meetings as ACC members) and took the ball away from the 'Noles four times (2 fumbles, 2 interceptions), but could not generate enough offense to take full advantage. Wake's only points came on a 56-yard TD pass from Brian Kuklick to Jammie Deese that pulled the Deacs to within three points, 10-7, at the 13:08 mark of the third period. A costly turnover (too many men on the field) cost Wake possession and led to an FSU touchdown later that quarter. Running back Travis Minor, who rushed for 102 yards on 19 carries, clinched the win with a 22-yard TD run. his second score of the evening, with 12:19 left in the game.
Other than the TD to Deese, Kuklick struggled against the aggressive Seminole defense, completing just 11 of 41 passes for 180 yards. He was intercepted four times (all by Mario Edwards, which tied an ACC single game record) and was sacked six times.
COMMENTS from COACH JIM CALDWELL
(On the loss to Florida State) "We gave a tremendous effort, particularly on defense, but made too many mistakes with turnovers and penalties to win the game. I was extremely proud of the way our young men battled against a very talented opponent, perhaps as talented on both sides of the football as any team in the country. But we do not take any consolation in the fact that the score was closer than what some people may have predicted. Our objective was to win and we were unable to accomplish that."
(On Georgia Tech) "Georgia Tech does not receive as much attention as Florida State for its offensive abilities, but they are, in fact, leading our conference in scoring (at 34.8 ppg). Joe Hamilton is a special type of player. He applies a great deal of pressure to a defense with his ability to pass or run with the ball, and he has a number of weapons to go to as well. Defensively, Georgia Tech takes advantage of every mistake. They've scored six touchdowns with their defense alone. This represents the final chance for a victory for a senior class that has meant a great deal to our program and I am confident that we will give another great effort."
NOTING THE DEMON DEACONS
FINAL GAME FOR DEACON SENIORS - The 1998 Wake Forest senior class, which numbers 14 individuals (and just 11 scholarship players), concludes its career this Saturday when the Demon Deacons visit Georgia Tech. This class, which includes the school's all-time leading pass receiver DESMOND CLARK and the number-one passer in WFU history in quarterback BRIAN KUKLICK, had seen the football program improve in each of the past two years since their freshman year, but now can do no better than four wins this fall and match last year's ACC victory total.
As freshmen (redshirt freshmen except for Clark), this class won only one game. In 1996 as sophomores, they helped the Deacons improve to 3-8. Then came last year and a 5-6 record.
That same progress came in Atlantic Coast Conference play. In 1995, Wake Forest was winless in eight league outings. In '96, the Deacs defeated one conference opponent. Last year they were 3-5, tied for 6th in the final ACC standings.
LOTS OF EXPERIENCE - The 1998 senior class of Demon Deacons have played a lot of football for Wake Forest during their careers. Eight of this year's 11 scholarship seniors have started 29-or-more games. (That includes punter TRIPP MOORE, who has been the team's number-one punter the last 33 contests.)
Overall, this year's senior class has compiled 301 starts the past four seasons.
Demon Deacon Career Starts (1998 starts)
35 JEFFREY MUYRES (10) 20 DAMEON DANIEL (10) 5 Michael Collins (5)
34 JEFF FLOWE (10) 19 Morgan Kane (6) Willie Lam (5)
WANDE SHAW (10) 14 Reggie Austin (10) 4 Kito Gary (4)
33 KELVIN MOSES Kelvin Jones (4) 3 Vince Azzolina (3)
32 BRIAN KUKLICK (10) 12 MARK MAKOVEC (10) Nathan Bolling (3)
31 Fred Robbins (10) 10 Abdul Guice (10) David Moore (3)
30 DESMOND CLARK (8) Kelvin Shackleford (3) 2 Marvin Chalmers (2)
29 JOE ZELENKA (9) 9 JON MANNON (2) Ben Sankey
27 Brian Wolverton (10) Mat Petz (9) 1 James Lik (1)
24 DaLawn Parrish (10) Clinton Wilburn (2) Rufus Taylor (1)
21 Jammie Deese (10) 8 Bryan Ray (8)
Dustin Lyman (5) 7 Marlon Curtis (7)
Sam Settar (10)
Consecutive Starts: FLOWE - 32; Robbins, Wolverton 27; Deese, Parrish, Settar 21
1998 SENIORS IN ALL CAPS
JUNIOR EXPERIENCE, TOO - There's a solid corps of experience in the current junior class as well for the Demon Deacons. Seven individuals have at least 19 career starts to date. Of the six players presently with a streak of 20-or-more consecutive starts, five are juniors (all but senior offensive tackle JEFF FLOWE).
