100% Cotten
9/20/1999 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 20, 1999
by Stan Cotten
More 100% Cotten
Wake Forest vs. Virginia
Well, the Deacs have had better days, but give credit to Cavalier running back Thomas Jones. He was the difference at Scott Stadium Saturday night, rushing for 164 yards and three touchdowns against the Deacs in the Wahoos' 35-7 victory. Jones had 142 yards against the Deacs in '98. Good thing for Wake Jones is a senior. I'm sure the Deacons have seen enough of him.
I was confident prior to the game that this just might be the year the Deacs might snap Virginia's string of consecutive wins over Wake Forest, which has now reached an amazing 16 with Saturday night's conquest. Early in Saturday's game, I still felt good. Dalawn Parrish intercepted a Dan Ellis pass at the Deacon 14 on the Cavaliers' opening drive, and Wake Forest began to move the ball.
Morgan Kane took a nifty pitch from Ben Sankey and rambled 8 yards for a first down. Later, Sankey scrambled 9 yards to, again, move the chains. On the next play, still on the ground, Kane bolted 9 yards, and Deacon fans began to have visions of West Point in their heads. And just when it looked live the drive would self destruct (the Deacs were flagged for an ineligible man down field and illegal procedure), Sankey fired a 15 yard pass to Jimmy Caldwell to give sure footed Matt Burdick a chance to get Wake Forest on the board to successfully convert Parrish's theft into points. Not to be. Burdick misfired, and the Cavaliers had the ball back on their 29.
I still felt good. Jones got three yards on his next two carries, and Virginia faced three and out with a third down and 7 at the Cav 32. Dan Ellis dropped to throw, and there was nobody home. Ellis scrambled, tackle Fred Robbins was right there, but Fred's 300-plus pound frame wouldn't allow him to get to Ellis quickly enough. Ellis made the first down by a yard. Four plays later, Jones had the first of his three scores. And Virginia was off and running in more ways than one. Then, I didn't feel so good.
Linebacker Kelvin Moses was back on the field for the Deacs against Virginia. Moses had been out of action for over a year following knee surgery. Moses is playing via a rare NCAA decision to allow a sixth year of eligibility. Moses was in the starting lineup and was credited with two tackles. Great to see him back out there. The Deacs also await the return of linebacker Dustin Lyman. He is listed as probable for action this week.
Wake Forest vs. North Carolina State
Hard to believe that the Demon Deacons and Wolfpack will be playing for the 90th straight year as the two meet on Saturday afternoon at Wake's Groves Stadium. It's the fifth longest uninterrupted series in the nation and the longest between two current ACC members.
North Carolina State was the first team to ever oppose the Deacons in Groves Stadium. The Wolfpack invaded Winston-Salem on September 14, 1968, to help the Deacs inaugurate their new home. State spoiled the party, though, winning 10-6 in front of a stadium opening crowd of 30,000. The Deacons' former Wake County neighbor has had the upper hand over the years at Groves, winning 11 of the 15 games played.
If Wake Forest and NC State can duplicate their game from a year ago at Carter-Finley Stadium, it'll be a good one to see. Last year's game was a pleasure to call. It was one for the record books, too.
Brian Kuklick continued his assault on the record books throwing for 421 yards to pass Mike Elkins and become the Deacons' all-time leading passer. Wolfpack star Torry Holt hauled in 15 catches on the afternoon to set an NC State single game standard, and, in the process, also set a new ACC mark for receiving yards in a season. Not to be outdone, Wake's Jammie Deese caught 12 of Kuklick's aerials, a personal best, to leave him 65 receptions shy in 1999 of the ACC's all-time career total. By the way, State won, 38-27.
Perhaps Deacon placekicker Matt Burdick will put the disappointment of missing two field goals last week at Virginia behind him to reclaim the magic of September 25, 1997, when he booted a 37-yard field goal in the waning seconds to lift Wake Forest over the Wolfpack, 19-18, in front of a frenzied Groves Stadium crowd and national ESPN audience. That kick ended a 9-year drought for the Deacs against the Pack.
Both the Deacs and Wolfpack could use a win this week. The Deacs need one in the worst way. After a sterling start against Army, last weekend's trip to Virginia was not what Jim Caldwell had in mind and probably bruised some of the player's egos. It's the Deacs home opener, and winning on your own turf has become mandatory. A Wake win would help the hurt a bit and help preserve some of the foundation laid at West Point.
State got it handed to it at Tallahassee (who doesn't ?). The Pack, with a win, would be at 4-1. That's not all bad. In fact, that's awfully good.
A final shot. Look for three new things at Groves Stadium this weekend. I'll give you one. New grass. The other two are up to you.
Thanks for listening, and we'll see you next time...on the radio.
