Wake Forest Athletics
Football Takes Two-Game Win Streak Into Clemson
10/14/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 14, 2002
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WAKE FOREST FOOTBALL
NEWS & NOTES
Game #8
Saturday, Oct. 19
Wake Forest (4-3, 2-2 ACC) at Clemson (3-3, 1-2 ACC)
Memorial Stadium (81,473)/Clemson, SC
Kickoff: 3:30 p.m.
Television: Televised regionally on ABC. Tim Brant will call the action with Ed Cunningham providing color and Samantha Ryan on the sidelines.
Radio: Broadcast by the Wake Forest ISP Sports Network, heard on 20 stations across North Carolina and in Virginia. Voice of the Deacons Stan Cotten calls the play-by-play with former Deacon great Ed Bradley serving as color analyst.
On the Web: The radio broadcast can be heard live over the internet via WFU??s athletics homepage: www.WakeForestSports.com.
Records: Wake Forest improved to 4-3 and is riding a two-game win streak with victories over Georgia Tech and Duke. Clemson has dropped two straight, falling to 3-3, 1-2 in the league with losses at FSU and Virginia.
The Series: Saturday??s game marks the 68th meeting between these conference rivals, with Clemson leading the series 52-14-1. Wake is looking for its first victory versus the Tigers since 1998.
Rankings: Neither team is ranked.
The Coaches: Wake Forest head coach Jim Grobe is in his second season in Winston-Salem, posting a 10-8 record with the Deacs. Entering his eighth season as a head coach, Grobe??s overall career record stands at 43-41-1.
Clemson??s Tommy Bowden is 25-17 in his fourth season at Clemson, and 43-21 in his sixth overall year as a head coach.
Tickets: Contact the Clemson Ticket Office at 864-656-2118.
Wake Forest Takes Two-Game Win Streak Into Clemson
Riding a two-game win streak for the first time this season, Wake Forest (4-3, 2-2 ACC) travels to Clemson, S.C. for a showdown with the Clemson Tigers on Saturday, Oct.19. Kickoff is set for 3:30 pm with an ABC regional broadcast.
The Demon Deacons picked up their fourth win of the season with a 36-10 Homecoming victory over the Duke Blue Devils last week. It marked coach Jim Grobe??s first ACC victory at Groves Stadium and was Wake??s first win since a 20-10 victory over Appalachian State last season that was not decided on the final drive.
The Deacon defense was dominant in the win over the Blue Devils, scoring the game??s first 14 points - touchdowns from a 90-yard return off a blocked field goal attempt and a 29-yard interception return. End Calvin Pace led the attack, blocking the field goal attempt and tallying six tackles for loss (including two sacks) on the night. Wake put 36 points on the scoreboard - its second-highest total of the season - despite its lowest offensive output (224 yards) in over two years.
Clemson enters the game with an even 3-3 mark, 1-2 in conference play after dropping its last two outings at Florida State and Virginia. The Tigers return to ??Death Valley?? for the first time in nearly a month, playing their last home game on Sept. 21, a 30-7 win over Ball State.
Wake Forest a National Leader in Turnover Margin
After ranking first in the nation the last three weeks in turnover margin, Wake Forest currently ranks second behind Virginia Tech. The Hokies average +2.5 per game, while the Deacons are averaging +2.43. Through seven games this season, Wake Forest has forced 22 turnovers while committing just five of its own.
The Deacs also rank tied for first nationally (with Bowling Green, Oregon, Virginia Tech and Wisconsin) in turnovers lost and sixth nationally in turnovers gained.
The WFU offense did not commit a turnover until the third game of the year at NC State, when James MacPherson lost a fumble and Cory Randolph threw an interception, both in the second half. The offense opened the season with 10 straight quarters without a turnover, as the first miscue of the season occurred on a fumbled punt attempt in the fourth quarter versus East Carolina.
Wake has been turnover-free in three of seven games in 2002 -- Northern Illinois, Virginia and Georgia Tech.
The numbers so far are an improvement over last year, as the Deacs finished the 2001 campaign ranked 72nd nationally in turnover margin with -3 overall (25 to 22), -.27 per game.
Pace Sets Tackles-For-Loss Record; Sack Mark Next Target
Last week against Duke, senior defensive end Calvin Pace reached one of two goals he??s been eyeing this season -- becoming WFU??s career leader in tackles for loss. Pace tallied six TFLs against the Blue Devils to jump from third to first on the all-time list with 48 in his career. He passed previous record holder Michael McCrary, whose 46 career tackles for loss stood as Wake??s standard for 10 seasons.
Last season, Pace tallied 18 TFLs and already has 16 through seven games this year. His 2001 season total ranked as the fifth-best season mark in school history, and this season??s performance already ties as the seventh-best season mark.
