Deacons Direct - Wake Forest-Miami Gameday Blog
10/25/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 25, 2008
3:05 p.m. - It's a final from Miami. The Hurricanes defeat Wake Forest 16-10. Miami converted on a pair of third downs on its final offensive drive to run out the rest of the clock. Wake Forest is now 4-3 overall and 2-2 in conference play, while Miami improves to 5-3 and 2-2 in ACC play.
3:00 p.m. - The Wake Forest defense was one play away from getting the ball back for the offense, but Miami converts a 3rd-and-10 at its own 25-yard line with a 25-yard pass from Robert Marve to Thearon Collier. Just over two minutes left and Miami has the ball near midfield with a second down play coming up. Wake Forest can stop the clock only once more.
2:55 p.m. - Wake Forest is unable to get anything going on offense on its next drive, going 3-and-out. Popham punts the ball 19 yards and Miami will start its drive at its own 25-yard line.
2:50 p.m. - The Deacon defense stops Miami 3-and-out to get the ball back for the offense. Down to 4:24 to go in the game so this may be the last chance for Wake Forest to score a game-winning touchdown.
2:40 p.m. - Wake Forest moves the ball as far as the Miami 20-yard line, but the Hurricane defense is able stop Wake on third and short. Shane Popham's field goal attempt from 40 yards out is just wide right to keep the score 16-10 with 5:45 left in the game.
2:30 p.m. - Matt Bosher makes his third field goal of the day to give Miami a 16-10 advantage with 12:09 left in the game. Bosher converts from 43 yards to close out the drive. The good thing is that holding Miami to a field goal keeps the game a one-possession contest.
2:25 p.m. - Josh Adams picks up a first down for Wake Forest, but on the final play of the third quarter, Riley Skinner was sacked and fumbled the football. The ball was recovered by Miami at the Wake Forest 45-yard line. Mike Rinfrette has had a career day, rushing eight times for 30 yards with his second career rushing touchdown. His other rushing TD came against Ole Miss on September 23, 2006.
2:20 p.m. - Miami goes for it on 4th-and-1 at the Wake 28-yard line and comes pu short as Stanley Arnoux makes the tackle for the Deacons to end the drive. On a weather note, it has started to rain at Dolphin Stadium, sending a lot of the fans to shelter in the concourse.
2:15 p.m. - Miami is moving the ball down the field again, as they currently have the ball at the Wake Forest 32-yard line. On the injury front, Brandon Ghee has not played in today's game as he is suffering from an ankle injury.
2:05 p.m. - After Miami took the lead, the Hurricanes attempted a surprise onside kick, but the kick was recovered by Lee Malchow at the Miami 48-yard line. The Deacons couldn't convert on the good field position, going 3-and-out.
2:00 p.m. - The Hurricanes have their first lead of the game with 8:03 to go in the third quarter. A Robert Marve quarterback sneak from a yard out gives Miami a 13-10 edge. The key play of the drive came on a 43-yard run by Marve down to the Deacon 3-yard line.
1:50 p.m. - Miami converted its first drive of the second half into three points on a 51-yard field goal by Matt Bosher. The drive got a jumpstart on a long kick return to the Wake 45-yard line. A 15-yard late hit penalty moved the ball to the Deacon 30-yard line. The Wake Forest defense was able to stiffen though, holding Miami to the field goal attempt. Wake Forest goes 3-and-out on its first drive of the second half.
Halftime - We're at the half. Here's a look at the halftime stats. Wake Forest ran the ball 32 times in the first half, gaining 135 yards. Miami only gained eight yards on the ground on 10 carries. The Deacs attempted only five passes, completing two of them for 49 yards. Wake Forest has controlled time of possession, holding the ball for 19:22, while Miami has held the ball for 10:38.
Individually, Josh Adams has rushed the ball 13 times for 69 yards. Brandon Pendergrass has 10 carries for 50 yards. D.J. Boldin has one catch for 45 yards. Shane Popham has punted the ball three times, averaging 43 yards a punt.
Just about three minutes left in halftime. Miami will open the second half with the football.
1:20 p.m. - We're at halftime at Dolphin Stadium. Wake Forest holds a 10-7 edge over Miami at the midway point. Wake Forest was forced to punt on its last drive of the half. Shane Popham's punt was a nice one and Aaron Curry did a great job in coverage to tackle the Miami returner at the 5-yard line. Miami ran the ball once, gaining no yards and let the first half clock run out. I'll have some stats as soon as I get a box score.
1:10 p.m. - Miami had a good drive ended in Wake Forest territory as Tristan Dorty tackled Jacory Harris in the backfield on a 4th-and-7 play. Nearing the end of the first half, Wake Forest has the ball at its own 35-yard line.
