Wake Forest Weekly Football Release
10/16/2000 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 16, 2000
Wake Forest Weekly Football Release
Download Free Acrobat Reader
Game #7 - Saturday, October 21
1:00 p.m. - Byrd Stadium (48,055)
WAKE FOREST (0-6-0-4)
at
MARYLAND (2-4-0-3)
KICKOFF: 1:00 p.m.
SITE:Byrd Stadium (48,055), College Park, MD
TELEVISION: None
RADIO: The Demon Deacon Radio Network, heard on 15 stations in North Carolina and Virginia. Stan Cotten, the voice of the Deacons, calls the play-by-play. Former Deacs Ed Bradley and Mike Pratapas are the color analysts. Produced and distributed by ISP.
ON THE WEB: The radio broadcast can be heard live over the internet via www.wakeforest.com
THE SERIES: Maryland leads, 34-13-1. More series information is on page four.
THE RECORDS: Wake Forest is 0-6 overall and 0-4 in the ACC following a 52-20 loss at Georgia Tech last Saturday. Maryland dropped to 2-4 and
0-3 after a 35-14 loss at No. 5 Clemson last Saturday.
THE RANKINGS: Neither team is ranked.
THE COACHES: Wake Forest coach Jim Caldwell (Iowa ?77) is in his eighth season at WFU with a career record of 24-60. Caldwell is two wins shy of tying Al Groh for the third-most career wins in school history.
Maryland's Ron Vanderlinden (Albion, ?78) has compiled a record of 12-27 in four seasons in College Park, four seasons overall.
TICKETS: Information not available.
OFFICIALS: Announced on game day.
GAME NOTE: Maryland holds a commanding 34-13-1 lead in the series, but Wake Forest has managed to win two of the last three meetings ... six Deacons call the state of Maryland home, including senior starters Bryan Ray (DE, Wheaton) and Da'Vaughn Mellerson (DT, Baltimore).
Deacons Hit Road Again Saturday To Face Terrapins In College Park
Wake Forest, which rolled up 451 yards of total offense last week against Georgia Tech, searches for its first victory of the season Saturday at Maryland (1:00 p.m./no TV).
The Deacons, 0-6 overall and 0-4 in the ACC, came up on the short end of a 52-20 decision last week at Tech. While the surprising Deacon offense put up season-highs in almost every category against the Yellow Jackets, a banged-up defense surrendered even larger numbers.
Maryland, 2-4 and 0-3, lost at 5th-ranked Clemson last Saturday evening, 35-14. Terp quarterback Calvin McCall passed for 179 yards but Clemson scored after each of his three interceptions. Running back Lamont Jordan rushed for 71 yards.
Maryland leads the all-time series, 34-13-1, including a 17-14 win in Winston-Salem last fall. The Deacons, however, have won two of the last three meetings including a 20-10 win at Maryland's Byrd Stadium in 1998. More series information can be found on page four.
A Quick Look At The Deacons
Wake Forest is coming off its best offensive performance of the season (272 yards passing, 451 yards of total offense) last week against Georgia Tech. The Deac offense, in fact, has amassed 826 yards over the last two games -- losses to Tech and Vanderbilt.
The key to Wake's offense may be its ability to use a number of weapons. The Deacons use two quarterbacks -- true freshman Anthony Young and sophomore James MacPherson. Both passed for more than 100 yards last week. At tailback, sophomore Tarence Williams came off the bench against Tech to rush for 110 yards on seven carries. In addition, wide receivers Ira Williams and Fabian Davis combined for 18 catches and 205 yards.
The Deacon defense, which began the year so strong and held Virginia to just seven second-half points, has been hurt by a rash of injuries. Junior Nathan Bolling, who had seven tackles-for-losses in the first five games of the season, missed the Tech game with a leg infection. In the secondary, two potential starters -- Quintin Williams and Obi Chukwumah -- did not dress for last Saturday's game and starting safety Tehran Carpenter missed the second half with a shoulder injury.
Caldwell, Vanderlinden Follow Similar Paths
Wake Forest's Jim Caldwell has been a head coach a few years longer than Maryland's Ron Vanderlinden, but the two ACC coaches have very similar backgrounds: Both were graduate assistants at Big Ten schools in the late 1970s -- Caldwell at Iowa in 1977 and Vanderlinden at Michigan in 1979 and 1980. Both worked at Colorado in the early-to-mid-1980s, laying the foundation for the great success that program enjoyed later in the 1980s and 1990s. In fact, Caldwell and Vanderlinden were both assistants under Bill McCartney in 1983 and 1984. Caldwell also worked at CU in 1982, before Vanderlinden's arrival, and Vanderlinden worked at CU through 1991 with McCartney.
