By the Numbers and Notes: Ole Miss

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Wake Forest football team faces off against nationally-ranked SEC foe Ole Miss on Saturday, Sept. 14 at 6:30 p.m.

The Homecoming Game presented by Pepsi is officially sold out. This marks Wake Forest's 10th sellout crowd since the 2021 season.

Before the Deacs face the Rebels, below are some numbers and notes on the game:

By the Numbers

4 - Coach Clawson is 4-0 against SEC opponents while at Wake Forest. Wake Forest currently has the second-longest active win streak against SEC teams.
54 - Not counting the 2020 COVID season, the Deacs have the third-most overall wins in the ACC since 2016, trailing just Clemson.
30.5 - Dating back to 2022, Jasheen Davis has recorded 30.5 tackles for loss in the last 18 games and 13.5 sacks. He has at least 0.5 tackles for loss in every game this season and in 21 of the last 22 games.
100 - Wake Forest's 100 passing touchdowns since the start of the 2021 season ranks ninth nationally and second in the ACC.
54 - The Deacs 54 All-ACC honors is tied for the sixth most overall in the ACC since the 2019 season. Additionally, the Deacs have had six or more players in the last seven seasons.

Clawson vs. the SEC

Overall, Head Coach Dave Clawson is 4-0 against SEC opponents while at Wake Forest, including multiple wins over Vanderbilt and bowl wins over Texas A&M (Belk, 2017) and Missouri (Gasparilla, 2022). Wake Forest currently has the second-longest active win streak against SEC teams, trailing just Stanford who has a six-game win streak:
- Stanford - 6
- Wake Forest - 4
- Rutgers - 3
Additionally, the Demon Deacons also have the best record vs. non-ACC teams over the past five years with a record of 18-5 (.783) with the next closest team holding a record of 16-5 in that timespan:

Rank	Team	Wins	Losses	Win Pct.
1.	Wake Forest	18	5	.783
2.	Duke	16	5	.762
3.	Clemson	21	7	.750
4.	Syracuse	14	6	.700
5.	Pitt	16	7	.696

Winning the Third Phase

During the Dave Clawson era, Wake Forest has been the best team in the nation at converting field goals, connecting on 179-of-218 field goal attempts in the last 11 years (82.1 pct.) with the next closest being Stanford at 81.6 percent. That margin has been even highest over the last seven seasons since the start of the 2018 season:

Rk. Team                             FGM      FGA       FG PCT
1. Wake Forest          111         129         86.0
2. UNLV                              87            103         84.0
3. Miami (OH)               101         121         83.5
4. NC State                     118         142         83.1
5. Stanford                      97            117         82.9

This season, Matthew Dennis is 4-of-4 FG and was a perfect 9-of-9 in extra points. Over the course of his career, Dennis is 30-of-38 FG.

Rank                                                                            FGM      FGA       FG%
1. Nick Sciba (2018-21)*                            80            89            89.9
2. Matthew Dennis (2021-Pres.)      30            38            78.9
3. Mike Weaver (2014-17)                         68            89            76.4
4. Sam Swank (2005-08)                            71            93            76.3
5. Jimmy Newman (2009-12)                                   42            58            72.4

Ivan Mora Ivan Mora is having his best punting season of his career, averaging 49.8 yards per punt including four punts of 50+ yards. His 42.0 career average ranks fifth in program history.

CAREER PUNT AVERAGE LEADERS
                                                                        Years                     Punt Avg.
1. Ryan Plackmeier                       2002-05               45.3
2. Chuck Ramsey                           1971-73               44.0
3. Dom Maggio                                  2016-19               43.7
4. Harry Newsome                        1981-84               43.6
5. Ivan Mora                                       2019-Pres.       41.9

Home Field Advantage

With record-setting crowds, multiple sellouts and the best student attendance in school history, playing at home over the past five seasons has given Wake Forest a huge edge. The Demon Deacons hold a 24-8 (.750) record in home contests since the start of the 2019 season which included a program-record 11-game winning streak spanning from the 2020 to 2022 seasons. The 75.0 percent win rate ranks third in the ACC during that time period:

