Wake Forest Athletics
Mauk Ruled Out Indefinitely With Injury
9/3/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 3, 2006
Wake Forest quarterback Benjamin Mauk has been ruled out indefinitely and may not return this season. Mauk, a junior from Kenton, Ohio, suffered a broken right arm and dislocated right shoulder during Wake Forest's 20-10 season opening win against Syracuse on Saturday.
Mauk's injury occurred with 5:31 remaining in the third quarter and the score tied at 10. The Demon Deacons had driven inside the Syracuse 20 yardline when Mauk attempted to recover a fumble by diving head first after the loose ball. Wake Forest recovered the fumble and two plays later, kicked a field goal for a take the lead for good.
"It was the most courageous thing I have seen out of a quarterback, ever," head coach Jim Grobe said after the game.
Mauk was carried off the field and taken to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center where, as of Sunday, he remained hospitalized.
Redshirt freshman Riley Skinner, who finished the game in place of Mauk, takes over as Wake Forest's starting quarterback.
Skinner completed his only pass against Syracuse, a 13-yard pass to Micah Andrews. He also directed Wake Forest's 10-play, 59-yard touchdown drive that sealed the win.
In three preseason scrimmages, Skinner threw for three touchdowns, ran for one and did not throw an interception. He performed well in the spring game, completing 5 of 8 passes for a team-high 127 yards and a touchdown.
Skinner is a native of Jacksonville, Fla., where he led the Bolles School to a 14-0 record and a 3A Florida State Championship.
Mauk left the Syracuse game having completed 14 of 21 passes for 105 yards and one touchdown. He led the Deacons on a 15-play, 96-yard scoring march on the first drive of the season. Mauk went 6-for-8 on that drive for 54 yards to five different receivers. The Deacons also converted three third down opportunities including a 14-yard touchdown pass to Willie Idlette.
