Football Turns Attention Solely to ACC
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 5, 1998
Wake Forest has nothing but ACC opponents remaining in the final seven games of its 1998 regular season schedule, beginning with this Saturday's matchup with longtime Big Four rival Duke. Kickoff time in Groves Stadium is 6:30 p.m.
The Demon Deacons won their conference opener two weeks ago at Clemson, but sustained a disappointing loss to Appalachian State this past Saturday in the first overtime game ever played by a Wake Forest squad.
Team Data
WAKE FOREST (2-2 / 1-0 in ACC) DUKE (2-3 / 0-3 in ACC)
Offense: Multiple Offense: Multiple Pro-Set
(20.5 ppg / 349.3 ypg) (18.8 ppg / 353.4 ypg)
Defense: Multiple Defense: 3-4
(26.3 ppg / 369.0 ypg) (29.4 ppg / 351.4 ypg)
Head Coach: Jim Caldwell (6th year) Head Coach: Fred Goldsmith (5th year at Duke)
W-16, L-43 W-15, L-35
same record overall 40-73-1 overall (11th year)
2-3 vs Duke 3-2-1 vs Wake Forest
(2-2 at Duke; 1-0-1 at Rice)
THE SERIES WITH DUKE - Wake Forest and Duke have been competing on the gridiron since 1889. This week's meeting will be the 79th in the historic series which has the Demon Deacons trailing, 51-25-2. However, the competition between the two former neighbors has been quite close during the past two decades.
In 22 contests since 1976, each side has won 11 times. More recently, they have split their last 10 meetings since 1988. Wake does bring a two-game winning "streak" into this 1998 renewal with a 17-16 victory in Groves Stadium in 1996 and a 38-24 triumph last year in Durham. Duke's last win was a 42-26 decision in 1995 on its home field. Wake Forest has not defeated Duke three straight times since the 1970, 1971 & 1972 seasons.
In Groves Stadium, the Deacons are 6-8-1 versus the Blue Devils.
LAST YEAR VERSUS THE BLUE DEVILS - Visiting Wake Forest scored two touchdowns in the final 6:33 to take a 38-24 decision over Duke last October 25th. The Deacon win featured a running game that netted 309 yards and a defense that came up with two interceptions and a pair of fumble recoveries. Herman Lewis ran for 160 yards on just 15 carries, while Morgan Kane totaled a career-best 146 yards on the ground on 17 attempts.
THE DEACS LAST WEEK - The Demon Deacons had to rally twice against visiting Appalachian State to send their game with the Mountaineers into overtime, but fell short in the first-ever OT game by a Wake Forest squad, 30-27. Wake trailed early, 10-0, but fought back to tie the game (10-10) at halftime, then took a 17-13 lead in the third period. App State responded with a field goal and 57-yard TD pass from backup quarterback Daniel Jeremiah to Joey Gibson to regain the lead, 24-17. Quarterback Brian Kuklick then engineered a patient 74-yard drive in 13 plays that concluded on a fourth-and-seven pass to Jammie Deese for the game-tying TD with 0:53 left.
The overtime began with Wake Forest in possession. The Deacs managed a 24-yard field goal by Matthew Burdick, who earlier in the game had kicked a school record-tying 53-yard field goal. Appalachian State scored a touchdown, however, with the key play coming on 3rd-and-11 when Jeremiah's option pitch to tailback Terrence McCall picked up 12 yards to the Deacon one-yard-line. Jeremiah then dove over for the winning score.
Kuklick finished with 259 yards through the air (22-37), including 10 completions to Desmond Clark for 138 yards. Jeremiah and Mountaineer starting QB David Reaves combined to throw for 308 yards (21-34). Gibson was the leading receiver with six catches for 143 yards.
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COMMENTS from COACH JIM CALDWELL
(On the loss to App State) "The game was decided for the most part along the line of scrimmage where I feel we lost the battle on both sides of the ball. We were fortunate to be tied at halftime (10-10) after the way they con-trolled the early part of the game. Then after we got untracked offensively, we gave up some big plays on defense, especially on third down situations, that certainly cost us. I give credit to App State for playing a very good game, but I am disappointed in our performance and the fact that we did not come up with the plays at the end to win."
(On Duke) "Duke has a good, solid football team that seems to be improving each week. Their schedule the past three weeks certainly has not been an easy one with two nationally ranked opponents, Florida State and Virginia, and a Georgia Tech team that is playing as well as anyone in our conference. This is another game that is usually hard-fought and extremely competitive. We have to go back to work this week in practice and try to regain the momentum of daily and weekly improvement that we had been showing until the App State ballgame."
NOTING THE DEMON DEACONS
STARTING WITH A WIN IN THE ACC - Wake Forest's win at Clemson two weeks ago (Sept.26) gave the Demon Deacons a 1-0 record in ACC play for the first time since 1987. The '87 Deacs, under first-year coach Bill Dooley, won their first five ballgames, including league wins over NC State and North Carolina.
