Wake Forest Athletics
Game Notes
9/10/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 10, 2005
Some post-game notes from tonight's 31-3 loss at Nebraska...
Statistical Oddity... Despite losing 31-3 and not scoring a touchdown, Wake Forest actually outgained Nebraska 247-234. The Deacons were doomed by four turnovers, three of which went the other way for touchdowns.
Today's Captains: The captains were Goryal Scales and Steve Vallos. Nebraska won the toss and deferred to the second half.
The Loss Today... ... gives Wake Forest an 0-2 start for the first time since the 2000 season. ... makes Wake Forest 5-2 in non-conference games away from Groves Stadium under Jim Grobe. ... gives Nebraska a 2-0 lead in the all-time series. ... makes four straight road losses (Nebraska in 2005; Maryland, Miami and NC State in 2004) ... drops Wake Forest's all-time record on national television to 6-13. ... makes Wake Forest 1-12 all-time against schools currently in the Big 12. ... drops Grobe's record at Wake Forest 22-27 in five seasons and his all-time record to 55-60-1 in 11 seasons. ... drops Grobe's Wake Forest record to 10-14 in road games. ... drops Grobe's Wake Forest record to 12-5 in non-conference games. ... drops Grobe's Wake Forest record to 9-9 in September games. ... drops Grobe's Wake Forest record to 8-9 in night games. ... drops Wake Forest's all-time record to 378-576-33.
For Starters... Wake Forest had two linebackers make their first career start as redshirt freshmen Eric Berry and Aaron Curry started in place of the injured Jon Abbate and Pierre Easley. Defensively, the Deacons started four freshmen, four sophomores, one junior and two seniors. Offensively, the Deacons started one freshman, five sophomores, three juniors and two seniors.
Starters, Part Two... A couple of long streaks of consecutive starts continued as Ryan Plackemeier started his 32nd straight game, Steve Vallos his 25th, Patrick Ghee his 13th and Matt Robinson his 12th.
Husker Attendance Note... Today's attendance of 77,380 was the ninth-largest crowd to witness a Wake Forest game, the biggest since last year's Clemson game when 78,500 watched the Tigers beat the Deacons in double overtime.
Swank Drills 51-Yarder... Sam Swank's 51-yard field goal on the final play of the first half was not only a career-long for the freshman, but tied for the third-longest field goal in Deacon history. It was the longest since Matthew Burdick made a 53-yarder in 1998. It tied for the second longest field goal by a Husker opponent in Memorial Stadium, the longest in 24 years.
Belton Makes First Career Reception... Richard Belton's catch on a third down conversion in the second half marked his first career reception.
Barclay Record Book Update... Chris Barclay finished with 60 yards to up his career rushing total to (2,965). He stands 360 yards behind Micahel Ramseur for second place on the Wake Forest all-time rushing chart. James McDougald is the school's all-time rushing leader with 3,811 yards.
Plack Booms Another 60-Yarder... Ryan Plackemeier hammered a 50-yard punt in the first quarter, a 61-yarder in the second quarter with a return of minus-one yard and a 53-yarder in the third quarter. The 60-yarder was the ninth in the career of the Ray Guy Award candidate. Plackemeier now has 48 career punts of 50 or more yards.
Grobe Era Lows... - 1st in fewest points (3); previous: 7, three times (most recently at Maryland in 2004) - T-1st in fewest 3rd down converstions (3); previous: 3 at Maryland in 2002 - 4th in least total offense (247)
No Touchdowns... Wake Forst failed to score a touchdown for the first time since 2000 (at Florida State), the first time in the Grobe era.
Turnover Trouble... Wake Forest's minus-three in the turnover department was the worst for the Deacons since the 2002 Clemson game. In that contest, Wake Forest was a minus-five, throwing three interceptions and fumbling twice. The Tigers didn't turn it over.
Mauk's Three Interceptions... Benjamin Mauk's three interceptions were the most by a Deacon quarterback since James MacPherson's three during the 2002 Virginia game.
Taking It The Other Way... Nebraska's first quarter interception return for a touchdown was a rarity for Deacon opponents. Wake Forest had not a interception returned for a score since 2001 at Duke. The first quarter fumble return for a touchdown was Nebraska's second defensive score, the first time Wake Forest allowed two defensive scores since the Duke game in 1994.
Three Defensive Touchdowns... Nebraska's three defensive touchdowns are the most by a Deacon opponent in one game since at least 1980.
After Further Review... Jyles Tucker appeared to have his second career interception when he caught deflection off Patrick Ghee's shoe. But after the replay official viewed the play, the call was overturned and ruled an incomplete pass. It was the second instant replay situation involving the Deacons this season and the first call overturned.