Both have been assistant coaches at Northwestern -- Caldwell in 1981 under Dennis Green and Vanderlinden under Gary Barnett from 1992-96.
Deacons' Numbers Continue To Grow Each Week On Offense
The low point of the season for the Wake Forest offense may have come in the first half against nationally-ranked Clemson way back on Sept. 16.
The Deacons were shut out in the first half, recorded just one first down and produced just 44 yards of offense. In the second half, things got worse. Sophomore quarterback C.J. Leak was knocked out for the season with a dislocated knee.
Since that 55-7 loss to the Tigers, however, things are starting to fall in place for the Deacon offense. In each game since the pounding at Clemson, Wake has improved its numbers dramatically.
A number of things have fallen into place for the Deac offense: The offensive line has regained the services of junior tackle Michael Collins, who missed two games after Sept. 15 knee surgery.
Young offensive linemen such as true freshmen Tyson Clabo and Brad Palmer have improved.
The quarterback duo of true freshman Anthony Young and sophomore James MacPherson have kept defenses off balance with their varying styles.
Four different tailbacks, including Tarence Williams (110 yards at Tech) have all played well.
Receivers Ira Williams and Fabian Davis (18 combined catches last week) have stepped up.
1st 3 games Last 3 games
Rushing Yards 51.7 183.3
Passing Yards 112.3 194.3
Total Offense 167.3 377.7
Rushing Yards Allowed 237.3 203.7
Passing Yards Allowed 205.3 219.0
Total Defense 442.6 422.7
Turnovers 2.3 1.3
Deacon Defensive Unit Needs More Healthy Bodies
Wake Forest coach Jim Caldwell did not make excuses last week after the Deacon defense surrendered 55 points and 578 yards of total offense to Georgia Tech. However, the defensive depth chart for the Tech game barely resembled the preseason chart because of injuries.
Out for the season with knee injuries are linebackers Jamaal Argrow and Marcus Nesbitt. Argrow was projected as a starter in the preseason and Nesbitt was listed as his back-up.
Junior defensive tackle Nathan Bolling, who has seven tackles-for-loss on the season and has been arguably WFU's most consistent defensive performer, missed the Georgia Tech game with a leg infection. His status for this week's game is not known.
At cornerback, true freshman Quintin Williams had emerged as a starter and a leader in the Deac secondary. An ankle injury has kept him out of the last two games. At safety, freshman Obi Chukwumah had also emerged as a starter, but an ankle injury kept him out of last Saturday's game.
And starting safety Tehran Carpenter missed the second half of last Saturday's game with a shoulder injury. Starting cornerback Chris Justice is back in action after missing two games with a hamstring injury.
The preseason depth chart also included returning starter Keyshorn Smith at cornerback, but Smith was ruled academically ineligible prior to the start of the season.
Wake is so injury-riddled that it has made two position changes in the last two weeks. Fullback Matt Myers has moved to defensive end and he played two series against Tech. And safety Walter Simmons is seeing action at both safety and at linebacker.
Interesting Offensive Notes From Last Saturday's Game At Georgia Tech
Sophomore Fabian Davis' 125 receiving yards were the most since Jammie Deese had 167 yards (12 rec.) at NC State on Nov. 7, 1998. Davis' 125 yards and nine receptions were both career bests.
Davis and Ira Williams both had nine receptions each -- the most by a Deacon receiver in a single game since Jammie Deese caught 11 passes against Georgia Tech on Nov. 21, 1998. (Marvin Chalmers also had nine receptions in that same game.).
Tarence Williams' 110 yards rushing, coupled with Davis' 125 yards receiving, marked the first time Wake Forest had a 100-yard rusher and a 100-yard receiver in a single game since Oct. 2, 1999 versus Rutgers, when Morgan Kane had 120 yards on the ground and Jammie Deese had 106 yards in the air.
Quarterbacks James MacPherson (171 yards passing) and Anthony Young (101) marked the first time two Deacon QBs have both thrown for more than 100 yards in the same game since Nov. 21, 1998, at Georgia Tech. Brian Kuklick completed 20 of 35 passes for 235 yards, while Ben Sankey compiled 259 yards on 22 of 29 passing.
More Bright Spots From Last Saturday's 52-20 Loss At Georgia Tech
- Senior running back Chris McCoy made his first career start.
