Wake Forest University
Utah State (Homecoming)
Deacons Dominate Utah State 46-10
9/16/2017 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 16, 2017
Final Stats | Quotes | Photo Gallery 
By Wake Forest Athletic Communications (@WakeFB)
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Wake Forest used a relentless offensive attack and a smothering defense in a 46-10 win over Utah State.
The Demon Deacons (3-0, 1-0 ACC) torched the Utah State (1-2, 0-0 MWC) defense for 588 total yards of offense, the most since the Deacons had 591 yards vs. Elon in 2015.
Wake Forest's offense was clicking behind quarterback John Wolford who threw two touchdown passes and had a rushing score. He became the first Wake Forest player to score a rushing and passing touchdown in three consecutive games.
Wide receiver Greg Dortch and tight end Cam Serigne each had a touchdown reception while Arkeem Byrd and Matt Colburn each had a rushing touchdown along with Wolford. Hines and Byrd became the first Wake Forest duo to have a 100-yard receiving and 100-yard rushing game since 2011.
Amari Henderson led the defensive effort with seven solo tackles while Luke Masterson and Grant Dawson finished with six tackles each. The defense recorded 11 tackles for loss, led by two each from Essang Bassey, Willie Yarbary and Duke Ejiofor. As a team, the Deacs limited Utah State to just 42 yards of rushing and 11 first downs.
Wake Forest took an early 7-0 lead after a 43-yard touchdown pass from Wolford to Dortch. The touchdown came one play after an interception from Cameron Glenn. The interception was returned for a touchdown but called back on a penalty, setting up the Demon Deacon offensive score.
Nearly 90 seconds later, Wake Forest added on with a 45-yard strike from Wolford to Serigne which extended the advantage to 14-0. A 31-yard field goal from Mike Weaver made it a 17-0 lead for the Deacons shortly into the second quarter.
Midway through the second quarter, punter Dom Maggio pinned Utah State on its own goal line with a 50-yard punt. On the ensuing play, Carlos Basham, Jr. and Grant Dawson forced a safety as Wake Forest made it 19-0.
After the safety, Byrd ran for a 59-yard touchdown after blowing through the Utah State secondary. Weaver tacked on a 30-yard field goal as time expired in the second quarter with Wake Forest leading 29-0 heading into the locker room.
Early in the third quarter, Jessie Bates III ran a punt back for 75-yards deep into Utah State territory. On the following play Colburn scored for the Deacons making the score 36-0.
The Aggies added a third quarter touchdown to end the shutout. On the next drive for Wake Forest, Wolford had two long pass plays to Tabari Hines before powering through for an 18-yard touchdown run.
Both teams traded field goals in the third quarter bringing the final score to 46-10 in favor of Wake Forest.
Offensive Explosion
- In amassing 588 yards of total offense on Saturday, the Deacs reached at least 500 yards of total offense for the first time since Sept. 3, 2015, when they had 591 yards against Elon.
- Wide receiver Tabari Hines totaled 129 receiving yards while Byrd amassed 121 rushing yards. It is the first time the Deacs have had a 100-yard receiver and rusher in the same game since 2011 against Florida State.
-Wake Forest out-rushed Utah State, 291-42, marking the fifth-straight game that the Demon Deacons have outrushed their opponent.
Wolford Making History
- John Wolford threw two touchdowns in the first half and added a rushing touchdown in the third quarter. In recording a rushing and passing touchdown in three straight games, Wolford becomes the first player in program history to accomplish the feat.
- Wolford has now thrown at least one touchdown pass in a career-high five consecutive games.
- It is the eighth game in Wolford's career that he has thrown and rushed for a touchdown. The Deacs are 7-1 in those games.
Scoring Defense
- The Demon Deacons' second quarter safety was their first since Oct. 30, 2015 against Louisville.
- It also marked the second-straight game that the team has scored on defense, after Essang Bassey's pick-six against Boston College last week.
Solid Special Teams
- Kicker Mike Weaver converted both of his field goal attempts and all five of his extra points. Weaver passed Chris Barclay to move into second in program history in career scoring.
- Jessie Bates III had 75-yard punt return in the third quarter, which was a career long for the sophomore safety. With Bates being tackled inside the five-yard line, it was the longest non-scoring punt return in program history and the fifth-longest punt return in program history.
Winning the Turnover Battle
- Cameron Glenn's first quarter interception gave the Deacs an interception in their fourth straight game, dating back to last year's Military Bowl victory over Temple.
Freshman Phenoms
- WR Greg Dortch's 43-yard touchdown in the first quarter gives him a touchdown reception in each of his first three career games.
- Dortch finished with career-high numbers in receptions (four) and yards (68).
- RB Arkeem Byrd delivered a career-high 121 rushing yards to go along with his first career touchdown, a 59-yard run that was the longest of his career and the longest play from scrimmage for the Deacs this season.
Steady Serigne
- After having his consecutive games with a reception streak broken last week at Boston College, tight end Cam Serigne rebounded with two receptions for 52 yards and a touchdown.
- His 15 career touchdown catches are the most in school history by a tight end.
- Serigne has also caught a touchdown pass in four of his last five games.
Winning Streak
- Wake Forest's win over Utah State gives the team a four-game winning streak dating back to last season.
- This is tied for the longest winning streak for the Deacs in the Dave Clawson era. The team also won four straight games to begin the 2016 season.
Records Falling
- The team's 46 points are the most scored over an FBS team in the Dave Clawson era.
- The team's 36-point margin of victory is the largest over an FBS team in the Clawson era.
Strong on D
- The Deacs shut out the Aggies in the first half on Saturday, the second time in three games this season that the team has held its opponent to zero first-half points.
Career Performances
- WR Tabari Hines accumulated a career-high 129 receiving yards.
- CB Amari Henderson led the team with a career-best seven total tackles, all of which were solo.
- K Mike Weaver totaled a career-high 14 points.
