Wake Forest University
Vanderbilt
Commodores Beat Deacs 23-21 on Last-Minute FG
11/30/2013 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 30, 2013
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By Alex Botoman, Wake Forest Athletic Communications (@WakeFB)
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Vanderbilt kicked a game-winning 38-yard field goal with less than a minute remaining in the game to hand Wake Forest a heartbreaking 23-21 loss in the Demon Deacons' season finale Saturday in Nasheville, Tenn.
With Wake Forest (4-8) leading 21-20 with less than two minutes left, Vanderbilt's Jordan Matthews made a circus catch between two defenders to convert a fourth-and-11 and keep the Commodores (8-4) alive. Two plays later, Carey Spear converted on the game-winning kick.
The Demon Deacons got to midfield on their final desperation drive, but Tanner Price's Hail Mary attempt fell incomplete as time expired.
Wake Forest had taken the lead late in the third quarter on a 63-yard interception return for a touchdown by Justin Jackson and while the Deacon defense held the Commodores to only a field goal on their next four possession, Vanderbilt's defense proved to be equally strong, shutting the Deacs out for the rest of the game.
In his last game as quarterback at Wake Forest, Price completed 16-of-32 passes for 155 yards in addition to carrying 12 times for 47 yards and a touchdown. Price ends his career in second place in school history for passing yards, completions and passing touchdowns behind Riley Skinner and is tied for first place in total touchdowns accounted for.
Josh Harris carried seven times for 35 yards, ending his career in eighth place on Wake Forest's all-time rushing chart.
Wake Forest's defense led the way all game, recording nine total tackles for loss. Ryan Janvion led all players with 14 tackles, tying a career-high, while Nikita Whitlock had 12 stops, two for loss, and Brandon Chubb had 10.
Vanderbilt marched 88 yards on its opening drive to score the opening touchdown. The big play on the sequence came on a 41-yard pass from Austyn Carta-Samuels to Jordan Matthews that brought the Commodores inside the red zone. Vanderbilt finished the drive off on a seven-yard scoring pass from Carta-Samuels to Fritz Lassing to take a 7-0 lead.
The Demon Deacons answered right back on their next drive, methodically moving their way downfield for a 65-yard touchdown drive. The Deacs kept the ball on the ground with Josh Harris ripping off a 20-yard run that moved him into the Top 10 in school history for career receiving yards. Price finished the drive off himself, carrying the ball in from three yards out to tie the score at 7-7.
The Commodores took advantage of good field position to retake the lead midway through the second quarter. A 20-yard punt by Alexander Kinal gave Vanderbilt the ball at the Wake Forest 40-yard line and five plays later the `Dores were into the end zone. Quarterback Patton Robinette did most of the work, scampering for a 20-yard gain that brought Vanderbilt into the end zone before finishing the drive with an eight-yard delayed run for a touchdown to put the Commodores back in front 14-7.
Again Wake Forest answered on the following sequence. Price found Spencer Bishop for a 25-yard gain before carrying three straight times totaling 21 yards to bring the Deacons to the Vanderbilt 17-yard line. On fourth and one from the Vandy 13, Price carried again, picking up the first down and on the next play, Dominique Gibson scored on a nine-yard rushing touchdown to tie the score at 14-14.
The Commodores made a final push to retake the lead before halftime and looked to be in good shape after converting a long fourth down to take them down to the Wake Forest 20-yard line. But back-to-back fumbled snaps pushed Vanderbilt back, forcing a 41-yard field goal attempt that Carey Spear knocked through to send the Commodores into the locker room with a 17-14 lead.
The Deacons took their first lead of the game in the third quarter. With Vanderbilt driving in Wake Forest territory, Nikita Whitlock tipped a pass that was picked off by Justin Jackson, and the senior linebacker ran it back 63-yards for a touchdown, putting Wake Forest in front 21-17. The interception was the first of Jackson's career in his final game as a Demon Deacon.
Wake Forest's defense stopped Vanderbilt deep in the red zone late in the fourth quarter, forcing the Commodores to settle for a 25-yard field goal that cut the lead to 21-20 with just under seven minutes remaining.
