Deacs Grab 42-10 Victory Over Western Carolina

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – In the second game of the head coach Jake Dickert era, the Wake Forest Football team defeated Western Carolina, 42-10, in its annual Gold Rush Game at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

This game, which included two lengthy severe weather delays, was sponsored by Allegacy Federal Credit Union and Strickland Brothers Oil Change and it served as Wake Forest's Gold Rush Childhood Cancer Awareness Game. Additionally, Saturday's game was the highlight of Wake Forest Football's Alumni Weekend where legendary former head coach and 2006 ACC Champion Jim Grobe (2001-13) served as an honorary captain and earlier this week all living former head coaches came together for a special event.

In addition to the pageantry and atmosphere, the Deacs recorded nearly 550 yards of total offense, led by 193 rushing yards and three touchdowns from senior running back Demond Claiborne.

In the air, two different Deacs hauled in receiving touchdowns as redshirt senior quarterback Robby Ashford passed for 227 yards and a touchdown while also recording 66 yards on the ground with an additional score. Sophomore quarterback Deshawn Purdie also made his season debut connecting on 3-of-4 attempts for a touchdown as well.

Seven different wideouts recorded receptions, led by an explosive performance from redshirt freshman Chris Barnes who hauled in six catches for 149 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, the Deacs limited the Catamounts to just 34 yards on the ground and combined for 14 tackles for loss. Redshirt sophomore defensive back Davaughn Patterson, redshirt senior defensive back Lardarius Webb Jr. and junior linebacker Aiden Hall each recorded a team-high seven tackles while junior defensive back Zamari Stevenson snared his first interception of the season.

Wake Forest returns to action on Thursday, hosting NC State in a nationally-televised Big Four showdown from Allegacy Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. and the contest will be live on ESPN. Prior to the game, ESPN's SportsCenter show will air live from Hearn Plaza at 2 p.m.

HOW IT HAPPENED

After trading punts on each team's first two possessions, the Demon Deacons took the lead as Ashford called his own number on a 41-yard touchdown run with 5:57 left in the first quarter.
- Ashford accounted for all 62 yards on the drive, including a 21-yard completion to wide receiver Sterling Berkhalter to set up the touchdown.
Following another stop on defense, the Deacs extended their lead as Claiborne recorded his first touchdown of the season on a 33-yard run, making it 13-0.
- Ashford connected with Barnes for 25 yards for the lone completion of the drive.
On the next play from scrimmage, the Demon Deacon defense forced its first turnover of the season on an interception by Stevenson.
Claiborne added his second touchdown of the afternoon on the first play of the ensuing Wake Forest drive with a 27-yard rushing touchdown.
- The Deacs failed to convert on the two-point attempt as the score remained 19-0.
Wake Forest made it 21-0 right before the end of the first quarter after a bad snap from the Western Carolina center rolled out of the back of the endzone.
The Catamounts added a field goal with 5:46 left in the second quarter to make it 21-3.
- On third down before the field goal, redshirt senior Dylan Hazen and junior Aiden Hall combined to stop the Western Carolina running back in the backfield.
The Demon Deacon defense held strong late in the half as they stopped Western Carolina short on a fourth down play deep in Wake Forest territory.
- On the third down prior to the stop, junior Dallas Afalava and redshirt freshman Frank Cusano combined in the backfield for the Deacs' third sack of the afternoon.
After the defense forced a punt to open up the second half, the Demon Deacons added another quick score as Claiborne recorded a career-high third rushing touchdown of the game, taking it 85 yards to the endzone to make it 28-3 with 12:29 left in the third quarter.
- The 85-yard sprint marked the longest rush in Claiborne's career.
Wake Forest extended their lead to 35-3 following a 51-yard pass from Ashford to redshirt senior Sterling Berkhalter.
- Ashford connected with Barnes earlier on the drive for a 27-yard reception.
The Wake Forest defense added their second takeaway of the day on the next Western Carolina drive, as redshirt senior Quincy Bryant recovered his own forced fumble.
After entering the game in the third quarter, sophomore quarterback Deshawn Purdie connected with redshirt freshman Jeremiah Melvin on a 27-yard strike to make it 42-3.
While Western Carolina would make it 42-10 in a shortened fourth quarter, the Demon Deacons ran the clock out to secure their second victory of the season.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Wide receiver Chris Barnes lit up the box score with 149 yards on six catches.
- The redshirt freshman finished the night with 81 yards after the catch.
- Barnes finished the game with four of the Demon Deacons 15 explosive plays in the game, accounting for 142 of his 175 yards.
  - 26-yard kick return by Chris Barnes (1st Quarter)
  - 25-yard reception by Chris Barnes from Robby Ashford (1st Quarter)
  - 64-yard reception by Chris Barnes from Robby Ashford (2nd Quarter)
  - 27-yard reception by Chris Barnes from Robby Ashford (3rd Quarter)

