By the Numbers and Notes: Virginia

9/3/2024 11:47:00 AM | Football

Here are some key numbers and notes heading into Saturday night’s game presented by Stickland Brothers and Allegacy Federal Credit Union.

By: Andrew Kovar

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Wake Forest football team dips into ACC play for the first time in 2024 on Saturday, Sept. 7 at 7:00 p.m. against Virginia.

The Gold Rush Game presented by Stickland Brothers and Allegacy Federal Credit Union has less than 2,000 tickets remaining. Ensure your seat for the first ACC game of the season.

Before the Deacs open their season against the Cavaliers, below are some numbers and notes on the game:

By the Numbers

7 - The Demon Deacons have won seven of their last eight games against Virginia schools dating back to the 2020 season.
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.
99 - Wake Forest's 99 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 Era Home Openers

DEACS SEASON OPENERS: Over the last 14 years, Wake Forest is 11-3 in season openers including a 9-2 record in head coach Dave Clawson's tenure. Additionally, The Deacs hold a mark of 10-1 in home openers in the Clawson era.
SEPTEMBER STRONG: Since the start of the 2016 season, Wake Forest holds a record of 23-7 in September. This includes nine of 10 seasons in the Dave Clawson era with multiple wins in the month, the most recent coming in 2023 when the Deacs went 2-1 with the lone loss coming to Georgia Tech.

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 176-of-215 field goal attempts in the last 11 years (81.9 pct.) with the next closest being Utah at 81.4 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          108      126      85.7
2. UNLV 84        100      84.0
3. Miami (OH)           101      121      83.5
4. NC State                117      141      83.0
5. Boise St.                107      129      82.9

This season, Matthew Dennis is 1-of-1 FG and was a perfect 6-of-6 in extra points. Over the course of his career, Dennis is 27-of-35 FG.
Ivan Mora is coming off his best game in his collegiate career, finishing the game with a 57.7 punt average including a career-best 66-yd boot, the fourth-longest punt in FBS in week one.
- With the help of punter Mora, the Deacs were elite in punt coverage in 2023, ranking 20th nationally with 4.44 yards allowed on opponent attempts. His 21 punts inside of the 20 also ranked 19th nationally in 2023.

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 24-7 (.774) 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 77.4 percent win rate ranks third in the ACC during that time period:

Rank   School              Wins    Losses Pct.
1          Clemson           31        2          93.9
2          NC State           28        7          80.0
3          Wake Forest    24        7          77.4
4          Louisville         24        9          72.7
5          N Carolina        23        9          71.9
6          Florida St          22        10        68.8
7          Pittsburgh         22        12        64.7
8          Virginia            21        12        63.6
T8        Miami              20        12        62.5
10        Va. Tech           19        12        61.3

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 is one of 21 schools nationally to throw for more than 11,000 yards in that time and ranks third in the ACC:

Teams                         GP       Passing Yds
1 SMU 41        12,202
2 North Carolina          41        11,640
3 Wake Forest 40        11,046
4 Pitt                            40        10,580
5 Miami                       38        10,461

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 99 passing touchdowns are the ninth most in the country:

Teams                        GP       Passing TDs
1 WKU 41        144
2 Ohio State                 40        117
3 SMU              41        112
4 Alabama                    43        111
5 USC                          40        102
T6 LSU                        41        101
T6 Georgia                   45        101
T6 Oregon                    42        101
9 Wake Forest 40        99
T10 Houston                40        97
T10 Oklahoma              40        97
T10 Utah State             41        97

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 -- 85
- NC State- 56
- Wake Forest -- 54
- Miami- 52
- Pitt- 51
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 +31 turnover margin. This ranks 21st nationally over that time nationally and second in the ACC:

Rank                           TO Gained      TO Lost           TO Margin
1. Clemson                   193                  155                  +38
2. Wake Forest            167                  136                  +31
3. Cal                           160                   135                  +25
4. SMU                        162                   141                  +21
5. Boston College          165                  148                  +17