Rank    School                                   Wins    Losses                 Pct.
1               Clemson            32            2               94.1
2               NC State             28            7               80.0
3               Wake Forest 24            8               75.0
4               Louisville            25            9               73.5
5               N Carolina        24            9               72.7
6               Florida St           22            11            66.7
7               Pittsburgh         22            12            64.7
T8            Virginia                 21            12            63.6
T8            Miami                    21            12            63.6
10            Va. Tech              20            12            62.5

Elite Passing Offense

A key to the Deacs scoring success has been the numbers that they have put up through the air in the last four seasons. Wake Forest ranks 16th nationally in passing yards since 2021 and ranks third in the ACC:

Teams                                                      GP          Passing Yds
1 SMU                    42            12,346
2 North Carolina          42            11,861
3 Wake Forest                41            11,449
4 Pitt                                         40            10,882
5 Miami                                  38            10,785

Additionally, the Demon Deacons have found the endzone through the air the second-most in the ACC team since the start of the 2021 season and their 100 passing touchdowns are the ninth most in the country:

                  Teams                                    GP          Passing TDs
1 WKU                   42            145
2 Ohio State                       41            119
3 Alabama                           44            113
4 SMU                    41            112
5 LSU                                       41            107
6 Georgia                              46            106
T7 Oregon                            43            103
T7 USC                                   40            103
9 Wake Forest                41            100
T10 Oklahoma                                   41            99
T11 Houston                     40            98
T11 Tennessee                                  41            98

WINNINGEST PROGRAM IN NORTH CAROLINA

Since the turn of the century, the Demon Deacons boast a record of 32-26 against UNC, NC State and Duke. In addition, during that time, Wake Forest is 48-26 against all in-state opponents. The Deacs lead the Big Four in winning percentage against each other during that period.
Since the start of the 2016 season, the Deacs are the third-most wins in the ACC not counting the COVID-shortened 2020 season:
- Clemson -- 86
- NC State- 56
- Wake Forest -- 54
- Miami- 53
- Pitt- 52
Additionally in the Clawson era, the Deacs recorded the first, second, fifth, sixth and seventh highest win totals in a single five-year period and the current five-year period of 28 wins ranks just outside of this list:
- 38 (2017-21)
- 37 (2018-22)
- 36 (2004-08 & 2006-10)
- 35 (2019-23)
- 34 (2016-20)
- 33 (2015-19)
- 31 (1944-48)
- 30 (1940-44)

VETERAN EXPERIENCE

The 2024 Deacs' have a wealth of experience on the roster this season with 18 players entering their fifth year or higher. This includes 10 players either in their sixth or seventh years:
- DB Capone Blue
- OL DeVonte Gordon
- WR Taylor Morin
- QB Michael Kern
- QB Hank Bachmeier
- P Ivan Mora
- DL Justin Cody
- OL Keagan Trost
- DL Kevin Pointer
- TE Cameron Hite
Coming into the season, this group of 10 sixth and seventh-year guys have combined to play in 350 career games.

WINNING THE TURNOVER BATTLE

One of the points of emphasis for the Wake Forest football team is winning the turnover battle. They have been one of the best teams in the country in that category since the start of the 2016 season.
In five of the last eight seasons, the Demon Deacons have finished inside of the top 25 in turnover margin while placing in the top three of ACC in each of those seasons.
Over the course of 2020-22, Wake Forest was +1 or better in turnover margin in 53 percent of games which ranked ninth nationally and fifth in the Power-5.
Over the past eight seasons, Wake Forest has a combined +32 turnover margin. This ranks 20th nationally over that time nationally and second in the ACC:

Rank                                        TO Gained        TO Lost                TO Margin
1. Clemson                         196                           156                           +40
2. Wake Forest              169                           137                           +32
3. Cal                                       165                          135                           +30
4. SMU                                                      165                          144                           +21
5. Miami                                167                           148                           +19

SLINGING THE PILL

Throughout his career, Hank Bachmeier has been one of the most consistent quarterbacks in the country. He has accumulated 9,326 career passing yards in his six seasons playing which would rank third all-time in Wake Forest history. Additionally among active quarterbacks in the country, his career yards ranks seventh in FBS:

