Three Pro Deacs are Headed to Super Bowl LVI
1/30/2022 11:22:00 PM | Football
Jessie Bates III, Scotty Washington and the Cincinnati Bengals are set to take on John Wolford and Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, Feb. 13.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Three former Wake Forest football players are heading to Super Bowl LVI.
Next Stop: Super Bowl LVI 🏆#ProDeacs 🎩 pic.twitter.com/RvISuz3SZG
— Wake Forest Football (@WakeFB) January 31, 2022
In the opening game of the Championship Weekend, Jessie Bates III, Scotty Washington and the Cincinnati Bengals came from behind to defeat the Kansas City Chiefs, 27-24, to capture the AFC Championship.
This marks just the second time ever the franchise has reached the Super Bowl with a Demon Deacon now on the roster for both appearances. Running back James Hargrove was on the last team to advance, helping the Bengals to Super Bowl XVI.
In addition to Bates III and Washington, Zac Taylor, the Bengals head coach, also got his start as a Wake Forest football player. The former Demon Deacon quarterback played for the Deacs during the 2002 and 2003 seasons.
John Wolford and the Los Angeles Rams followed that up in the NFC Championship game, defeating the San Francisco 49ers, 20-17. This is the second time in the last four seasons that the franchise will go back to the Super Bowl.
Wide receiver Ricky Proehl helped the Rams capture their last title, pulling in one catch for 11 yards to help defeat the Tennessee Titans, 23-16.
This will mark the third time that Demon Deacons will be on both sidelines of the Super Bowl and the first time since Super Bowl XLI when Proehl and the Indianapolis Colts defeated Desmond Clark and the Chicago Bears.
Bates Makes Game-Winning Play
With the game tied and on the first possession of overtime, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes took a shot down the field to wide receiver Tyreek Hill. Bates III came over the top to deflect the pass into the arms of a fellow Bengals defender, Vonn Bell.
Big time play, @jlbiii3 ‼️‼️#ProDeacs 🎩
— Wake Forest Football (@WakeFB) January 30, 2022
pic.twitter.com/kAF9MMNCLu
The game-changing play by Bates III helped lead to the game-winning drive on the next offensive possession for the Bengals.
The fourth-year pro and captain for the Bengals finished the game with four total tackles to go along with the overtime pass deflection.
Wake Forest and the Super Bowl
|
Bill Ard (1) |
New York Giants |
XXI |
|
Gary Baldinger (3) |
Buffalo Bills |
XXV, XXVI, XXVII |
|
Jessie Bates III (1) |
Cincinnati Bengals |
LVI |
|
Ed Bradley (2) |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
IX, X |
|
Josh Bush (1) |
Denver Broncos |
50 |
|
Jim Clack (2) |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
IX, X |
|
Desmond Clark (1) |
Chicago Bears |
XLI |
|
George Coghill (2) |
Denver Broncos |
XXXII, XXXIII |
|
Thabiti Davis (1) |
New York Giants |
XXXV |
|
Jack Dolbin (1) |
Denver Broncos |
XII |
|
Bob Grant (2) |
Baltimore Colts |
III, V |
|
James Hargrove (1) |
Cincinnati Bengals |
XVI |
|
Michael McCrary (1) |
Baltimore Ravens |
XXXV |
|
Ricky Proehl (4) |
St. Louis Rams, Carolina Panthers |
XXXIV, XXXVI |
|
Indianapolis Colts |
XXXVIII, XLI |
|
|
Fred Robbins (1) |
New York Giants |
XLII |
|
Steve Vallos (1) |
Denver Broncos |
XLVII |
|
Jay Williams (1) |
St. Louis Rams |
XXIV |
|
John Wolford (1) |
Los Angeles Rams |
LVI |
**Winners in bold**