A WIN WOULD MEAN - An upset of Georgia Tech this Saturday would leave Wake Forest with a 4-7 mark for the 1998 campaign, one win less than the school enjoyed last fall. However, a victory over the Yellow Jackets would give the Demon Deacons three ACC "Ws" in '98. That would assure the current squad of no worse than 6th place in the final league standings (which is where the 1997 club finished). A final conference record of 3-5 could even be good enough for a tie for 5th-place, depending on the outcomes of other games the next two weeks.
ACC TITLE ON THE LINE -- AGAIN - Wake Forest will for the second week in a row be facing an opponent that is contending for a share of the 1998 Atlantic Coast Conference championship. Despite an outstanding effort this past Saturday, the Deacons fell to Florida State (24-7), which assured the Seminoles of at least a share of this year's title. Georgia Tech can match FSU's league mark of 7-1 by defeating the Deacs this week.
DEACS FROM GEORGIA -
There are only four members of this year's Wake Forest squad from the state of Georgia, but two of them are integral members of the Demon Deacon defensive backfield.
Senior JEFFREY MUYRES (Stone Mountain/Parkview HS) is presently tied for the team lead in total tackles with 65. As noted in the chart on the previous page, his 35 career starts are the most of any current Deacon. Muyres also has collected two interceptions this year (vs Duke & NC State). His brother Jon is a junior at Georgia Tech and was a projected starting flanker this fall, but is being redshirted while recovering from a foot injury.
Junior REGGIE AUSTIN (Atlanta/Harper HS) has turned in an outstanding 1998 campaign as well. He leads the Deacs with four interceptions (vs Clemson, App State, NC State & FSU) and has also recovered three fumbles while starting all 10 contests at cornerback.
The other two current Wake Forest players from Georgia are promising young players who are being redshirted in 1998 -- defensive end CALVIN PACE (Douglasville/Lithia Springs HS) and defensive back WALTER SIMMONS (Savannah/Benedictine Military Academy).
DEACONS VERSUS GEORGIA TECH -
Here's a review of individual highlights for some current Demon Deacon players previously in their careers versus the Yellow Jackets:
Matthew Burdick - converted both of his field goal tries vs GT last year, connecting from 20 & 42 yds.
Desmond Clark - has only 12 career catches vs GT and no touchdowns (the only ACC opponent he has not scored against) ... best single outing came as a freshman ('95) when he had 5 rec for 60 yds ... limited to 3 rec for 18 yds as a junior, and 4 for 36 yds last year.
Jammie Deese - outstanding performance in last year's loss, catching 7 passes for 118 yds, including an 8-yd TD pass from Brian Kuklick.
Morgan Kane - ran for just 38 yds on 11 atts last year, but did catch a 30-yd TD pass from Brian Kuklick in the 4th quarter.
Brian Kuklick - first career start came at GT in final game of 1994 season and he guided Deacs to a 20-13 win ... completed just 6 of 15 passes that day for 59 yds ... threw for 258 yds (22-42) and 2 Tds last year, with one interception.
Jeffrey Muyres - has been extremely productive against his "hometown" team, totaling 20 tackles in three previous games ... made 8 stops as a freshman ('95), 8 in 1996, then 6 last year.
DEACS GETTING DEFENSIVE- As noted earlier, two of Wake Forest most productive defensive performers this fall are Georgia natives JEFFREY MUYRES and REGGIE AUSTIN. There have been some other noteworthy efforts on that side of the ball as well, however.
MARK MAKOVEC is having an outstanding senior season (he's actually a graduate student). After serving in a reserve capacity and on special teams for three years, Makovec has started all 10 games at linebacker, beginning the year at outside 'backer, then moving inside three games ago when injuries took their toll on that position. He was credited with 7 tackles versus Florida State, including a sack, and also had a pass breakup. The Nesquehoning, PA, product is 2nd on the team in unassisted tackles (44), sacks (5), TFLs (14) and quarterback pressures (5).
The Deacon leader in negative plays is sophomore end MAT PETZ, who has ranked among the ACC leaders in tackles-for-loss all season (ACC defensive stats are released on Monday). Petz has 15 tackles behind the line of scrimmage and six sacks, both team highs.
