Wake Forest Athletics
Demon Deacons See Orange on the Horizon
11/1/2013 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 1, 2013
By Emma Lingan, WakeForestSports.com
The Demon Deacons built upon the momentum gained over the past three weeks in wins over NC State and Maryland to put on an impressive performance at No. 7 Miami, but their upset bid fell just short.
Despite leading the Hurricanes for nearly 49 minutes, the Deacs were ultimately unable to hold on as the Hurricanes tacked on two touchdowns late in the fourth quarter to steal away the victory.
"I think the message is to the players that if we play hard, we'll have a chance," said head coach Jim Grobe. "But there are no guarantees. When you get in games where you have opportunities to win, the only way you do that is to make plays. You can't just hope it's going to happen, you have to make plays."
The Demon Deacons left their woes in Coral Gables, however, and now have their sights set on this week's matchup against new ACC Atlantic rival Syracuse.
"I think the team is in a really good spot right now," said senior quarterback Tanner Price. "It's a great group of guys with a lot of energy, and I think we still have a lot of momentum. So we're going to look to carry that up to Syracuse with us and hopefully have a really great game up there."
The Deacons, who will be meeting the Orange for just the third time in school history, are wary of the challenges that accompany unfamiliar opponents, especially on the road.
"Everywhere we go it's tough to play on the road," Grobe said. "No matter how good a football team we are, we know every team we play in this league is a tough team, but playing on the road compounds all your problems."
Price, however, who threw for 289 yards and three touchdowns in the Deacons' overtime loss to the Orange in 2011, feels that his prior experience at Syracuse's Carrier Dome will serve him and the rest of the team well.
"It's a little bit different," Price said. "You don't have to worry about the weather conditions. It gets pretty hot in the dome, but I always have enjoyed playing in a dome. I think it's a fun atmosphere. Last time we were up there, it was a really fun game - a disappointing outcome for us - but it was still fun getting to play up in the Carrier Dome."
As they prepare to head north, the Deacons are faced with the task of reviving the momentum they had prior to the Miami game and continuing to build upon it.
"I think we're playing pretty well together," Grobe said. "Our guys are just playing hard right now. We're not playing great all the time, but we're doing some good things. We need to build on that because we're going to have to do some good things in the next four games, and certainly at Syracuse, to win."
The Deacons are confident that if they play with the same passion and drive that they showed at Miami, a victory over Syracuse and, ultimately, a bowl game are imminent.
"We're very uplifted," said sophomore linebacker Brandon Chubb. "We're very set on our goals for the rest of the season. That loss was a test of our character. It showed how we overcome battles and just what we can do and our full potential. Knowing that gives you the best confidence in the world for these next four games that are approaching. We have a tough schedule. We have four good opponents we have to play, and (we need) two more wins to get bowl eligible. It's a great feeling going into the last four weeks of the season knowing that you can reach that goal."