NO HOMECOMING HIGHLIGHTS - The annual "Homecoming" weekend at Wake Forest has not brought much cause for celebration football-wise for the Demon Deacons. With their overtime loss to Appalachian State this past Saturday, the Deacs have now lost four straight "Homecoming" games, and five in the last six years.
PRESEASON PROJECTIONS - After compiling a 5-6 record in 1997, and leading at halftime of four games that ended up on the loss side of the ledger, Wake Forest entered the 1998 campaign with as much optimism as the program has enjoyed in Coach Jim Caldwell's six years at the school.
The Demon Deacons, however, were picked to finish 6th in the ACC in the preseason poll conducted by media at the conference's annual "ACC Kickoff" session in late-July. They were projected 5th in the league by the media participating in the ACC "Operation Football" tour in August.
Wake Forest has not finished higher than tied for 6th (in 1997) in the ACC standings since the 1992 Deacons gained a 4th-place spot with a 4-4 conference record. Deacon Records since 1988
(overall / in ACC) 1989 2-8-1 / 1-6 1992 8-4 / 4-4 1995 1-10 / 0-8 1990 3-8 / 0-7 1993 2-9 / 1-7 1996 3-8 / 1-7 1991 3-8 / 1-6 1994 3-8 / 1-7 1997 5-6 / 3-5
SENIORS SEEK TO CONTINUE TREND - The current Wake Forest senior class is small in numbers (14 total, 11 on scholarship), but large in improvement the past three years. As freshmen (redshirt freshmen except for DESMOND 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 has come in Atlantic Coast Conference play. In 1995, Wake Forest was winless in eight league outings. In '96, the Deacs defeated one conference opponent. And last year they were 3-5, tied for 6th in the final ACC standings.
DEACON PLAYERS VERSUS DUKE - Here's a review of individual highlights for some current Demon Deacon players previously in their careers versus Duke:
Desmond Clark - caught 6 passes for 61 yds last year after enjoying one of his top career outings as a sophomore ('96) collected a career-high 13 receptions for 137 yards vs Duke in Groves Stadium that year, including making two TD receptions in 4th quarter to key a WFU comeback from a 16-3 deficit second touchdown came with 1:27 left and gave Deacs a 17-16 win overall, has 20 career catches vs the Blue Devils for 208 yards and two touchdowns.
Dameon Daniel - played very well last year in Durham with 5 tackles and 2 pass breakups also had 5 tackles and one PBU in '96 win in Groves.
Jammie Deese - has not been that effective the past two years vs Duke had 3 receptions for 32 yds as a freshman ('96), and just one catch for 15 yds last year.
Kito Gary - scored on a 6-yd run in Durham last year for his first career touchdown (and only TD prior to the current season).
Morgan Kane - ran for a career-high 146 yds on only 17 carries (8.6 per) last year at Duke scored game-clinching touchdown on a one-yard run with under two minutes to play gained just 39 yds on 17 attempts as a freshman in 1996.
Brian Kuklick - turned in an excellent performance in 17-16 win over Blue Devils in Groves in 1996, passing for 299 yds (27 of 50), including two TD tosses to Desmond Clark to lead a comeback from a 16-3 deficit did not throw an interception in that game, but was picked off three times last year at Duke while throwing for 205 yds (19-34) connected with Thabiti Davis for two Tds a year ago.
Kelvin Moses - has been Wake Forest's leading tackler in each of the past two seasons versus Duke had 9 tackles as a sophomore in 1996, including 3 TFLs credited with 9 stops last year as well while also collecting an interception (one of three in his career).
TAKING CARE OF THE BALL - For the first time in a game this season, Wake Forest did not commit a turnover versus Appalachian State. That gives the Demon Deacons a string of six consecutive quarters without losing the ball via a fumble or interception. During that same period, the WFU defense has come up with seven "takeaways", although six of those came in the second half of the Deacon win at Clemson. An interception by REGGIE AUSTIN against App State was the only turnover that occurred in that contest.
The Deacons had turned the ball over 11 times in the first 10 quarters this season before becoming more protective in the past game-and-a-half.
ESPECIALLY THROUGH THE AIR - Since throwing an interception of the first play of the fourth quarter against Navy on September 10th, Wake Forest quarterback BRIAN KUKLICK has been tremendous in every aspect of his play directing the Demon Deacon attack.
After that "pick" versus the Middies, Kuklick went on to complete five of six passes for 49 yards in Wake's next drive that night. In the past two games, he has compiled these statistics -- 14 of 24 for 251 yards and 2 Tds at Clemson; 22 of 37 for 259 yards and 3 Tds last week against App State.