Rank                                        School                                                     Passing Yards
1. Dillon Gabriel             Oregon                                                     15,488
2. Will Rogers                                     Washington                       12,826
3. Seth Henigan                                Memphis                              11,223
4. Grayson McCall       NC State                               10,427
5. Connor Bazelak       Bowling Green                                   9,728
6. Alan Bowman            Oklahoma State                              9,360
7. Hank Bachmeier   Wake Forest                    9,326
8. DJ Uiagalelei                                 Florida State                     8,784
9. Payton Thorne           Auburn                                   8,743
10. Jaxon Dart                                    Ole Miss                                8,486

Additionally in 40 career games played, Bachmeier has thrown for 55 career passing touchdowns which would rank fourth in Wake Forest program history and currently ranks 13th among active FBS quarterbacks and 10th among Power-4 quarterbacks:

Rank                                        School                                   GP          Passing TDs
1. Dillon Gabriel             Oregon                                   52            129
2. Will Rogers                                     Washington     45            99
3. Grayson McCall       NC State             44            91
4. Payton Thorne           Auburn                                   43            70
5. KJ Jefferson                                    UCF                         45            69
6. Dequan Finn                                 Baylor                    47            66
7. Graham Mertz           Florida                                    46            58
T8. DJ Uiagalelei            Florida State   50            58
T8. Jaxon Dart                  Ole Miss              34            58
T10. Hank Bachmeier               Wake Forest 40            55
T10. Tyler Van Dyke    Wisconsin         34            55
12. Cam Ward                                   Miami                    27            54
T13. Chandler Rogers                 Cal                           38            53
T13. Kurtis Rourke       Indiana                                   38            53
T13. Cam Rising            Utah                       29            53

Through two weeks this season, Bachmeier has been one of the best in the country at throwing the football, accumulating 666 passing yards in just two games. He ranks ninth in the country in that category:

Rank                                        School                                                     Passing Yards
1. Jaxon Dart                     Ole Miss                                795
2. Chandler Morris      North Texas                       737
3. Kyle McCord               Syracuse                              735
4. Behren Morton          Texas Tech                          701
T5. Shedeur Sanders Colorado                              689
T5. Cameron Ward      Miami                                      689
7. Haynes King                                  Georgia Tech                    687
8. Brendan Sorsby       Cincinnati                            681
9. Hank Bachmeier   Wake Forest                    666
10. Anthony Colandrea             Virginia                                   654

JD LIVING IN THE BACKFIELD

According to PFF, Jasheen Davis leads the nation in career quarterback pressures with 111 in his Wake Forest career including five in the season-opening win over NC A&T:

Rank                                        School                                   Pressures
T1. Jasheen Davis      Wake Forest 111
T1. Tyler Baron                                  Miami                    111
2. B.J. Green II                                    Colorado            110
4. Davin Vann                   NC State             104
5. Tyler Batty                     BYU                         103

Additionally, his 198 career tackle for loss yards are the most out of any active FBS player and his 40.5 tackles for loss is fourth among active FBS players.
Overall for the 2023 season, Jasheen Davis has recorded 49 tackles, ranking 10th nationally with 17.0 tackle-for-loss and ranking 25th nationally with 7.5 sacks.
- According to PFF, Davis was 14th nationally with 29 quarterback hurries.
Davis has now recorded at least 0.5 tackles-for-loss in the 21 of his last 22 games.
Over his last 18 games dating back to last season, Davis has collected 30.5 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks.
With 1.0 sack in the season-opener, Davis has now tallied 21.0 sacks in his career and that ranks fourth in program history:

Wake Forest Career Sacks
1. Mike McCrary (1989-92)                       30.0
2. Calvin Pace (1999-02)                            29.0
3. Duke Ejiofor (2014-17)                           23.5
4. Jasheen Davis (2020-Present)    21.0
5. Carlos Basham, Jr. (2017-20)                            20.5

Additionally, Davis has 39.5 tackles for loss and needs just 0.5 tackles for loss to move to eighth in program history:

Wake Forest Career Tackles for Loss
1. Calvin Pace (1999-02)                            54
2. Nikita Whitlock (2010-13)                   49
3. Mike McCrary (1989-92)                       46
4. Aaron Curry (2005-08)                           45.5
5. Fred Robbins (1996-98)                        44
6. Duke Ejiofor (2014-17)                           43
7. Marquel Lee (2013-16)                          42
8. Jasheen Davis (2019-Pres.)                              40.5
9. Nate Bolling (1998-01)                           40
10. Bryan Ray (1997-00)                             39
11. Kelvin Moses (1994-99)                     37