SLINGING THE PILL

Throughout his career, Hank Bachmeier has been one of the most consistent quarterbacks in the country. He has accumulated 8,926 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 sixth:

Rank                           School                          Passing Yards
1. Dillon Gabriel           Oregon                         15,245
2. Will Rogers               Washington                  12,565
3. Seth Henigan            Memphis                      11,072
4. Grayson McCall        NC State                       10,323
5. Connor Bazelak         Bowling Green             9,469
6. Alan Bowman           Oklahoma State            9,056
7. Hank Bachmeier      Wake Forest                8,926
8. DJ Uiagalelei            Florida State                 8,784
9. Payton Thorne           Auburn                         8,578
10. Graham Mertz         Florida                         8,399

Additionally in 39 career games played, Bachmeier has thrown for 54 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             51        127
2. Will Rogers               Washington      44        95
3. Grayson McCall        NC State           43        91
T4. KJ Jefferson            UCF                 45        69
T4. Payton Thorne        Auburn             43        69
6. Dequan Finn             Baylor              46        65
T7. Graham Mertz         Florida             46        58
T7. DJ Uiagalelei          Florida State     50        58
9. Jaxon Dart                Ole Miss           33        57
T10. Hank Bachmeier Wake Forest    39        54
T10. Tyler Van Dyke    Wisconsin         33        54
11. Chandler Rogers      Cal                   37        53
T12. Alan Bowman       Oklahoma St.    40        52
T12. Casey Thompson Oklahoma         33        52

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
1. Jasheen Davis          Wake Forest    111
2. B.J. Green II             Colorado          108
3. Tyler Baron               Miami              107
4. Davin Vann              NC State           104
5. Tyler Batty                BYU                102

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. Nate Bolling (1998-01)                      40
9. Jasheen Davis (2019-Pres.)              39.5
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.
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 169 currently ranks seventh in school history, leaving him just two shy of the sixth and is the third highest total in the Clawson era:

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. Cam Serigne             2014-17            174
6. A.T. Perry                 2018-22            171
7. Taylor Morin           2019-Pres.        169
7. Chris Givens             2009-11            163
8. Thabiti Davis            1994-97            161
10. James Brim             1983-86            153

Going into the week, Morin ranks eighth 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. Jammie Deese           1996-99            2,348
9. Taylor Morin           2019-Pres.        2,318
8. 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.        658
4. Willie Idlette                         2003-06            566
5. Tom Fetzer               1946-48            552

RELIABLE HANDS

With his 27-yard reception in the second quarter of the Gasparilla Bowl, redshirt junior wide receiver Donavon Greene extended his consecutive games with a catch streak to 25 games. That total ranks 13th in the nation entering bowl season and is 11th in the Power-4.

Player                          Pos.      School              Streak
1. Jo'Quavious Marks   RB       USC                 46
2. LaJohntay Wester      WR      Colorado          38
Kyle Williams              WR      Wash. St.          38
4. Brant Kuithe             TE        Utah                 33
Jaylin Noel                   WR      Iowa State        33
6. Brennan Presley        WR      Oklahoma St.    31
7. JP Richardson           WR      TCU                 28
Derwin Burgess Jr         WR      Ga. Southern     28
9. Elijhah Badger          WR      Florida             27
Corey Dyches               TE        Cal                   27
Barion Brown               WR      Kentucky          27
12. Donavon Greene    WR      Wake Forest    26
Kaedin Robinson          WR      App State         26
Isaac TeSlaa                 WR      Arkansas          26
Elijah Sarratt                 WR      Indiana             26

Greene has recorded at least one reception in all 26 career games entering the 2023 season and is coming off the best season of his collegiate career.
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.)          18.8 (82/1,545)
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. This marked the fifth time in the last 10 games that he has gone for 100 or more all-purpose yards including a career-high 172 APR in the season opener:
- 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 36 of their last 40 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.