Duke Visits Wake Forest Looking To Become Bowl Eligible
Last Saturday David Cutcliffe and Duke got back in win column with their win over Georgia Tech on senior day at Brooks Field @Wallace Wade Stadium.
This weekend though Duke will look to get their sixth win of the season while also looking to become bowl eligible as they take the short bus ride down I-40 to take on Wake Forest at BB&T Field in Winston Salem.
Now in its 105th season of football, Duke travels to face Wake Forest in Winston-Salem on Saturday, November 26 ... Kickoff is set for 12:30 p.m.
• Coming off a 43-20 win over Georgia Tech, the Blue Devils stand at 5-6 overall and 2-5 in league action ... Wake Forest is 7-4 overall and 4-3 in ACC play after defeating No. 19 N.C. State last week at home, 30-24
• Duke leads the all-time series with Wake Forest, 57-38-2 ... The series dates back to a 32-0 Wake Forest win on March 29, 1889 ... The Demon Deacons won last year’s meeting, 24-14 in Durham, to snap Duke’s four-game winning streak in the series
• The Blue Devils have established a school single-season record with four interception returns for touchdowns in 2017 ... The previous standard of three was set in 1942, 1945 and 1949
• Duke has allowed 24 or fewer points in nine of 11 games this season ... The Blue Devils rank fourth in the ACC in scoring defense by allowing 20.55 points per contest ... The last season Duke yielded less than 21 points per game was in 1994 (20.58)
• LB Joe Giles-Harris is one of 18 semifinalists for the Chuck Bednarik Award, an honor presented annually to the nation’s top defensive player ... Through 11 games, Giles-Harris has compiled 110 tackles, 14.0 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, one INT, one caused fumble, four PBUs and seven quarterback pressures ... He ranks second in the ACC and tied for 12th nationally in tackles per game (10.00)
• After throwing interceptions on his first two career tosses (vs. Indiana in 2015 & Florida State in 2017), RB Shaun Wilson lofted a four-yard TD pass to TE Daniel Helm last week against Georgia Tech
• Dating back to the 2013 season, the Blue Devils are 33-22 (.600) in their last 55 regular season games
• Duke enters the Wake Forest game having won 15 of its last 26 (.577) road games dating back to 2013
• In the David Cutcliffe Era, the Blue Devils are 51-6 (.895) when leading or tied following three quarters of action
• RB Shaun Wilson ranks second in the conference in all-purpose yards per game (135.5) and sits just nine yards shy of becoming the first player in Duke history to post multiple seasons with 1,500+ all-purpose yards ... Wilson logged 1,620 all-purpose yards in 2016
• Duke WR T.J. Rahming is 44 receiving yards shy of becoming the 10th player in school history to reach the 2,000-yard plateau ... In 35 career games, Rahming has 167 catches for 1,956 yards
40+ & 500+ — Pass receptions and receiving yards for the third consecutive season for WR T.J. Rahming
7 — Consecutive possessions with points to open last week’s game against Georgia Tech
3 — Team-leading TD receptions for TE Davis Koppenhaver and RB Shaun Wilson this season
5 — Total Blue Devils with at least 7.5 stops for lost yardage on the season: Joe Giles-Harris (14.0), Tre Hornbuckle (9.5), Ben Humphreys (8.5), Mike Ramsay (8.5), & Victor Dimukeje (7.5)
6 — Duke record scoring runs of 50+ yards for RB Shaun Wilson ... The previous school standard of four was held by George Clark (1944-47) and Jay Wilkinson (1961-63)
6 — Duke players with one TD reception of 20+ yards: TE Davis Koppenhaver (28 yards vs. North Carolina), WR Johnathan Lloyd (24 yards vs. N.C. Central), WR T.J. Rahming (39 yards vs. Pitt), WR Chris Taylor (52 yards vs. Northwestern), RB Shaun Wilson (58 yards vs. Pitt) and WR Aaron Young (54 yards vs. N.C. Central)
4 — Duke all-time record of career interception returns for TDs for CB Bryon Fields Jr. ... The scores came against Tulane (2014), Pittsburgh (2016), N.C. Central (2017) & North Carolina (2017)
4 — Seasons with 3+ rushing TDs for RB Shaun Wilson, matching the school record previously set by Tom Davis (1941-42-43-44), George Clark (1944-45-46-47) and Jela Duncan (2012-13-15-16)
23.5 — Career TFL in 23 games for LB Joe Giles-Harris
5 — Total yards allowed by the Duke defense to Georgia Tech in the third quarter last week ... In the period, the Yellow Jackets ran a total of six plays and were forced to punt twice
20 & 10 — Daniel Jones is one of three QBs in Duke history to post 20+ passing TDs and 10+ rushing TDs in a career, joining Leo Hart (23 & 13; 1968-70) and Anthony Boone (38 & 16; 2011-14) ... In 23 career games, Jones has 26 passing TDs and 12 rushing TDs
2 — Players in Duke history — Brandon Connette & Daniel Jones — to record 300+ passing yards and 100+ rushing yards in a single game
Connette vs. Pitt (2013): 323 & 101
Jones vs. Northwestern (2017): 305 & 108 "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211686454
As for Duke who has a record of 5-6 they finally got back in the win column after dropping their last six games.