With 14.0 tackle for loss again in back-to-back season, Davis is in the top 10 in program history for a single season and ranked third in the Clawson era:

Tackles for Loss Since 2014
1 Marquel Lee (2016)                                    20.0
2 Boogie Basham (2019)                            18.0
T3 Jasheen Davis (2023)                           17.0
T3 Duke Ejiofor (2016)                                                    17.0
5 Duke Ejiofor (2017)                                     16.5
6 Rondell Bothroyd (2021)                        16.5
7 Jasheen Davis (2022)                                                14.0

CLIMBING THE CHARTS

In the season opener against NC A&T, Taylor Morin had a career night, posting a career-best 217 all-purpose yards including his first career punt return touchdown.
- Morin was the first Power-4 player to have a punt return touchdown in 2024. Additionally, it marked Wake Forest's first since Sept. 8, 2018 vs. Towson when Greg Dortch had a 60-yard scoring return.
- His 217 all-purpose yards were the sixth most in FBS for week one and marked the first Demon Deacon to finish with 200 or more APY since Matt Colburn against Louisville on Oct. 27, 2018.
Morin followed that up with another strong performance, pulling in seven catches for 91 yards against Virginia. He has now had six or more receptions in the last three games, dating back to last season and his 176 career receptions ranks 11th among active FBS players heading into week three.
After pulling in a career-best nine touchdowns during the 2022 season, which ranked 19th nationally and fourth in the ACC, Morin entered the 2023 season already ranked in the top 10 in school history in receiving touchdowns. He added to his total with a pair of touchdown receptions in the win over Old Dominion:

CAREER RECEIVING TOUCHDOWNS
1. A.T. Perry (2018-22)                                                    28
2. Ricky Proehl (1986-89)                          25
3. Todd Dixon (1990-93)                             22
4. Cam Serigne (2014-17)                         21
    Red O'Quinn (1946-49)                          21
    Chris Givens (2009-11)                           21
7. Desmond Clark (1995-98)                                    20
8. Kenny Duckett (1978-81)                    19
    Taylor Morin (2019-Pres.)                                    19

Additionally, another strong year in receptions has elevated Morin into the top 10 in school history in total receptions. His 176 currently ranks fifth in school history, holding the most receptions in the Dave Clawson era as he passed former teammate A.T. Perry and Cam Serigne Saturday against Virginia:

CAREER RECEPTION LEADERS
                                                      Years                     Receptions
1. Michael Campanaro             2010-13               229
2. Desmond Clark       1995-98               216
3. Ricky Proehl                                  1986-89               188
4. Jammie Deese         1996-99               184
5. Taylor Morin              2019-Pres.       176
6. Cam Serigne                                 2014-17               174
7. A.T. Perry                       2018-22               171
8. Chris Givens                                 2009-11               163
9. Thabiti Davis               1994-97               161
10. James Brim                                 1983-86               153

Going into the week, Morin ranks seventh in program history and second in the Clawson era in receiving yards just trailing his former teammate A.T. Perry:

CAREER RECEIVING YARDS LEADERS
                                                      Years                     Receptions
1. Ricky Proehl                                  1986-89               2,949
2. Desmond Clark       1995-98               2,834
3. A.T. Perry                       2018-22               2,662
4. Michael Campanaro             2010-13               2,506
5. Chris Givens                                 2009-11               2,473
6. Wayne Baumgardner            1978-81               2,431
7. Taylor Morin              2019-Pres.       2,409
8. Jammie Deese          1996-99               2,348
9. Todd Dixon                                     1990-93               2,300
10. Jaquarii Roberson                 2017-21               2,158

With the help of a strong opening game, Morin continues to solidify himself in the top five in career punt return yards

CAREER PUNT RETURN YARDS LEADERS
                                                      Years Receptions
1. George Coghill          1989-92               1,002
2. Fabien Davis               1999-02               722
3. Taylor Morin              2019-Pres.       657
4. Willie Idlette                                 2003-06               566
5. Tom Fetzer                    1946-48               552

RELIABLE HANDS

With his eight-yard reception in the first quarter against Virginia, redshirt junior wide receiver Donavon Greene extended his consecutive games with a catch streak to 27 games. That total ranks 14th in the nation entering bowl season and is 11th in the Power-4.

