Wake Forest Athletics
Stanford Game Preview
9/16/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 16, 2010
Video: Game Preview With Jim Grobe 
Game Notes: Wake Forest 
| Stanford
Television Coverage: ESPN2 | ESPN3.com
Radio Coverage: Listen Live
In-Game Updates: | Twitter Feed
By Steven Johns, WakeForestSports.com
After posting a 53-13 win over Presbyterian in its season opener, Wake Forest followed with a 54-48 shootout victory over Duke last week. It marked the first time in school history that the Deacons have scored 50 points in consecutive games.
Like Wake Forest, Stanford has also posted impressive wins in each of the first two weeks of the season. The Cardinal defeated Sacramento State, 52-17, in their season opener at home and then shut out UCLA, 35-0, last weekend on the road.
"We're getting ready to go against a Stanford team that is really stingy defensively, so I think our execution play-in and play-out can improve," said head coach Jim Grobe. "You can't go into a football game knowing that the only way you are going to score points is through big plays. Some of the defenses we play will be more stingy, so we just have to be more consistent."
Many of the big plays against Duke came from the young arm of true freshman Tanner Price, who threw for 190 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran for 56 yards and a touchdown.
"Tanner came in and it was almost like he was a fifth-year senior and had been there for a long time," said senior center Russell Nenon. "He was laughing, having a good time, encouraging people in the huddle. That's reassuring as an offensive line because you know he's maturing."
After redshirt sophomore Ted Stachitas left Saturday's game with an injured left hand, the Deacs will rely on the freshman even more as he gets his first career start against Stanford.
"No matter how the fans are, the teams that we play against are really tough, salty football teams, and for the rest of the way out, every Saturday is going to be really tough," said Grobe. "I think Tanner understands that, and I know Ted understands that. There are no easy outs the rest of the year, and every defense will be after our quarterbacks."
While the offense seems to be heading in the right direction, the Wake Forest defense allowed 48 points and 487 yards of total offense against Duke.
"If we want to start stopping teams we're going to have to be more mentally efficient and make more plays because the offenses we play week in and week out will take advantage of (those mistakes) every time" said sophomore linebacker Riley Haynes.
Stanford has a very balanced offense that will jump on any defensive mistake.
"Stanford's offense is very physical," added Haynes. "They have an unbelievable quarterback, an unbelievable offensive line, they play hard, they'll hit you straight in the mouth and if you're not ready to play they'll take advantage of it."
Stanford sophomore quarterback Andrew Luck is considered one of the top quarterbacks in the country and showed his prowess last week when he led the Cardinal to a 35-0 win over UCLA. Luck threw for 161 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another 63 yards in the road win.
Not only will the Demon Deacons have to contend with the physical offense and defense of the Stanford Cardinal, but they will also have to deal with traveling across the entire country to play a game scheduled to start at 11:15 p.m. EST.
"It's going to be different," said Haynes. "We haven't been on a long trip like this since we went to Baylor [in 2008], which was a pretty long trip. It's definitely going to be tough for us but that's why we go through camp, that's why we do the things we do, that's why we wake up and practice so we can be mentally ready for games like this."
"I tell everybody that I think most young kids don't really get started until about 11:15 at night," said Grobe. "I don't think that will be a problem for our guys, but we'll find out."
"It's a huge challenge for us and we're going to have to bring our `A' game if we expect to go out and play with them" said Haynes.
Saturday's game will be televised nationally on ESPN2. The game can also be heard on the Wake Forest ISP Radio Network and on WakeForestSports.com.