Pace also recorded two quarterback sacks against Duke, inching him closer to McCrary??s school-record 30 sacks. With six sacks so far this season, Pace owns 27 career sacks and is four shy of breaking McCrary??s record. Pace recorded 10 last season, tying as the second-best season total in school history.
Pace currently leads the team and ranks 16th in the ACC with 53 total tackles so far this season. He also leads the league in TFL and ranks second in sacks.
Two Deacs Named ACC Players of the Week
Two Deacons earned ACC Player of the Week kudos following WFU??s win over Duke last week.
Calvin Pace was named Defensive Lineman of the Week after becoming Wake??s career tackles-for-loss leader and tallying a game-high 13 tackles in the Deacons?? 36-10 win over Duke. The 6-6, 270-pound defensive end posted six tackles for loss (-17 yards) for a career total of 48, breaking a ten-year-old record of 46 set by Michael McCrary. After sacking Blue Devil quarterbacks twice, he lifted his career total to 27 sacks, four shy of breaking McCrary??s record in that category as well.
Senior Fabian Davis earned Specialist of the Week honors after totaling 151 all-purpose yards in the Deacons?? 36-10 win over Duke. The senior returned five punts for a total of 50 yards and two kickoffs for 67 yards. The 5-11, 180-pound wide receiver/kick returner caught two passes for 30 yards and carried the ball once for four yards. Davis?? performance versus the Blue Devils pushed him over the 1,000-yard mark in all-purpose yardage in just the seventh game of the season.
Pace and Davis become the fourth and fifth Deacons to earn ACC weekly honors this season.
Road Warriors
Since Jim Grobe arrived at Wake Forest last season, the Deacs are gaining a reputation as road warriors. Wake went 4-1 in away games last year, including a season-opening victory at East Carolina and a 3-1 mark in ACC opponents?? stadiums. The Deacons?? lone road loss last year took place at FSU??s Doak Campbell Stadium.
WFU is 2-2 in road games so far this season. It dropped its first two road trips at Northern Illinois and NC State, but has come back to post impressive road wins at Purdue and Georgia Tech.
Over the last season and a half, Wake, FSU and NC State are the only teams in the league to post four wins in fellow league opponents?? stadiums.
MacPherson Still Interception-Free
Wake starting quarterback James MacPherson enters Saturday??s game at Clemson with no interceptions to blemish his stats so far this season. The senior??s last interception was in the first quarter of the 2001 season finale versus Northern Illinois. Since then, he has gone 27 quarters and thrown 149 passes without a pick.
Out of the top 100-rated quarterbacks in Division I-A pass efficiency, MacPherson is the only quarterback who hasn??t thrown an interception this season. Ranking second is Jason Fife (Oregon) and Brian Jones (Toledo), who have one each.
Conversely, Florida Heisman Trophy candidate Rex Grossman has attempted exactly twice as many passes as MacPherson this season (266 compared to MacPherson??s 133), but Grossman has thrown 14 interceptions.
Head Coach Jim Grobe
Wake Forest head coach Jim Grobe is in his second season with the Demon Deacons and eighth overall season as a head coach with a 43-41-1 career record. Grobe led the Deacs to a bowl-eligible 6-5 ledger in 2001, becoming just the eighth coach in WFU history to post a winning record in his first season at the helm. His career record at WFU now stands at 10-8.
Scouting the Tigers
After spending the last two weeks on the road, dropping games at both Florida State (48-31) and Virginia (22-17), Clemson returns home with a 3-3 record and a 1-2 mark in the ACC.
The Deacs and the Tigers have faced two common opponents so far this season and fared the same against both. WFU and Clemson both defeated Georgia Tech in close games, while both lost to Virginia by similarly slim margins.
Saturday??s game will feature the ACC??s top two players in all-purpose yardage. Clemson wide receiver Derrick Hamilton leads the league (174.7 ypg) while Wake??s Fabian Davis ranks second (156.0). Hamilton has 23 catches this season (238 yards, one TD) and is the Tigers?? second-leading rusher (29.5 ypg). Like Davis, Hamilton also handles both punt and kickoff return duties.
Junior Willie Simmons is the Tigers?? signal caller, completing 109 of 188 passes for 1,199 yards and six touchdowns through six games. He??s also thrown six interceptions.
Clemson leads the ACC in total defense, allowing just 282.2 yards per game. This weekend??s showdown will pit the ACC??s top rushing team - Wake Forest (233.4 ypg) - against a Tiger defense that ranks second in the league against the run, allowing just 117.0 yards per game.
Senior linebacker Rodney Thomas paces the Clemson defensive unit, ranking second in the ACC in total tackles (12.5 pg).