Duke quarterback Daniel Jones went 18-of-26 for 177 yards and accounted for three touchdowns, while senior Shaun Wilson amassed 152 all-purpose yards and also was responsible for three touchdowns to lead the Blue Devils to a 43-20 victory over Georgia Tech on Senior Day at Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211686179&DB_OEM_ID=4200
Brittain Brown paced Duke, which improves to 5-6 and stops a six-game losing streak, with 116 yards on the ground and one touchdown. The 116 yards were five shy of passing his career-high of 120 established against N.C. Central in the season opener. It was his second career 100-yard rushing game overall. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211686179&DB_OEM_ID=4200
Defensively, Duke was solid overall and exceptional in the second half. The Blue Devils held the Yellow Jackets to just five yards of offense in the third period and 83 in the final two periods overall. Joe Giles-Harris led the defensive effort with 14 tackles, while Marquis Waters had nine stops. "according tohttp://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211686179&DB_OEM_ID=4200
Duke compiled 500 yards of offense, including 319 on the ground, and outgained the Yellow Jackets 288-83 in the final two quarters. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211686179&DB_OEM_ID=4200
The first half was a seesaw affair with the Blue Devils and Yellow Jackets trading points and heading into halftime all square at 20-20. Georgia Tech scored three touchdowns, which included a missed extra point, while Duke notched two touchdowns and two field goals to reach 20 points."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211686179&DB_OEM_ID=4200
The Yellow Jackets dominated time of possession 19:03 to Duke’s 10:57, but it was key defensive plays for the Blue Devils that turned the tide in the second quarter and helped the squad rally for the 20-20 score after two quarters. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211686179&DB_OEM_ID=4200
The Yellow Jackets scored touchdowns on their opening two drives, going 75 yards in 12 plays and 73 yards in six plays, respectively, for a 14-3 lead early in the second quarter. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211686179&DB_OEM_ID=4200
The Blue Devils, meanwhile, settled for a field goal on their opening drive after making their way to the Georgia Tech 1-yard line. Wilson highlighted the drive with a 39-yard rush and added another yard to come up just short of the end zone before Georgia Tech forced a Jones fumble to make it 3rd-and-goal from the 12-yard line. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211686179&DB_OEM_ID=4200
Duke found the end zone on its second drive, responding to the Georgia Tech score, with a six-play 73-yard touchdown drive capped by an 11-yard pass from Jones to Wilson for six. Brown was outstanding on the ground on the drive, rushing for 57 yards to put the Blue Devils in scoring position. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211686179&DB_OEM_ID=4200
The Blue Devils turned defense into offense for their final two scores as Victor Dimukeje intercepted a TaQuon Marshall pass to set up a Duke field goal, cutting the deficit to 14-6 midway through the second period. The interception was the first of the rookie’s career as he finished with two solo tackles and a quarterback hurry. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211686179&DB_OEM_ID=4200
Redshirt senior Mike Ramsay made the big special teams play late in the third quarter, blocking Georgia Tech’s extra point attempt. Dimukeje picked the ball out of the air and ran to Duke’s 28-yard line to set up the ensuing 72-yard scoring drive. Jones accounted for 64 of the 72 yards, while Brown capped the drive with a 2-yard dash into the end zone to tie the game. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211686179&DB_OEM_ID=4200
The Blue Devils grabbed their first lead of the game on the opening possession of the third quarter. The nine-play drive featured a good balance of rushing from Wilson and throwing from Jones. Wilson ran for 23 yards and caught the 16-yard strike from Jones for the score. Jones went 4-of-5 for 46 yards through the air and added six more yards with his legs to help the Blue Devils go in front. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211686179&DB_OEM_ID=4200
Duke, after driving to the Georgia Tech 4-yard line, got knocked back on consecutive drives, but was still able to extend its lead to 30-20 on a 25-yard kick from Parker. Brown accounted for 42 of the yards on the 64-yard drive. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211686179&DB_OEM_ID=4200
