Post-game Notes vs. Duke

Nov. 1, 2008

With the Wake Forest Win

The Deacons improve to 5-3 overall and 3-2 in the ACC.
Wake Forest snapped a two-game losing streak.
The Deacons have now won six straight home ACC games.
Wake Forest has won nine straight games over Duke, its longest winning streak ever against an ACC opponent.
Wake Forest's seniors have won their 29th game, making them the winningest class in school history at 29-17-0.
Quarterback Riley Skinner extended his school record for wins as a starter to 23.
Wake Forest improves to 8-2 at home since the start of the 2007 season and 12-4 at home since the start of the 2006 season.
Jim Grobe's record at Wake improves to 51-42 and his overall mark to 84-75-1.
Wake Forest was 29-64 in the 93 games prior to Grobe's arrival.
Wake Forest is now 23-5 against in-state opponents during the Grobe Era.
This was Wake Forest's 10th straight win against an in-state opponent.
Wake Forest improves to 5-1 when scoring first this season.
Wake Forest improves to 4-1 when leading at halftime.

Wake Forest Defeats In-State Rival Duke

Wake Forest won its 10th straight game against an in-state opponent, dating back to 2005.
The Deacons also posted their ninth straight win against Duke. Jim Grobe moved to 8-0 vs. the Blue Devils.
The win was Wake Forest's sixth straight ACC home victory, dating back to the start of the 2007 season.

Deacons Explode for 33 Points

Wake Forest's 33 points marked its highest output since a 41-13 win at Baylor in the season opener on Aug. 28.
It is the most points that Wake Forest has scored in an ACC game this season.
Wake Forest entered the game ranked 12th in the ACC in scoring offense in ACC games, averaging just 8.5 points per game and having scored just two touchdowns in four ACC games.

Smith Sets School Interception Record

Redshirt senior cornerback Alphonso Smith intercepted Thaddeus Lewis twice in the game, including the game-ending pick in overtime.
His third-quarter interception was the 18th of his career, setting a school record. Smith had been tied with Ronnie Burgess (1981-84) and A.J. Greene (1985-88) with 17.
Smith's interception to end the game in the first overtime pushed his career total to 19 and moved him into sole possession of second in ACC history. Smith is one behind of North Carolina's Dre' Bly (1996-98) for the conference record.
Smith has a team-best five interceptions on the year.

Red Zone Success

Wake Forest entered the Duke Game 11th in the ACC in red zone success, scoring on 18 of 25 trips. The Deacons improved that mark by scoring on three of four trips inside the red zone this afternoon.
Wake has now scored on five of its last six red zone trips over the last two games.
Duke came in 12th in the ACC in red zone success but was a perfect 4-for-4 today.

Skinner Passes for TD, Rushes 14 Times

Junior Riley Skinner rushed the ball a career-high 14 times, including 11 times in the third quarter. Skinner's previous career-high for rushes was 13 at Maryland on Oct. 18, 2008.
Skinner's fourth-quarter touchdown pass to D.J. Boldin gave him 29 for his career, putting fifth all-time in school history. It was Skinner's first touchdown pass in the last three games.

Opponent's Field Goals

Wake Forest's opponents had made 10 straight field goals against the Deacons until Duke's potential game-winning attempt sailed wide right.
It was the only missed field goal by a Deacon opponent since Baylor missed on in the season opener.

Career Highs

Running back Brandon Pendergrass rushed for a career-high 70 yards on a career-high 21 attempts. His previous high for yards was 56 last week at Miami.
Fullback Mike Rinfrette had a career-high three catches for a career-high 22 yards.
Linebacker Aaron Curry set a career-high with 16 tackles. Nose guard Boo Robinson (9 tackles), cornerback Josh Bush (4) and defensive end Kyle Wilber (5) also had career-highs in tackles.

Wake Forest Injury Update

Wake Forest P/PK Sam Swank missed his fourth consecutive game due to a strained quadriceps muscle.
TE Ben Wooster did not play for the second straight week due to a hamstring injury.
CB Brandon Ghee, a starter in the first six games, did not play for the second straight week due to a foot injury.
RB Josh Adams was available but less than 100 percent. Adams practiced all week after suffering a sprained left ankle against Miami last week. He did not see any game action against Duke.
OT Jeff Griffin left the game in the first quarter with a knee injury and did not return. He was replaced by redshirt freshman Doug Weaver.
LB Aaron Curry suffered a shoulder injury with 4:20 to play in the third quarter but returned shortly and played the rest of the game.

Miscellaneous Notes

OT Doug Weaver saw the most extensive playing time of his career, filling in for Jeff Griffin who suffered a knee injury in the first quarter and did not return
Brandon Pendergrass made his first career start at running back.
For the second time this season, Wake Forest started a pair of true freshmen. Joe Looney started at left guard and Andrew Parker at tight end.
This was the second consecutive Wake-Duke game with a safety. In 2007, Duke scored a safety when Wake snapped a punt snap over the punter's head and it went for a safety.
Today's attendance of 32,226 was the 23rd-highest in BB&T Field history. It marked the 13th consecutive game that Wake Forest has exceeded its stadium capacity of 31,500.
Wake has won seven straight games wearing black jerseys on black pants, including twice this season.
Wake moved to 16-3 when Skinner does not throw an interception. The Deacs are 7-6 when he does throw a pick.
Smith also extended his school record for career passess defended to 59.
Wake Forest moved to 41-13 under Jim Grobe when scoring 24+ points. The Deacons are 18-1 since the start of the 2006 season.

Wake Forest Athletics