Top Bowl Moments in Demon Deacon History
12/22/2019 5:03:00 PM | Football, Les Johns
A look back at six memorable Wake Forest bowl games in program history
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- With an 8-4 record, Wake Forest enters the 2019 Pinstripe Bowl with the fourth-best bowl winning percentage of all teams with double-digit appearances. The Deacs have won bowl games to finish the last three seasons, a first for the program and are playing in a bowl game for a fourth-straight campaign — which is also a program record.
Here's a look back at six memorable Wake Forest bowl games from the past:
1992 Independence Bowl - Dec. 31, 1992
Wake Forest 39 Oregon 35
This victory put Wake Forest in the national polls at the end of the season and secured the best season in the Bill Dooley era — in the last game coached in his storied career. It had been 13 years between Wake Forest bowl appearances, and the Deacs celebrated with a dramatic fourth-quarter comeback victory.
Wake trailed 29-10 late in the third quarter, but scored four-straight touchdowns in a 14-minute stretch to take command. Wide receiver Todd Dixon won Most Outstanding Player, grabbing five catches for 166 yards and two touchdowns, while John Leach ran for 116 yards and two scores in the win.
2018 Birmingham Bowl - Dec. 22, 2018
Wake Forest 37 Memphis 34
The legend of Jamie Newman grew as he produced another game-winning two-minute drill — his second in just four starts at quarterback to end the season. Memphis had claimed a 28-10 lead early in the second quarter, but the Deacs fought back, scoring two touchdowns last in the quarter to climb to within 28-24 at the intermission.
A pair of third-quarter Nick Sciba field goals gave the Deacs the lead, but Memphis scored with just 1:15 remaining to set up the Newman heroics. Newman connected with senior wide receiver Alex Bachman for pickups of 49 and 20 yards on the quick scoring drive that was punctuated with a one-yard quarterback keeper for the victory. Newman won MVP honors throwing for 328 yards and rushing for 91 more.
1946 Gator Bowl - Jan. 1, 1946
Wake Forest 26 South Carolina 14
This was the first bowl game in Wake Forest program history and the inaugural Gator Bowl. Under legendary coach Peahead Walker, the Deacs came away with the win on the back of 177 rushing yards from Nick Sacrinty, who won MVP honors. Wake rushed for 378 yards in the contest, which stood as the program record for 22 years. The total payout for the bowl was $20,000.
2002 Seattle Bowl - Dec. 30, 2002
Wake Forest 38 Oregon 17
The first bowl game in the Jim Grobe era results in a three-touchdown victory over Oregon. As it turns out the Deacs and the Ducks have only squared off twice, with Wake Forest coming out on top both times in bowl games — and both contests made this list.
It was a balanced offense attack for the Deacs, who threw for 241 yards and rushed for 256 behind 82 yards on 19 carries by Chris Barclay. Quarterback James MacPherson went 9-for-16 in the air, with two touchdown passes. The Deacs jumped out 21-3, then tacked on a couple touchdowns later after the Ducks had closed the gap.
2007 Meineke Car Care Bowl - Dec. 29, 2007
Wake Forest 24 Connecticut 10
Played in front of a crowd of more than 50,000 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, this is the bowl that is currently named the Belk Bowl.
The Deacs trailed 10-0 at the half, but scored the last 24 points behind 268 yards passing from quarterback Riley Skinner and rushing touchdowns from Josh Adams and Micah Andrews. Charlotte native Kenneth Moore earned MVP honors with 11 receptions for 112 yards. This was the second of three-straight bowl bids for the Deacs under Grobe.
2017 Belk Bowl - Dec. 29, 2017
Wake Forest 55 Texas A&M 52
The Deacs return to Charlotte and take down a SEC team in a contest that was widely regarded as one of the most entertaining of the entire bowl season.
There were five lead changes and the two teams combined for 1,260 yards of offense and 107 points — tying for the fourth-highest scoring game in bowl history. Wake Forest quarterback John Wolford completed 32 passes for 400 yards and four touchdowns while running back Matt Colburn rushed for 150 yards and a score. Both Cam Serigne and Scotty Washington finished with more than 100 yards receiving.