- Tarence Williams' 41-yard run in the first quarter, which set up WFU's first touchdown, was a career-long for the sophomore running back. He then broke that mark with a 48-yard rush in the third quarter. It was also the third-longest run from scrimmage for the Deacs this season.
- The Georgia Tech contest marked the first time this season the Deacs have scored three touchdowns in a game. Three different Deacons found the endzone ? Jamie Scott on a two-yard run (his second this season), Ira Williams on a 16-yard reception from Anthony Young and a career-first TD run by sophomore fullback Ovie Mughelli.
- Junior wide receiver Ira Williams seems to have become quarterback Anthony Young's favorite target when throwing to the endzone. Both of Young's TD passes this season, including a 16-yard toss in the second quarter against Georgia Tech last Saturday, have gone to Williams. Williams also caught Young's first career TD pass in the fourth quarter against Clemson.
Two Young QBs Giving Opponents A Variety Of Looks
True freshman Anthony Young is elusive, quick and is a classic option quarterback. Sophomore James MacPherson is more of a drop-back, passing QB with near-perfect mechanics.
Together, Wake Forest's quarterback duo has very little experience (Young has played three games and one quarter and MacPherson has seen action in three games). However, their two different styles are keeping opponents off balance.
And both players have been effective, despite their lack of experience. Young, who has thrown for two touchdowns and run for another in his short tenure, is averaging 6.0 yards per carry. He has completed 16-of-27 passes (.593) for 177 yards, for an efficiency rating of 123.96.
MacPherson, who had knee surgery in the spring and took his first official snap Sept. 30 against Virginia, has completed 38-of-74 (.514) passes for 412 yards.
Young and MacPherson moved into the lineup after sophomore starting quarterback C.J. Leak was injured against Clemson. Leak will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury.
Class Of 2003 Making An Immediate Impact For The Demon Deacons
Coach Jim Caldwell spoke highly of his most recent recruiting class. Now we know why. Eight true freshmen have seen action this season. Four have started. Others are emerging as potential starters. A quick look at the true freshmen who have see action this season:
Anthony Young (QB) -- In just three games as Wake's starting quarterback, Young has emerged as the team's leading rusher and has been responsible for three touchdowns. He is the first WFU true freshman to start at quarterback since 1978.
Fred Staton (RB) -- Turned in his best outing of the season Oct. 14 against Vanderbilt. Had a career-high 14 carries for a career-best 62 yards.
Mark Moroz (TE) -- Has started twice as Wake began those games in a two-tight end set.
Quintin Williams (CB) -- Only an ankle injury has kept him out of the starting lineup in each of the last two games.
Tyson Clabo (OL) -- Started against Virginia at guard and has seen extensive action this season at tackle.
Marcus Nesbitt (LB) -- After seeing considerable action in Wake's first two games, a knee injury has sidelined him for the rest of the year.
Kellen Brantley (OLB) -- Has seen action in all six games as the back-up at outside linebacker and a key performer on special teams.
Brad Palmer (OG) -- has developed into a top reserve on the line.
WFU One Of Nation's Youngest Teams
Notes on Wake Forest's youthful 98-man roster:
Including kicking specialists, Wake Forest returned just five starters off of last year's 7-5 team that won the Jeep Aloha Bowl. According to Sports Illustrated, that's the fewest returning starters in Division I-A. Air Force, with seven returnees, ranks second.
Eleven Deacons made their first ever start in the season opener against Appalachian State, including six on offense: Ray Thomas (TE), Chris Blank (LT), Tim Bennett (RG), Ira Williams (WR), C.J. Leak (QB), Montique Sharpe (DT), Michael Clinkscale (SS), Chris Justice (CB), Nick Bender (LB) and Calvin Pace (DE).
Just three seniors were in the starting lineup in the season opener ? Chris Blank (LT), Bryan Ray (DE) and Nick Bender (LB). A fourth senior, defensive tackle Da'Vaughn Mellerson, started against North Carolina. That was Mellerson's first career start.
Four true freshmen started Sept. 30 against Virginia ? Anthony Young (QB), Mark Moroz (TE), Tyson Clabo (OG) and Quentin Williams (CB).
Young is the first freshman to start at quarterback for Wake Forest since 1978.
When it comes to skill positions, no team is younger than Wake Forest. The Deacons start a freshman at quarterback and sophomores at fullback, running back, tight end and one wide receiver position.
There are just 11 seniors on the roster.
Wake's top eight receivers, top six rushers and top three passers are all non-seniors.
For a good portion of last week's game at Georgia Tech, two true freshman -- Tyson Clabo and Brad Palmer -- were side-by-side on the offensive line.