Much like Makovec, DALAWN PARRISH has been asked to adjust his position with the series of injuries to the Deacon linebacking corps. Makovec's move inside left a spot at outside linebacker, and former safety Parrish filled it. He now leads the Deacs in unassisted hits (51) and is tied for the top spot in total stops (65) with Muyres.
In the trenches, the top Deacon has been junior tackle FRED ROBBINS, who has 54 total tackles this fall.
INTERCEPTION TOTAL HIGHEST IN DECADE - With interceptions this past Saturday by REGGIE AUSTIN (his 4th) and MICHAEL CLINKSCALE (his 1st), the Wake Forest defense increased its season total in that department to 15. That's the most by a Demon Deacon team since 1988 when that year's squad also picked off 15 opposition passes. It's also almost as many interceptions as the last two WFU squads combined (Wake had 7 inter-ceptions in 1996 and 9 last year).
The last time that a Wake team had more than 15 interceptions was when the 1987 Deacs had 17 "INTs."
Seven different Deacon defensive backs have at least one interception this fall, led by Austin with four. For four of those seven individuals, this year's "pick" was the first of their career.
The only ACC team with more interceptions than Wake Forest is NC State with 16.
PRIORITY ON PASSING - The last three contests have seen the Wake Forest offensive attack rely almost exclusively on its passing game. The Demon Deacons rushed for more than 120 yards in each of their first three games this season and were averaging nearly 100 yards per outing on the ground through seven dates. The last three weeks, though, the Deacs have given the ball to their running backs just 33 times total, and generated only 56 yards on those 33 plays (1.7 yards per attempt).
With 13 quarterback sacks figured into the net rushing total in those three games, Wake then has a negative 37 yards on the ground the past three weeks.
Instead, the Deacons have put the ball in the air 151 times in their last three contests (50.3 per). The results have seen quarterback BRIAN KUKLICK throw for a career-high 421 yards at NC State (7th-highest single game total in WFU history) and Kuklick and BEN SANKEY combine for 384 yards versus Virginia (9th-highest). In the first seven games this fall, Wake averaged 34 passes per game.
Pass Atts Pass Yds Rush Yds RB Carries Total Offense
FIRST SEVEN GAMES 240 (34.3) 1,643 (234.7) 695 (99.3) 189 (27) 2,338 (334.0)
LAST THREE GAMES 151 (50.3) 1,014 (338.0) -37 33 (11) 977 (325.7)
KUKLICK WAKE'S ALL-TIME PASSING LEADER - Wake Forest senior quarterback BRIAN KUKLICK became the all-time leading passer in Wake Forest school history with his career-high 421-yard performance at NC State two weeks ago. He currently has 7,782 yards overall as a Demon Deacon, more than 400 yards more than the previous record-holder Mike Elkins (7,304).
Kuklick moved into the WFU top spot in career completions against Florida State this past weekend and is nearing the third and final major passing mark in school history, too. He needs one more touchdown pass to tie Gary Schofield for the top position in that department.
Wake Forest Career Passing Leaders
Passing Yardage Pass Completions Touchdown Passes
(1) BRIAN KUKLICK 7,782 BRIAN KUKLICK 646 Gary Schofield 44
(2) Mike Elkins 7,304 Gary Schofield 640 Mike Elkins 43
(3) Gary Schofield 7,205 Mike Elkins 609 BRIAN KUKLICK 43
AND IN THE ACC - BRIAN KUKLICK needs 218 yards passing to become only the fifth quarterback in ACC history to throw for more than 8,000 yards in his career. A 223-yard performance at Georgia Tech this coming Saturday would move him up to #4 on the all-time ACC chart as well.
Kuklick also will move into 4th on the league's career chart for pass completions with just seven more successful passes.
In career TD passes, one more would tie him for 10th in the ACC records with former Deac Gary Schofield.
ACC Career Passing Leaders
Yardage Completions
1) Ben Bennett, Duke 9,614 Ben Bennett, Duke 820
2) Spence Fischer, Duke 9,021 Spence Fischer, Duke 786
3) Shawn Jones, GaTech 8,441 Steve Slayden, Duke 699
4) Steve Slayden, Duke 8,004 Shawn Jones, GaTech 652
5) BRIAN KUKLICK 7,782 Scott Milanovich, Md 650
6) BRIAN KUKLICK 646
DEESE, McCOY NEW FAVORITE TARGETS - With Desmond Clark out of action the past two weeks, junior wideout JAMMIE DEESE has stepped forward and turned in back-to-back outstanding performances. A week ago, he established new personal bests with 12 receptions for 167 yards at NC State. This past Saturday, he once again reached triple figures in receiving, catching four passes for 107 yards, including a career-longest 56-yarder to account for Wake Forest's only points against Florida State.