1:05 p.m. - Wake Forest was able to penetrate Miami territory again on its second drive of the second quarter but were stymied by the Hurricane defense. The key play for Wake came on a 45-yard pass play from Riley Skinner to D.J. Boldin. The Deacons went for it on 4th-and-11 but Skinner was sacked by Adewale Ojomo.
12:55 p.m. - Riley Skinner's first pass of the game comes with 11:26 to go in the 2nd quarter. The pass was deflected and fell incomplete forcing a Shane Popham punt.
12:50 p.m. - The Deacon defense stops Miami 3-and-out. D.J. Boldin muffed the punt from Matt Bosher, but Miami was called for fair catch interference.
12:45 p.m. - Wake Forest gets a field goal out of the drive as Shane Popham converts on a 24-yard field goal with 13:42 left in the second quarter. Some injury nnews for the Deacs. Josh Adams was on the sideline getting looked at by one of the DDeacon trainers. He has not come in since he left with the apparent ankle injury. Adams currently has 64 yards on 10 carries, while Brandon Pendergrass has carried the ball six times for 48 yards.
12:40 p.m. - We've reached the end of the first quarter and Wake Forest is on the move again with all of the yardage coming on the ground. The Deacons have still yet to attempt a pass, running the ball 20 times in the first quarter. Wake Forest currently has the ball at the Miami 10 yard line. Brandon Pendergrass made the big play on this drive, a career-long 25 yard run on 3rd and 10 at the Wake Forest 40-yard line.
12:35 p.m. - Miami is on the board today on a 36-yard field goal by Matt Bosher. The key play on the drive was the very first one as quarterback Robert Marve hit Travis Benjamin on a 48-yard pass play.
12:30 p.m. - While we have a break in the action, here's a look at the starters today for Wake Forest.
Offense
#88 Chip Brinkman - WR
#76 Joe Birdsong - LT
#78 Joe Looney - LG
#72 Russell Nenon - C
#61 Barrett McMillin - RG
#64 Jeff Griffin - RT
#80 Andrew Parker - TE
#4 D.J. Boldin - WR
#11 Riley Skinner - QB
#27 Josh Adams - RB
#44 Mike Rinfrette - FB
Defense
#42 Matt Robinson - DE
#96 Boo Robinson - NG
#51 John Russell - DT
#97 Kyle Wilber - DE
#59 Aaron Curry - LB
#43 Stanley Arnoux - LB
#39 Chantz McClinic - LB
#2 Alphonso Smith - CB
#25 Josh Bush - CB
#9 Chip Vaughn - FS
#10 Kevin Patterson - SS
12:25 p.m. - The Wake Forest defense stopped Miami 3-and-out on its first drive of the game. The Deacons however went 3-and-out on its next drive. The Deacs have run 13 plays in the game and have still yet to put the ball in the air.
12:13 p.m. - 10 plays, 10 runs for Wake Forest and the Deacons have found the endzone for the first time since the fourth quarter of the Clemson game. Wake had a fourth and 1 and the Miami 3-yard line and converted. Two plays later Mike Rinfrette punched the ball into the endzone from 1 yard out to give Miami a 7-0 lead.
12:00 p.m. - Opening cointoss
The captains for Wake Forest today were Stanley Arnoux and Chip Brinkman. Miami won the toss and deferred the option to the second half. Wake Forest will receive to start the game.
11:30 a.m. - Uniform Watch
Just about 30 minutes before kickoff in Miami and the Deacons are on the field. Wake will be wearing gold pants today with white jerseys and black numbers. This is the first time this year that the Deacons have gone with this combination on the road.
11:10 a.m. - Swank update
The Wake Forest specialists are currently on the field, including senior kicker Sam Swank. So far, Swank has yet to attempt a kick as Shane Popham and Andrew Wright have handled all the kicking duties so far. Trainer Don Steelman said earlier today that in an emergency situation Swank could kick an extra point. Other than that though, look for Popham to handle the punting/place kicking chores today.
10:55 a.m. - Weather Update
We still have mostly sunny skies here at Dolphin Stadium. Current temperature is 80 degrees. The forecast does get a little worse as we go throughout the day. According to weather.com, there is a 60 percent chance of scattered thunderstorms this afternoon.
10:20 a.m. - Greetings from Sunny Miami
Good morning from warm and sunny Miami. The team arrived at the stadium about 20 minutes ago. A few of the Deacons are out on the field warming up. Today is another critical conference game for Wake Forest. The Deacs are one of four teams tied at the top of the Atlantic Division with a 2-1 record.
After breakfast this morning, trainers Don Steelman and Chris Ina were working on a few of the Deacons, specifically Brandon Ghee and Aaron Curry. Curry, who has suffered from back spasms, is probable and should be able to make the start. Ghee will be more of a game-time decision. He has a custom orthodic that he will be wearing during warmups and the trainers and coaches will monitor his progress during warmups.
I'll be back with more as we get closer to gametime.
All blog entries by Chad Crunk, WFU Media Relations