The Series With Clemson
* Clemson leads the all-time series, 52-14-1 and owns a 30-7 advantage in games played at ??Death Valley??.
* The Tigers have won three straight, seven of the last eight and 22 of the last 25 meetings with Wake Forest.
* Wake has actually fared equally as well on the road as it has at home against the Tigers, winning seven games in both venues. The Deacs?? last win in the series was a 29-19 victory at Clemson in 1998.
* Wake??s last trip to Clemson is one that Deacon faithful would rather forget. The Tigers?? 55-7 victory in 2000 is Wake??s worst loss since a 58-7 score at Florida State in 1997.
* The football teams aren??t the only Clemson and Wake Forest squads squaring off this week. The Deacons?? volleyball squad hosts the Tigers on Tuesday. Wake??s women??s soccer team travels to Clemson and men??s soccer hosts the Tigers later this week.
WFU-Clemson Connections
* Wake Forest has three players on its roster from the state of South Carolina - Fabian Davis (Greenville), Ovie Mughelli (Charleston) and Anthony Young (North Augusta).
* Clemson has three North Carolinians on its roster.
* Wake redshirt freshman Derek Tharpe and Clemson freshman Chansi Stuckey were teammates at Warner Robins (GA) High School.
* Deacon quarterback Cory Randolph and Tiger linebacker David Dunham were teammates at Columbia HS in Lake City, FL.
* WFU junior Anthony Young and Clemson freshman Reggie Merriweather both graduated from North Augusta (SC) High School.
* Wake??s Marcus McGruder and Clemson??s Nigel Vaughn and Khaleed Vaughn all played at North Atlanta HS.
* Tiger freshman Tim DeBeer, Wake Forest??s Pierre Easley and Scott Marino, along with WFU media relations student assistant Tripp Pendergast all attended Marist High School near Atlanta.
* Wake Forest strength and conditioning coach Ethan Reeve once worked as the assistant wrestling coach at Clemson.
* Deacon assistant volleyball coach Heather Kahl is a 1996 Clemson graduate.
* Clemson quarterbacks coach Mike O??Cain was the head coach at NC State from 1993-1999 and earned a record of 5-2 against Wake Forest.
King of the Turnover
Wake Forest sophomore cornerback Eric King has contributed greatly to the team??s advantage in the turnover margin category this season. King has played a role in five of Wake??s 22 takeaways this season, intercepting a team-best three passes and forcing two fumbles - which ties as another team high.
King also scored Wake??s first defensive touchdown in over two seasons, returning the ball 90 yards for the score on a blocked field goal attempt versus Duke.
Davis Does It All
Wake Forest lost a key player from the 2001 squad -- wide receiver/kick returner John Stone -- who set a school record with three kickoff returns for touchdowns during his career in addition to tallying 2,933 all-purpose yards.
But Stone??s graduation has opened the door for senior wide receiver/kick returner Fabian Davis in 2002. Davis has been piling up the all-purpose yardage, averaging 156.0 yards per game, a figure that ranks second in the ACC and 17th nationally.
Davis, who has lined up a receiver his entire career prior to this season, is currently the Deacs?? third-leading rusher with 39.1 yards per game. He recorded the team??s second-best single-game rushing performance of the season with 90 yards versus Virginia.
Davis also leads the receiving corps with 27 catches for 387 yards - 55.3 yards an outing. He also ranks nationally in kickoff returns (23rd) with a 25.4 average and in punt returns (68th) with a 10.1 average. Included in that is an 82-yard punt return for a TD at Northern Illinois, the second of his career.
Davis has totaled 1,092 all-purpose yards through seven games this year and is on track to break the school??s single-season all-purpose yardage record of 1,730 yards set by John Zeglinski in 1975. With 3,056 career all-purpose yards, Davis has now cracked Wake??s all-time list in that category, currently ranking 10th.
"Cardiac Deacs" Still in Effect
Wake??s 36-10 win over Duke last week was the first ??blowout?? victory of the Jim Grobe era at WFU. In fact, it??s just the second victory during his tenure that wasn??t decided in the final drive.
Over the last two seasons, the Deacs have gained a reputation for playing games that go down to the wire. Since Grobe took over the reins as head coach last year, 14 of 18 games have been decided by a touchdown or less, including 12 of the last 14. Seven of those 14 games were decided by three points or less. (See chart on page seven of this package.)
Also included in that statistic is an ACC-record nine consecutive games decided by seven or less points.
The streak stretched from last year??s NC State game (Oct. 6, 2001) to the East Carolina game this season (Sept. 7, 2002). Over that stretch, Wake Forest posted a 5-4 record in games that were collectively decided by 36 points (an average of 4.0 per game).