The Blue Devil defense stood tall and the offense continued to roll in the fourth quarter. Duke added seven more points to its lead early in the fourth when Wilson found Daniel Helm in the end zone on a jump pass from the 4-yard line, pushing Duke’s lead to 36-20. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211686179&DB_OEM_ID=4200
Jones, the beneficiary of Duke’s defense forcing a turnover on downs, tacked on a touchdown in the fourth quarter to seal the victory with a 32-yard rush up the middle into the end zone for a 43-20 lead "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211686179&DB_OEM_ID=4200
As for Wake Forest last game, they edged NC State.
With the Demon Deacons (7-4, 4-3 ACC) holding on to a six-point lead with under two minutes to go, NC State (7-4, 5-2 ACC) had a sure touchdown before fumbling into the end zone with Wake Forest recovering. On the final play of the game, the Deacon defense did it again with an interception to seal the victory. "according to http://www.wakeforestsports.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/111817aaa.html
Quarterback John Wolford passed for three touchdowns and went 19-for-28 and 247 yards passing. Wolford also rushed for 31 yards putting him over 1,000 yards rushing in his career, making him just the second quarterback in school history to cross that mark. "according to http://www.wakeforestsports.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/111817aaa.html
Wide receiver Tabari Hines had a career night with three touchdowns and 139 yards receiving. Matt Colburn added 38 yards rushing with a touchdown. "according to http://www.wakeforestsports.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/111817aaa.html
Cameron Glenn led the defense with 11 total tackles including seven solo stops. Demetrius Kemp forced two fumbles while Essang Bassey had the game-clinching interception. "according to http://www.wakeforestsports.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/111817aaa.html
Colburn put Wake Forest up first on an 11-yard burst for the end zone. Wake Forest needed only five plays over 1:32 on their first drive of the game. Hines had two catches for 48 yards while Colburn rushed for the other three plays of the drive. "according to http://www.wakeforestsports.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/111817aaa.html
NC State answered on its next drive with an 11-yard touchdown from Jaylen Samuels. "according to http://www.wakeforestsports.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/111817aaa.html
Wake Forest responded with a 21-yard touchdown pass from Wolford to Hines that capped off nine plays in less than three minutes. The Deacons held a 14-7 lead at the end of the first quarter. "according to http://www.wakeforestsports.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/111817aaa.html
Midway through the second quarter, the Wolfpack knotted the score at 14-14 after a one-yard touchdown run from Reggie Gallaspy. "according to http://www.wakeforestsports.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/111817aaa.html
In the following drive, Wake Forest grinded out nine plays over 75 yards with Hines catching a seven-yard touchdown pass from Wolford. Arkeem Byrd rushed for 21 yards on the drive including a fourth-down conversion to keep Wake Forest on the field. Wolford also had a key 11-yard rush before the touchdown. "according to http://www.wakeforestsports.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/111817aaa.html
At halftime, Wake Forest led 21-14. "according to http://www.wakeforestsports.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/111817aaa.html
NC State stopped Wake Forest on its first possession of the second half and tied the game up with a 20-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ryan Finley to Emeka Emezie. "according to http://www.wakeforestsports.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/111817aaa.html
Late in the third quarter, the Deacons took a 24-21 lead on a 36-yard field goal from Mike Weaver. Wake Forest gained a huge chunk of yards on a 41-yard highlight catch from Chuck Wade. The end of the third quarter ended with Wake Forest up 24-21. "according to http://www.wakeforestsports.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/111817aaa.html
With NC State knocking on the door of the end zone early in the fourth quarter, Wake Forest stopped the Wolfpack in the red zone. A 25-yard field goal from NC State tied the game at 24-24. "according to http://www.wakeforestsports.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/111817aaa.html