Youngest Skills Position Starters Nationally
Team QB RB FB TE WR WR
5
Houston -- So. *So. So. So. So.
SMU -- So. *So. So. So. So.
WAKE FOREST Fr. So. So. So. So. --
4
Ohio So. So. So. -- So. --
USC So. So. -- -- So. So.
Wyoming -- Fr. -- Fr. Fr. Fr.
3
Arkansas So. So. -- So. -- --
Bowling Green So. So. -- So. -- --
Florida -- So. -- So. So. --
Texas A&M So. So. -- -- Fr. --
*Starts a third sophomore receiver, no fullback
Head Coach Jim Caldwell
Wake Forest head coach Jim Caldwell (Iowa ?77) enters his eighth season with the Demon Deacons. Caldwell, who took over the head coaching position at Wake Forest in 1993, has compiled a career record of 24-60. The former assistant coach under Joe Paterno at Penn State has compiled some notable achievements during his tenure:
Last fall, Wake Forest recorded a winning season (7-5) and earned a postseason bowl bid for the first time since 1992.
In 1999, the Deacons defeated two nationally-ranked teams for the first time since 1979, topping No. 25 NC State and No. 14 Georgia Tech.
Wake Forest has won back-to-back nationally-televised games on ESPN's Thursday night telecasts, defeating NC State in 1997 and Navy in 1998.
Caldwell teams have won twice in Clemson's famed ?Death Valley.? Prior to Caldwell's arrival, Wake had won just once in that stadium since 1950.
In both 1996 and 1997, Wake Forest stepped out of the ACC and recorded wins over nationally-ranked Northwestern, including a win over the defending Big Ten champions in 1996.
Wake Forest was ranked among the top 35 teams in the nation in every defensive category in 1999.
In 1995, WFU quarterback Rusty LaRue established seven NCAA passing records.
In 1998, senior Desmond Clark became the all-time leading pass receiver in ACC history.
Tarence Williams Rushes For 110 Yards
Sophomore Tarence Williams recorded his best day in a Wake Forest uniform last Saturday at Georgia Tech. He rushed for a career-high and team season-best 110 yards. He is the second Deacon this season to rush for over 100 yards -- Anthony Young recorded 102 yards against Virginia.
Statistical Tidbits
Wake Forest ranks fourth in the ACC and 24th nationally in kickoff returns (22.6 ypr.).
The Deacons are tied for first in the ACC with North Carolina for fewest penalties (35 in six games).
Wake is tied for first in the ACC for opponent's fourth-down conversions. Deacon foes have converted 1-of-3 fourth-down attempts this season.
With 110 yards last week, sophomore Tarence Williams ranks 10th in the ACC in rushing.
Junior wide receiver Ira Williams ranks fifth in the ACC in receptions per game (4.5).
Junior John Stone ranks 10th in the ACC in all-purpose yards per game (103.5).
Stone leads the ACC and ranks 18th nationally in kickoff returns (25.0 ypr.).
Matt Brennie ranks fourth in the ACC and 20th nationally in punting (42.3 ypa.).
More On Anthony Young
A few things you might not know about true freshman quarterback Anthony Young:
At age 18, he became one of the youngest starting quarterbacks in the nation when he started against Virginia Sept. 30.
Young became the first true freshman to start at quarterback for Wake Forest since 1978 when David Webber started the last seven games of the season. Webber passed for 1,070 yards in those seven games.
An exceptional athlete, Young came to Wake Forest primarily as a wide receiver. However, with James MacPherson out for part of the season and with little depth behind then-starter C.J. Leak, Young began fall drills at quarterback.
Young's father, Al, was a standout wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Young worked the last two years in the Augusta National clubhouse during the Masters golf tournament, where he has met many of the top pros including Tiger Woods and Fred Couples.
During practice earlier this fall, Young boasted to punt team coach Ray Rychleski that he could punt. Rychleski gave him the ball and Young promptly booted punts of 40 to 50 yards. ?How did you learn to punt?? Young explained that he learned from former NFL great Ray Guy, who is a friend of Al Young.
Wake's two longest offensive plays from scrimmage this season have been Young runs of 55 and 53 yards.
More On James MacPherson
When sophomore James MacPherson directed Wake Forest's third drive of the Sept. 30 game against Virginia, it marked the first time since 1997 - his senior year of high school ? that he has played quarterback in a game.
MacPherson was a standout quarterback and punter at Mountain View High School in Tucson (AZ) before coming to Wake Forest. He redshirted the 1998 season, and while he didn't see a snap at quarterback last season, he did play two games at punter.