Player                                     Pos.      School                                   Streak
1. Jo'Quavious Marks                 RB           USC                         47
2. LaJohntay Wester WR         Colorado            39
Kyle Williams                    WR         Wash. St.           39
4. Brant Kuithe                                  TE            Utah                        34
Jaylin Noel                           WR         Iowa State         34
6. Brennan Presley      WR         Oklahoma St. 32
7. JP Richardson            WR         TCU                         29
Andrew Armstrong      WR         Arkansas            29
Derwin Burgess Jr         WR         Ga. Southern 29
10. Elijhah Badger        WR         Florida                                    28
Corey Dyches                  TE            Cal                           28
Raylen Sharpe                                   WR         Fresno St.          28
Jordan Moore                   WR         Duke                       28
14. Donavon Greene                 WR         Wake Forest 27
Kaedin Robinson           WR         App State           27
Isaac TeSlaa                      WR         Arkansas            27
Elijah Sarratt                     WR         Indiana                                   27

Greene has recorded at least one reception in all 27 career games entering the 2024 season and is coming off one of the best games of his career against Virginia, pulling in a career-high 11 passes for 166 yards and a touchdown.
In 2022, the Mount Airy, N.C. native finished second on the team in receiving yards with a career-high 642 yards while also leading the team in yards per reception with a 17.4 yard average in 2022.
He ended the 2022 season with a career-high six touchdown receptions including two multi-touchdown games against nationally-ranked opponents Clemson and North Carolina.
Greene have been some of the most explosive receivers in program history:

Career Avg. Per Reception (min. 75 Rec.)
1. Donavon Greene (2019-Pres.)     18.4 (93/1,711)
2. Jason Anderson (2001-04)                                   18.0 (115/2,066)
3. Wayne Baumgardner (1978-81)    17.24 (141/2,431)
4. Todd Dixon (1990-93)                             17.16 (134/2,300)
5. AT Perry (2018-22)                                     15.9 (171/2,662)

DC1

In the season opener against NC A&T, Demond Claiborne set the tone on the ground with a team-high 135 yards on 17 carries including scoring the first touchdown of the season. He continued his strong play in game two with 128 all-purpose yards (86 RUSH, 14 RCV, 28 KR).
This marked the sixth time in the last 11 games that he has gone for 100 or more all-purpose yards including a career-high 172 APR in the season opener:
- Sept. 7, 2024 vs. UVA - 128 APR (86 RUSH, 14, RCV, 28 KR)
- Aug. 29, 2024 vs. NC A&T - 172 APR (135 RUSH, 37 KR)
- Nov. 2, 2023 at Duke - 139 APR (81 RUSH, 58 KR)
- Oct. 21, 2023 vs. Pitt - 137 APR (96 RUSH, 22 RCV, 19 KR)
- Oct. 14, 2023 at Virginia Tech- 100 APR (4 RUSH, 96 KR)
- Sept. 9, 2023 vs. Vandy - 165 APR (165 RUSH)
Claiborne's 96-yard kickoff return in the second quarter against Virginia Tech was the first kickoff return touchdown for the Demon Deacons since Ja'Sir Taylor's 99-yard touchdown in a 42-10 victory over Old Dominion in 2021.
Additionally, it was one of the longest plays in the Clawson era, ranking second:

Rk           Play
1.             99-yd kick return by Ja'Sir Taylor vs. Old Dominion (9/3/21)
T2.          96-yd kick return by Demond Claiborne at Virginia Tech (10/14/23)
T2.          96-yd kick return by Donavon Greene vs. Campbell (10/2/20)
T2.          96-yd run by Kenneth Walker, III at Rice (9/6/19)
5.             83-yd INT by Traveon Redd at Army (10/23/21)

The Deacs have produced a rushing score in 37 of their last 41 games dating back to Dec. 12, 2020 at Louisville. The only games during this run without a rushing score was in Week 4 vs. Clemson in 2022, Week three at Old Dominion in 2023, week eight at Virginia Tech and week 11 vs. NC St.

Wake Forest Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Hank Bachmeier

Capone Blue

Demond Claiborne

Justin Cody

Jasheen Davis

Matthew Dennis

DeVonte Gordon

Donavon Greene

Cameron Hite

Michael Kern

Ivan Mora

Taylor Morin

Kevin Pointer

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