Wake Forest vs. NC State Game Preview
10/1/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 1, 2009
Video: Game Preview With Jim Grobe
Game Notes: Wake Forest 
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By Alex Botoman, WakeForestSports.com
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Wake Forest (2-2, 0-1) will take on NC State (3-1, 0-0) at BB&T Field on Saturday in a battle of two of the top offenses and quarterbacks in the ACC. The Demon Deacons rank first in the conference in total offense, gaining over 400 yards in three consecutive games, while the Wolfpack have posted upwards of 475 yards of offense in each of their last three contests.
Wake Forest quarterback Riley Skinner has achieved career highs for passing yards in back-to-back games, setting his current record of 354 yards last weekend at Boston College, and he stands as the all-time ACC leader in completion percentage. NC State signal caller Russell Wilson ranks second in the ACC in total offense and holds the NCAA all-time record for pass attempts without throwing an interception with 364. Wilson has not been picked off since Sept. 13, 2008, - a span of 13 games.
The Wolfpack are far from a one dimensional team as they also lead the conference in total defense - giving up only 201 yards and 14.8 points per game. The Demon Deacons' ability to move the ball against a tough defense, as they did against Boston College last week, could go a long way towards determining the outcome of the game.
"They are very talented, very well-coached. It's a balance," said head coach Jim Grobe. "In most of the categories they are right at the top of the ACC. They play off each other, when you're really good on offense it helps your defense and vice versa."
NC State's phenom quarterback Russell Wilson was last year's ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year, and he has yet to show any signs of a sophomore slump. Wilson has already thrown for 12 touchdowns on the season and is just as dangerous with his feet as with his arm.
"He does everything well," said linebacker Jonathan Jones. "He's a good running quarterback but he also throws the ball very well. He's not reckless with the ball. We have to put pressure on him and hopefully cause him to make some bad decisions."
In order to stop Wilson and the Wolfpack, the Wake Forest defense will have to continue their performance from the second half of the Boston College game where they held the Eagles to only seven points and were able to force punts in crucial situations. The key for the Demon Deacons will be to bring that level of play from the outset as they have fallen into early holes in three of their four games.
"We really played a great second half against Stanford and we played a really good fourth quarter at BC," said Grobe. "But we're playing such good football teams right now that if we don't play four quarters we're not going to be very happy. We've got to play better through the course of the game and not just in spurts."
Despite coming up short in the game, the Wake Forest offense seemed to click against Boston College, chalking up 496 yards - a season high. In addition to Skinner's career day, receiver Marshall Williams caught a career-best 12 passes for 180 yards, while Brandon Pendergrass' 76-yard touchdown run in the second quarter is tied for the ninth-longest rush in school history. The Deacon offensive line also had a solid performance against the Eagles, and they have not allowed a sack since giving up three in the season opener.
"The biggest difference that enabled me to have the type of game I had against Boston College was Riley having the time to find me in open spaces," said Marshall Williams. "I believe that this is the most athletic and the best receiving corps that I've been a part of since I've been here. Everyone knows with the talent that we have at receiver that we're giving Riley a lot more opportunities to make big plays down the field. We have a very capable receiving corps that's able to catch those deep balls."
In a matchup of the ACC's top offense and defense, something will have to give, and the deciding factor could be mental mistakes. Both Wake Forest and NC State struggled with discipline in their games last weekend with Wake committing 10 penalties and the Wolfpack being flagged for 11 - season highs for both teams. The team that is able to correct the lack of focus should have an edge on the field.
"I think one of the things that's made Wake Forest a good team in the past is that we're very disciplined and avoid penalties and mental mistakes," said Jonathan Jones. "We want to force our opponents to do the little things right in order to beat us, and it's one of the things we haven't done a good job of this season."
In addition to the extra intensity that comes with taking on a Big Four foe, there is a revenge factor for the Demon Deacons as the Wolfpack defeated them 21-17 in Raleigh late last season. The loss was extra hard for Marshall Williams who could not bring in a pass late in the game that could have given Wake the win.
"I circled this game a long time before this week," said Williams. "I feel like I owe them one, and this year I'm going to go out and make that play and leave everything on the field."
"This game is very crucial," added Jones. "You hate losing to any team two years in a row. The biggest thing for us is to try to play up to our potential and hopefully that will result in a win."
Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. at BB&T Field. The game can be seen nationwide on ESPNU and can also be heard on the Wake Forest ISP Radio Network.