In the spring, just when he began to battle C.J. Leak for the quarterback position, he injured his knee and underwent surgery. He was not medically cleared to play in games until Sept. 25.
More on MacPherson:
MacPherson was Wake's third-string quarterback in 1999 behind starter Ben Sankey and backup C.J. Leak.
By the end of the 1999 season, he emerged as Wake's starting punter. He punted in the final two games of the regular season and in the Jeep Aloha Bowl.
Projected to be healthy enough to play in mid-October, MacPherson worked extremely hard to be ready slightly ahead of schedule.
The 20-year old is an outstanding student, previously earning Dean's List honors.
Six Deacs Return Home To Maryland
Saturday's game at Maryland will be a homecoming for six Deacons who call the state home: Joe Salsich (Annapolis), Da'Vaughn Mellerson (Baltimore), Marcus Nesbitt (Clinton), Jerome Nichols (Glenn Dale), Blake Henry (Towson) and Bryan Ray (Wheaton).
Bryan Ray Climbs Up Wake's Record Book
Senior All-ACC candidate Bryan Ray recorded his 31st career tackle-for-loss Sept. 30 against Virginia, moving him into sixth place on Wake's all-time list.
Ray, who recorded his first career touchdown Sept. 9 against North Carolina when he recovered a fumble in the endzone, also ranks fourth in Wake Forest history for career sacks with 14.
Wake Forest Career Sacks Leaders
Player, Years Sacks
Mike McCrary, 1989-92 30
Fred Robbins, 1996-99 15
James Parker, 1976-79 15
n Bryan Ray, 1997-current 14
Rudy Thompson, 1989-92 13
Dustin Lyman, 1996-99 11
Bruce Hopkins, 1974-77 11
Gary Baldinger, 1982-85 11
Maurice Miller, 1989-92 10
Wake Forest Career Tackles-For-Loss Leaders
Player, Years TFL
Mike McCrary, 1989-92 46
Fred Robbins, 1996-99 44
Kelvin Moses, 1994-99 37
James Parker, 1976-79 34
Tucker Grace, 1992-95 32
n Bryan Ray, 1997-current 31
Dred Booe, 1990-93 30
Stone Eclipses 1,000 Career Return Yards
Junior John Stone reached a milestone last week when he gained his 1,000th yard as a kickoff returner. Stone, who has 500 return yards this season, has 1,029 career yards. Stone is not only one of the fastest players in college football ? he is a former 100- and 200-meter ACC champion ? but he's also one of the top kick returners. He leads the ACC and ranks 18th nationally this season in returns.
Stone has returned kickoffs for touchdowns twice in his career including an 88-yarder in the season opener against Appalachian State. He was named the ACC Specialist of the Week following that performance. Stone also ranks eighth in the ACC in all-purpose yards.
Stone's Career Kickoff Return Statistics
Season Ret. Yds. Avg. TD Long
1998 8 140 17.5 0 21
1999 13 389 29.9 1 99
2000 20 500 25.0 1 88
Totals 41 1,029 25.1 2 99
ACC Leaders In Kickoff Returns
Player, School TDs Avg.
John Stone, Wake Forest 1 25.0
Kelly Campbell, Georgia Tech 0 24.5
Mukala Sikyala, Maryland 0 23.2
Tavon Mason, Virginia 0 22.6
All-Time ACC Kickoff Return Average Leaders
Player, School (Years) Avg.
Cliff Harris, South Carolina (1969-70) 28.1
Ralph Stringer, NC State (1973-77) 25.5
John Stone, Wake Forest (1998- ) 25.1
Dez White, Georgia Tech (1997-99) 24.7
Longest Kickoff Returns - WFU History
Yds. Player Opponent Date
99 John Stone at Duke Nov. 13, 1999
98 Tom Lockridge at NC State Nov. 24, 1973
98 Anthony Williams at Maryland Oct. 13, 1990
98 Myles Savage Maryland Nov. 18, 1997
96 Larry Spencer at Furman Nov. 22, 1952
95 Todd Dixon Vanderbilt Sept. 4, 1993
89 Junior Moore at Va. Tech Sept. 18, 1971
88 John Stone App. State Aug. 31, 2000
Brennie Continues To Punt Well
Sophomore punter Matt Brennie, after a shaky start in the season opener, has been one of the top punters in the ACC, if not the nation. Brennie, who averages 42.3 yards per boot, ranks fourth in the ACC and 20th nationally. He has eight punts this season of 50 yards or more. Eleven of his 38 punts have been downed inside the 20.