Deese has moved into the Wake Forest career top ten in receiving with his two efforts the past two weeks. He now has 141 career receptions, tying him for 6th on the school's all-time list. He's also now 8th in career receiving yardage with 1,763 yards through the air. (see chart next page)
Another individual who has emerged in the passing game is running back CHRIS McCOY. McCoy caught six passes for 107 yards, including his first career touchdown (of any kind) on a 17-yard reception, at NC State, then had a team-high six catches (for 41 yds) against Florida State this past week.
Desmond Clark -- #1 Receiver in ACC History
CLARK ATTAINS ALL-TIME ACC MARK - Demon Deacon wide receiver DESMOND CLARK became the ACC's all-time leading pass receiver on October 17th at Maryland when he grabbed his second reception of the afternoon. The senior from Lakeland, FL, caught a 19-yarder from Brian Kuklick on the game's second play from scrimmage, then on 3rd-and-3 from the Terp 49, he picked up a Deacon first down with a six-yard catch.
The week before against Duke, Clark had become the Wake Forest all-time leading receiver, moving past Ricky Proehl (now with the St. Louis Rams), who had 188 catches during his brilliant career from 1986-1989.
ACC Top Five Receivers ACC Top Six in Receiving Yardage
(1) DESMOND CLARK 211 (1) Clarkston Hines, Duke 3,318
(2) Jermaine Lewis, Md 193 (2) Torry Holt, NCState 3,113
(3) Clarkston Hines, Duke 189 (3) Ricky Proehl, WF 2,949
(4) Ricky Proehl, WF 188 (4) Jermaine Lewis, Md 2,932
(5) Geroy Simon, Md 185 (5) E.G. Green, FSU 2,920
(6) DESMOND CLARK 2,741
DESMOND DINGED - DESMOND CLARK was sidelined in the third quarter of the Virginia game (Oct.31) when he sustained a knee injury on his fourth reception of that game. He had averaged nearly eight receptions and 115 yards receiving per game over the previous six contests and had his string of consecutive games with a touchdown reception halted at six in a row in that game.
Clark did not dress for the game at NC State, then appeared on only one offensive series vs Florida State. His status for this week's season finale at Georgia Tech remains questionable.
Wake Forest Career Receiving Leaders
Receptions Receiving Yardage Touchdown Receptions
(1) DESMOND CLARK 211 Ricky Proehl 2,949 Ricky Proehl 25
(2) Ricky Proehl 188 DESMOND CLARK 2,741 Todd Dixon 24
(3) Thabiti Davis 161 Todd Dixon 2,466 Red O'Quinn 22
(4) James Brim 153 Wayne Baumgardner 2,431 DESMOND CLARK 19
(5) John Henry Mills 146 James Brim 2,040 Kenny Duckett 19
(6) JAMMIE DEESE 141 Red O'Quinn 1,990
Wayne Baumgardner 141 Thabiti Davis 1,865
(8) JAMMIE DEESE 1,763
VERSUS THE ACC - Research compiled by the astute ACC Office media relations office has revealed that DESMOND CLARK has caught 20 passes or more against six of eight ACC opponents. He has scored a touchdown against seven conference schools (all but Georgia Tech).
Desmond Clark vs the ACC
Opponent Receptions Yardage Touchdowns
Clemson 20 302 2
Duke 27 297 3
Florida State 10 115 1
Georgia Tech* 12 114 0
Maryland 20 278 3
North Carolina 24 318 1
NC State 20 290 2
Virginia 27 336 2
*still to be played in 1998
DURABLE DEACS - Demon Deacon offensive guard SAM SETTAR, a 6'4, 238-pound junior from Marlton, NJ, has played all 696 offensive plays this season. Combined with the 804 snaps that he took last year (every offensive play), that gives Settar a streak of 1,500 consecutive plays.
Two other offensive linemen -- tackle JEFF FLOWE and guard BRIAN WOLVERTON -- have also been on the field for all 696 plays during the 1998 season.