STAGGERING STATISTICS

Through two games, Wake Forest has allowed just 19 points, this is the fewest points allowed in the first two games by a Demon Deacon team since 2017 when the Deacs allowed just 17 points combined in wins over Presbyterian and Boston College.
- Additionally, the marks the fewest points allowed through the first two games by a first-year head coach at Wake Forest since 1987 when Bill Dooley's team gave up just three points combined against Richmond and NC State.
Wake Forest allowed just 238 yards, the third-fewest by a head coach Jake Dickert-led defense.
- Rk. Yards Allowed Against Date

1.         200                              Washington                  11/26/21
2.         217                              Stanford                       11/4/23
3.         238                              Western Carolina         9/6/25
4.         249                              Colorado State              9/17/22
5.         255                              Colorado                      11/17/23

Additionally, the Demon Deacons allowed just 34 rushing yards on Saturday, the third-fewest by a Dickert-led defense.
- Rk. Yards Allowed Against Date

1.         10                                Washington                  11/26/21
2.         32                                California                     10/1/22
3.         34                                Western Carolina         9/6/25
T4.       37                                Colorado State              9/17/22
T4.       37                                Colorado State              9/2/23

The Demon Deacons finished with 14 tackles for loss, marking the most by a Dickert-led defense.

Rk. Total TFL Against Date

1.         14                    Western Carolina         9/6/25
T2.    12                    Colorado State              9/17/22
T2.       12                    Idaho                            12/31/21
4.         11                    Wyoming                     11/30/24
T5.       9                      UCLA                          10/7/23
T5.       9                      Colorado                      11/17/23

Senior running back Demond Claiborne finished the night with 193 yards on 19 carries. His 19.3 yards per carry marks the third highest recorded by a Demon Deacon in program history:
1. Tony Gallovich vs. William Jewell (9/21/40)       25.4 (7/178)
2. Bill Barnes vs. William & Mary (9/22/56)        22.1 (8/177)
3. Demond Claiborne vs. Western Carolina (9/6/25)   19.3 (10/193)
3. Tarence Williams vs. Ga Tech (10/14/00)       15.7 (7/110)
4. Kenneth Moore vs. Nebraska (9/8/07)        14.9 (8/116)

FROM COACH DICKERT
"First of all, I want to thank any and all fans who lasted that marathon. That was a first for me; I've never been in this type of situation. I told the team this game was a credit to their focus, attention to detail and willingness to want to go out there and get better. Overall, there were some really good things today. There was so much to clean up and we wanted to improve from Week 1 to Week 2. We can't keep coming in here week after week and saying, 'We have to get rid of the missed assignments, we have to take care of the football.' We have to make sure we're going out and applying those things, and it starts in practice, so I'm proud of our team. Everybody knows what's going to happen here in five days, so we'll get back in this locker room and get back at it. Next week we have a Big Four opponent coming here, which is a big deal for ourselves, our institution and our league."

UP NEXT
The Demon Deacons will continue in home action this Thursday, hosting NC State in a nationally-televised Big Four showdown from Allegacy Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 and the contest will be live on ESPN. Tickets can be purchased by clicking here.

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Team Stats

Robby Ashford

Deshawn Purdie

Players Mentioned

Dallas Afalava

Robby Ashford

Chris Barnes

Sterling Berkhalter

Quincy Bryant

Demond Claiborne

Frank Cusano

Aiden Hall

Dylan Hazen

Jeremiah Melvin

Davaughn Patterson

Deshawn Purdie

Zamari Stevenson

Lardarius Webb Jr.

Wake Forest Athletics