Bookending the streak were losses to two nationally-ranked teams -- No. 15 Florida State (48-24) on Sept. 29, 2001 and the Sept. 14, 2002 loss to No. 19 NC State (32-13).
Despite all these close games, only one had to be decided in overtime. Wake Forest played just its second-ever overtime game at Northern Illinois in the 2002 season opener, losing 42-41. The first overtime game in school history was a 30-27 loss to Appalachian State at home in 1998.
A Balanced Rushing Attack
After leading the ACC in rushing last season (221.6 ypg), the Deacon ground game continues to pace the league in that category this season (233.4 ypg). However, it??s not the usual suspects putting up all the numbers so far this season. Last year??s leading rusher, Tarence Williams (1,018 yards) had a breakout game at Georgia Tech after gradually returning to action from a broken foot suffered last summer. His top backup in 2001, Fred Staton (583 yards), is sitting out this season for academic purposes.
Instead, the Deacons have employed a ??running back by committee??, as five different players have lined up in the backfield so far this year. Junior Nick Burney was the starter in the first half of the season and is averaging a team-best 53.6 yards per game. True freshman Chris Barclay has emerged as a force, averaging 48.7 yards per game and scoring six touchdowns over the last four games. Redshirt freshman Cornelius Birgs has 196 yards and four touchdowns. All-purpose threat Fabian Davis, a senior, has 28 touches for 274 yards, averaging an impressive 9.8 yards per carry. Williams is now averaging 41.5 yards per game after a 99-yard performance against Georgia Tech.
Senior fullback Ovie Mughelli perhaps was the earliest surprise of the season. After recording no rushing stats last season, Mughelli scored four touchdowns at Northern Illinois - tying a school record - and finished the night with 74 yards. He??s tallied a team-best eight TDs this season and ranks sixth in the ACC in overall scoring (6.9 ppg) and fourth in touchdowns scored.
The committee approach has worked well so far. In addition to leading the ACC, the Deacs rank 15th nationally among team rushing leaders. Wake has recorded two 300-yard rushing games this season -- including 344 yards at NIU and 349 versus Virginia. The figures are the highest single-game rushing totals since tallying 396 versus Maryland in the 1993 season.
While no Deacon has recorded a 100-yard rushing game this season, two players are listed among the ACC leaders in rushing -- Burney ranks seventh while Barclay is ninth.
Barclay Breaks Out
True freshman Chris Barclay enjoyed a breakout game versus Purdue on Sept. 21, scoring three touchdowns in a 19-carry, 70-yard performance. He scored on rushes of 18, 11 and five yards. His final TD late in the third quarter was the go-ahead score that proved to be the game winner for WFU against the Boilermakers.
Barclay??s 18-yard touchdown in the first quarter was his first career TD, and with it he became the first true freshman to find the endzone for the Deacs since Anthony Young scored three touchdowns (all passing) in the 2000 season.
Barclay??s three rushing touchdowns were the first by a Wake Forest true freshman since the 1988 season, when Anthony Williams scored three against Appalachian State. Since then, there have been 11 other games when a Deacon back has rushed for three touchdowns, including two this season. In addition to Barclay??s performance at Purdue, Ovie Mughelli tied a school record with four TDs at Northern Illinois in the season opener.
Since the Purdue game, Barclay has added touchdown runs against Virginia (nine yards), Georgia Tech (16 yards) and Duke (15 yards) and has scored six of Wake??s last 12 offensive touchdowns.
When looking at touchdowns scored by freshmen, Barclay ranks second in the ACC behind NC State??s T.A. McLendon (12 TDs). Barclay also (unofficially) ranks tied for fourth nationally among freshman TD scorers, behind Ohio State??s Maurice Clarett (15), McLendon, and California??s Kejuan Jones (8).
In The ??Did You Know??? Category
* Using pass efficiency, Wake Forest has faced two of the top five quarterbacks in the nation already this season. NC State??s Philip Rivers ranks first and Virginia??s Matt Schaub ranks fifth.
* Wake Forest will make its second appearance in three weeks on the ABC television network. Prior to the Georgia Tech game on Oct. 5, Wake??s last ABC game was the Aloha Bowl on Christmas Day, 1999. The Deacs have been on ABC five times since 1997, and own a 4-1 record in that span.
Coming Up Next
Wake Forest returns to Groves Stadium to host one of its biggest rivals - North Carolina - on Saturday, Oct. 26. The game will kick off at 12 noon and be televised on the JP Sports regional package. The Deacons spoiled the Tar Heels?? homecoming a year ago, engineering the greatest comeback in school history to win 32-31. Wake will look to post its third victory in four seasons over UNC.