In the last nine quarters then, the Deacon senior has completed 41 of 67 passes (61%) for 559 yards with five touchdowns and no interceptions. His three touchdown passes in the App State contest marked the third time in his outstanding career that he has thrown for three scores in a single contest. He also achieved that feat at NC State in 1996 and in a win over Maryland last fall.
KUKLICK OVER 250 THIRD STRAIGHT TIME - For the third straight game--and 14th time in his career--Wake Forest quarterback BRIAN KUKLICK surpassed the 250-yard mark in passing yardage when he threw for 259 yards (22of 37) against App State. Kuklick had thrown for 256 yards (21-36) in the win over Navy and 251 yards (14-24) at Clemson.
The Hatboro, PA senior now has totaled 250 yards-or-more passing in nine of the last 11 Wake Forest games which he has completed (Kuklick suffered a hairline fracture in his lower right leg in the 2nd quarter of last year's game with Clemson and missed the final 10 quarters of the 1997 season).
THE ACC'S MOST ACCURATE PASSER - BRIAN KUKLICK has completed 61.4% of his passes this season. The second-best performance by an ACC signal-caller in that category is Georgia Tech's Joe Hamilton, who has a 54.5% pass completion figure.
CLIMBING THE ACC CHARTS - With his 259-yard performance against App State, BRIAN KUKLICK became the 12th quarterback in ACC history to pass for more than 6,000 yards in his career. Previously, he had become the 9th QB in league history to total 500-or-more completions.
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) MIKE ELKINS, WF 7,304 Scott Milanovich, Md 650
6) Scott Milanovich, Md 7,301 GARY SCHOFIELD, WF 640
7) GARY SCHOFIELD, WF 7,205 MIKE ELKINS, WF 609
8) Shawn Moore, Va 6,629 Danny Kanell, Florida St 529
9) Danny Kanell, Florida St 6,372 BRIAN KUKLICK 527
10) BRIAN KUKLICK 6,242
Wake Forest Career Passing Leaders
Passing Yardage Pass Completions Touchdown Passes
(1) Mike Elkins 7,304 Gary Schofield 640 Gary Schofield 44
(2) Gary Schofield 7,205 Mike Elkins 609 Mike Elkins 43
(3) BRIAN KUKLICK 6,242 BRIAN KUKLICK 527 Jay Venuto 38
(4) BRIAN KUKLICK 36
CLARK CLOSING IN ON ALL-TIME ACC MARK - Demon Deacon wide receiver DESMOND CLARK moved into a tie for 4th on the all-time ACC pass receiving list with a terrific performance against App State. The Lakeland, FL, senior had 10 receptions for a career-high 138 yards versus the Mountaineers. Included in that total was a 43-yard touchdown catch, marking the third straight game in which he has reached the endzone.
ACC Top Five Receivers -- All Time
(1) Jermaine Lewis, Md 193
(2) Clarkston Hines, Duke 189
(3) Ricky Proehl, WF 188
(4) Geroy Simon, Md 185
DESMOND CLARK 185
Clark, of course, is rapidly ascending the Wake Forest career receiving lists as well, and now needs just four more catches to pass Ricky Proehl and become #1 in Demon Deacon history in that department. He became only the fifth Deacon ever to surpass the 2,000-yard mark in receiving yardage earlier this season against Navy, currently holding 4th-place on that list (and tied for 13th on the ACC receiving yardage chart). He also is now 5th in school history in TD receptions.
Wake Forest Career Receiving Leaders
Receptions Receiving Yardage Touchdown Receptions
(1) Ricky Proehl 188 Ricky Proehl 2,949 Ricky Proehl 25
(2) DESMOND CLARK 185 Todd Dixon 2,466 Todd Dixon 24
(3) Wayne Baumgardner 2,431 Red O'Quinn 22
(4) DESMOND CLARK 2,329 Kenny Duckett 19
(5) DESMOND CLARK 15
OVER 100 YARDS IN TWO STRAIGHT - DESMOND CLARK has now gone over the 100-yard makr in receiving in two consecutive outings. He totaled 110 yards in receiving at Clemson (on five receptions), then established a new career high with 138 yards on 10 catches this past week against App State.
100-Yard Receiving Games for DESMOND CLARK 138 (10 receptions) vs App State 10/3/98 137 (13) vs Duke 11/16/96 134 (7) vs N.C.State 9/25/97 127 (9) vs Northwestern 9/6/97 113 (9) vs Virginia 9/21/96 111 (6) vs Maryland 10/18/97 110 (6) at N.C.State 11/23/96 110 (5) at Clemson 9/26/98 102 (11) at North Carolina 10/11/97
DEACON ONE-TWO RECEIVING PUNCH IS TWO-THREE IN ACC - The highly productive receiving duo of DESMOND CLARK and JAMMIE DEESE have teamed for 52 receptions for 650 yards in four games. That's an average of 13 catches and 162.5 yards of offense per contest thus far in 1998.
