Wake Forest Athletics
Deacon Sports Xtra: Seniors End Career Right at Gator Bowl
1/18/2022 12:24:00 PM | Football
“They've been incredible leaders for our program, and we're going to miss them.” - Head Coach Dave Clawson
A large group of Demon Deacons ended their football careers on a positive note with a 38-10 Gator Bowl victory over Rutgers last month, including a group of seven super-seniors that helped transform the program from "Good to Great."
The victory means that the 2021 Demon Deacons tied the program record for most wins in a season with the 2006 ACC Championship team in 2006, which also finished 11-3.
"I am really proud, first of all, of our seniors," Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson said after the championship. "Just the leadership that they've given us and the resolve and the buy-in. Some of them for four, some of them for five and some of them for six years.
"I told those guys last night. If we could get together in one week with the same group and do it all again, I would sign up. Some of them are back, but guys like Luke Masterson, Tra Redd, Suh Kamara, Brandon Chapman who spent six years in our program, Miles Fox, a bunch of them, you can replace them as players, it's hard to replace them as people."
Not only did that group provide production for the Deacs, they also brought positive leadership.
"They've been incredible," Clawson said. "They're men. They've been incredible leaders for our program, and we're going to miss them. But we're going to enjoy this one. And this was a historical season. We tied the record for the best season in Wake Forest history, and we're hopefully part of a debate of what the greatest team is.
"And the 2006 team was an incredible team, but the 2021 team was a really good team as well, and we're proud that we were a part of it."
Fourth-year sophomore quarterback Sam Hartman threw for 304 yards and three touchdowns in the convincing victory over Rutgers, who filled in for Texas A&M, who bowed out of the contest because of Covid-19 issues in its program.
"I'm just happy for the seniors," Hartman said. "It just goes back to those guys. Coach hit it hard. This group has been there since I was a freshman, since I was out there running around at 170 pounds to when I'm out there throwing four picks and losing us games. They've been there for everything. The highs, the lows, they saw it through for me. I can't thank them enough."
Two of Hartman's touchdowns were reeled in by sixth-year super-senior tight end Brandon Chapman, who entered the contest with just one touchdown reception his entire career.
"I doubled my career total just today, but I give it all to the system that we run," Chapman said. "That second touchdown was going to go to Blake, but he was covered, so I was the second read and I caught what was thrown to me.
"I'm just really proud of this team and everything that we've accomplished thus far. There's nothing but light at the end of the tunnel here. I'm looking forward to how good this team is going to be next year."
Sixth-year senior Luke Masterson, who moved from safety to linebacker for his final season, led the Demon Deacons in tackles this season (85) and in the Gator Bowl (7).
"It's hard to put into words," Masterson said about playing his final game as a Demon Deacon. "This last month has been a lot of reflection on the season and just trying to take it all in, but I'm just going to miss all the guys. I love the guys, man.
"We have a special group this year. Just the complete buy-in from everybody. The coaching staff, the players, the scout team, everybody bought in this year, and I'll remember that forever because if we didn't all buy in the way we did and completely buy into our "Good to Great" motto, we wouldn't be here. Just really grateful I got to be a part of this and love this team."
Defensive tackle Miles Fox, who transferred to Wake Forest from Old Dominion for what he then believed would be his final season in 2019, grabbed four tackles and a tackle for loss in his final contest. He suffered a torn Achilles in 2019, then took advantage of the free year of eligibility afforded him by the NCAA for the COVID-impacted 2020 campaign.
"It was very bittersweet," Fox said about playing his final game for Wake Forest. "I said in an interview yesterday, this culture is different. I remember my first week here, and the first Saturday I was there all the guys were in there working out on their own — no coaches. That's just special. I didn't realize how big it was at the time, but everyone bought in, and had a great season. We lived up to the motto "Good to Great."
"We did what we said we were going to do, and a lot of people don't do that. I really love this team. You see the preseason polls every year. They always have us picked seventh, eighth, and we lit the field afire this year. So everyone doubting us just helped us out more and made us hungrier, you know?"