Wake Forest retook the lead with an 18-yard touchdown pass from Wolford to Hines. The Deacons needed to convert a fourth down which was caught by Wade to extend the possession. Hines made an over-the-shoulder catch in the corner of the end zone for the score but Weaver's PAT was blocked. Wake Forest led 30-24 midway through the final frame. "according to http://www.wakeforestsports.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/111817aaa.html
In the waning moments of the fourth quarter, the Wolfpack methodically moved down the field into the Wake Forest side of the field. Just under the two-minute mark, Finley passed to Emezie who shed a couple tackles on the way to the end zone but fumbled just before the goal line with the Deacons recovering for the touchback. "according to http://www.wakeforestsports.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/111817aaa.html
Kemp forced the fumble and recovered it in the end zone in one of the most dramatic plays of the season. "according to http://www.wakeforestsports.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/111817aaa.html
NC State had a final attempt at the end zone in the final seconds of the game but Finley's pass was intercepted by Bassey. Wake Forest won the game with a final of 30-24. "according to http://www.wakeforestsports.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/111817aaa.html
Wolford Notes
• Quarterback John Wolford continued to pile up impressive numbers in his senior campaign. Wolford crossed the 8,000 career passing yards mark with 247 yards on Saturday night vs. NC State.
• Wolford extended his school record lead in touchdowns responsible in a career with 72 and touchdowns responsible in a season with 33.
• Last week, Wolford led the ACC in pass efficiency with 162.8 and finished Saturday's game with a rating 170.2.
• Wolford is in striking distance of Riley Skinner's single-season touchdown record. Skinner has the record of 26 in 2009 with Wolford at 23 with one game remaining in the regular season. Wolford also trails Skinner in all-time wins as a starting quarterback. He is now in sole possession of second place in the all-time win list with 19 behind Skinner's 31. "according to http://www.wakeforestsports.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/111817aaa.html
Offense Makes History
• The 2017 Wake Forest offense is now the highest-scoring team in school history. With 30 points against the Wolfpack, the Deacons now have scored 388 points this season which passes the 2007 team who scored 362 points. "according to http://www.wakeforestsports.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/111817aaa.html
Hines Shines
• Wide receiver Tabari Hines picked up right where he left off at Syracuse with his first career back-to-back 100-yard receiving performance. With receiver Greg Dortch out with an injury, Hines had three touchdowns on Saturday with a career-high 139 yards receiving. It was his third 100-yard receiving game of the season and fourth of his career. It was also the first multiple touchdown game of his career. "according to http://www.wakeforestsports.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/111817aaa.html
Senior Day
• Wake Forest honored its 18 members of the team who are in their final season of competition. The honored seniors were Grant Dawson, Thomas Dillon, Kyle Driscoll, Wendell Dunn, Duke Ejiofor, Cedric Jiles, Kalin McNeil, Chris Pearcey, Devin Pike, Isaiah Robinson, Cam Serigne, Rashawn Shaw, A'Lique Terry, Mike Weaver, Jaboree Williams, Garrett Wilson, John Wolford, and Deon Young. "according to http://www.wakeforestsports.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/111817aaa.html
Red Zone Efficiency
• The ACC's top red zone offense continued to click on Saturday as Wake Forest converted 4-for4 trips to the red zone. Wake Forest has converted 44-of-47 trips inside the 20-yard line into points this season.
• Coming into the game, Wake Forest was ranked 12th nationally in red zone offense, converting 93.0 percent of chances. "according to http://www.wakeforestsports.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/111817aaa.html
Game Notes
• Wake Forest has won seven games in the regular season for the first time since 2008 and has beaten a top-25 team at BB&T Field for the first time since a 35-30 win over Florida State in 2011.
• It was the first top-25 win during the regular season for the first time in the Dave Clawson-era.
• NC State had 41:07 minutes of possession compared to 18:53 for Wake Forest. "according to http://www.wakeforestsports.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/111817aaa.html
Kick-off is set for 12:30pm. The game will be televised on the Regional Sports Network. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211686454