Clark currently ranks 2nd in the ACC in receiving with his 28 receptions (behind NC State's Torry Holt with 29), while Deese stands 3rd in the league with his 24 catches.
CHALMERS TWO-FOR-TWO ON TDs - Junior wide receiver MARVIN CHALMERS, who had been slowed by a hamstring problem in preseason and in the first couple of Demon Deacon games, has also made a significant contribution to the WFU passing attack the past two weeks. At Clemson, he caught a 48-yard touchdown pass from Brian Kuklick (along with a 12-yard reception). Then this past week in the App State game, he hit paydirt again, this time on a nine-yard Kuklick toss.
Chalmers, a Richmond, VA product, attended Utah for two years before transferring to Wake Forest last fall and sitting out the 1997 campaign.
KANE SLOWED FOR FIRST TIME - After ranking atop the ACC statistics in rushing last week, Wake Forest's MORGAN KANE was limited to 16 yards (on 12 carries) against Appalachian State. Kane had not been under 70 yards rushing in any of the first three Demon Deacon contests. The Ottawa, Ontario junior still is averaging a respectable 73.5 yards per game to stand 3rd in the conference.
Kane's career best game running the football came at Duke last season when he picked up 146 yards on 17 attempts. His career-high for carries was the 35 times he was given the ball two weeks ago at Clemson.
Morgan on the Move
(Career 100-Yard Games) 146 yards / 17 carries at Duke October 25, 1997 133 yards / 35 carries at Clemson September 26, 1998 131 yards / 33 carries at Clemson September 28, 1996
LYMAN TOP TACKLER FOR FOURTH STRAIGHT TIME - Linebacker DUSTIN LYMAN finished as the leading tackler for Wake Forest for the fourth time in as many games this season when he collected 14 stops (10 solo) against App State. The 10 unassisted hits by the Boulder, CO, junior represent a new career high.
Lyman now has a team-high 53 hits, nearly twice as many as his closest teammate (ABDUL GUICE is 2nd on the squad with 28). Last week he ranked 6th in the ACC in tackle average.
Lyman now has nine games in his career in which he has totaled double figures in hits.
Dustin in Double Digits
17 -- at Georgia Tech 9/14/96 11 -- at North Carolina 10/11/97 16 -- vs Navy 9/10/98 10 -- at NC State 11/23/96 14 -- vs App State 10/3/98 10 -- vs Northwestern 9/6/97 13 -- at Air Force 9/5/98 10 -- at Clemson 9/26/98 12 -- at East Carolina 9/13/97
INT TOTAL CONTINUES TO GROW - Cornerback REGGIE AUSTIN picked off his second interception in as many games when he grabbed a deflected (by Dustin Lyman) Mountaineer pass and returned it 42 yards to set up the first Wake Forest touchdown this past Saturday. He also had an "INT" the previous week at Clemson.
With the Austin interception, the Deacs now have picked off eight opposition passes in four games. That figure is just one shy of the 1997 WFU team's entire season total and equals the seven interceptions that the Deacons compiled two years ago (1996).
NC State (with 12 interceptions) is the only ACC team with more "INTs" than Wake Forest.
FROM 53 YARDS--BURDICK'S KICK IS GOOD!! - Junior placekicker MATTHEW BURDICK equaled the longest field goal in Wake Forest history when he booted a 53-yarder against App State last week. The record was previously held solely by Wade Tollison, whose 53-yard three-pointer in 1990 also came versus the Mountaineers.
Tollison, who actually was utilized more frequently as a kickoff man than as a placekicker during his career, is the only Demon Deacon to record two 50-yards-plus field goals. He also kicked a 51-yarder (against who else but Appalachian State) in 1992.
Deacon Field Goals from Fifty
53 yards Wade Tollison vs App State 9/8/90 53 yards Matthew Burdick vs App State 10/3/98 51 yards Steve Schonert at South Carolina 11/18/79 51 yards Wilson Hoyle at NC State 9/17/89 51 yards Wade Tollison vs App State 9/12/92 50 yards Bill Hollws at Clemson 9/28/96
Burdick did record his first missed field goal of 1998 when he misfired from 45 yards later in the game this past Saturday, then added a 24-yarder in the overtime period. He is now six-of-seven on the year with four of his six successful field goals coming from better than 40-yard distances.
MOORE MAINTAINS MAGIC FOOT - Demon Deacon punter TRIPP MOORE had his fourth straight game averaging better than 41 yards per punt when he punted six times versus App State for an excellent 43.8 yard average. With that performance, the senior from Columbia, SC improved his season average to 43.5 yards per punt and held onto 2nd place in the ACC in that category.