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Morgan Kane's 111.1 rushing
yards per game average
currently ranks third in
the ACC.
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Football Hosts Clemson Saturday
Deacons look for second conference win of the season.
Oct. 25, 1999
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The Wake Forest football team looks to pick up its
second conference win of the year as the Demon Deacons host Clemson in an
ACC matchup on Saturday, Oct. 30, at 12:00 noon in Groves Stadium. The
Deacons are coming off a 47-3 lashing of UAB, while Clemson took top-ranked
Florida State down to the wire before falling 17-14. A quick look at both
teams:
WAKE FOREST CLEMSON
Winston-Salem, NC Location Clemson, SC
3,836 Enrollment 16,397
Atlantic Coast Conference Atlantic Coast
Jim Caldwell Head Coach Tommy Bowden
Iowa '77 Alma Mater West Virginia '77
21-52 (7th yr) Record at School 4-3 (1st yr)
21-52 (7th yr) Career Record 22-7 (3rd yr)
3-8, 2-6 ACC 1998 Record 3-8, 1-7 ACC
Multiple Offensive System Multiple
Multiple Defensive System 4-3
15 (6/8/1) Starters Returning 11 (5/6/0)
50 (23/25/2) Lettermen Returning 41 (18/23/0)
Last Week in Review
Ben Sankey became only the second quarterback in Wake Forest history to
rush for 100 yards and pass for 100 yards in the same game as Wake Forest
wallopped UAB, 47-3, on Homecoming Day. Sankey carried the ball 12 times
for 108 yards and one TD and completed 9-of-16 passes for 132 yards and a
TD to account for 61 percent of the Deacs' total offense (240 of 396
yards). The 44-point margin of victory was the largest for the Deacons
since a 66-21 throttling of Virginia in 1975, while the 47 points was the
most scored by a Jim Caldwell team and the most since 1991.
Wake held UAB to just 63 yards of offense in the first half, including just
two rushing yards on 16 carries. WFU's offense took advantage of great
field position early on, rolling up a 24-0 lead in the game's first 11:32.
The Deacs struck quickly as Ed Kargbookorogie blocked a UAB punt on the
third play of the game, setting up a 41-yard Matt Burdick field goal.
Three plays later, Tehran Carpenter intercepted a Daniel Dixon pass at the
UAB 36 to set up a 2-yard TD run by Morgan Kane. The Blazers went
three-and-out again, and a 14-yard punt return by Reggie Austin gave the
Deacs the ball at the UAB 40. Four plays later, Sankey hit Jammie Deese in
the corner of the endzone with a 29-yard strike. Another three-and-out by
UAB put the Deacs at the Blazer 49, and four plays later, Kane rambled 39
yards into the endzone for a 24-0 lead.
UAB's lone score came late in the
first quarter when Cedric Thatch returned a kickoff 85 yards of the
endzone, and a facemask penalty on the Deacs gave the Blazers
first-and-goal at the WFU 7. The defense forced UAB to settle for a field
goal, though. Wake made it 27-3 before the half when Burdick nailed his
37th career field goal from 26 yards out, tying Wilson Hoyle for the
school's all-time record. A 31-yard pass from Sankey to Deese in the
second half set up Kane's third TD run, while Sankey's 64-yard quarterback
keeper led to his own 3-yard TD run to make it 41-3. Tyler Ashe then
nailed his first two career field goals late in the fourth quarter, giving
Wake its biggest blowout in nearly a quarter-century.
The Wake Forest defense was dominating, yielding just 165 yards to UAB,
allowing the Blazers to convert only 3-of-16 third downs, forcing four
turnovers and recording four sacks. Offensively, the Deacs netted 5.7
yards per play as they rolled up 396 yards of offense, their second-highest
total of the year.
The Series With Clemson
Wake Forest snapped a four-game losing streak vs. the Tigers with a 29-19
decision in Death Valley last fall, but the Deacs still trail in the
overall series, 49-14-1. Clemson has won 19 of the last 22 meetings;
Wake's only other victories since 1976 came in 1992 (an 18-15 decision in
Groves) and 1993 (a 20-16 win in Death Valley - Jim Caldwell's first ACC
win). The Tigers are 9-3-1 in Groves Stadium since it opened in 1968, and
Clemson has won seven of the last eight here.
Scouting the Tigers
Clemson stands at 4-3 overall and 3-2 in the ACC after defeating Virginia
(33-14), North Carolina (31-20) and Maryland (42-30), and losing to
Marshall (13-10), Virginia Tech (31-11), NC State (35-31) and Florida State
(17-14). Tiger coach Tommy Bowden put a scare into his father's top-ranked
team last week, but the Seminoles rallied from a 14-3 halftime deficit to
win. Clemson's bid for overtime failed when Tony Lazzara's 42-yard field
goal attempt fell short with 1:57 to go.
Through seven games, the Tigers
are averaging 376.4 yards of total offense and yielding 355.1 yards to
opponents. Clemson boasts the ACC's top passing defense, holding opposing
QBs to just a 103.2 efficiency rating, picking off 11 passes and netting a
league-high 26 sacks.
Woodrow Dantzler has taken over the starting QB job
since Brandon Streeter was lost for the year with a broken collarbone; he
has completed 59-of-109 passes for 828 yards and four TDs. Dantzler's
favorite target is WR Rod Gardner, who averages 90.7 receiving yards per
game. On the ground, TB Travis Zachery averages 70.6 yards per game and
has seven TDs. Defensively, LB Keith Adams has 107 tackles on the year
(15.3 per game), including 20 tackles for loss and seven sacks.
LAST MEETING
WAKE FOREST 29, CLEMSON 19
September 26, 1998 * Memorial Stadium (60,000)
CLEMSON, S.C. - The Demon Deacons had won in Clemson's "Death Valley" only
once since 1961, but past results didn't matter as Wake Forest handed the
Tigers a 29-19 defeat. The win marked the first time in 11 seasons that
Wake had opened its ACC schedule with a victory.
The contest included big plays by both teams and 10 turnovers, seven by
Clemson. It was the Deacons, though, who hurt themselves early, losing
three fumbles during the first half - all in Tiger territory. Those
giveaways prevented the Deacs from adding to a 12-7 halftime advantage that
actually was built with their defense. Mark Makovec gave WFU a 10-7 lead
by returning an interception 36 yards for a touchdown with 0:17 left in the
first quarter. The Deacon "D" added a safety in the second period when
Clemson was called for holding in its own endzone.
Wake appeared to take command of the game in the third period. Makovec
picked off his second pass to set up a 48-yard Brian Kuklick TD pass to
Marvin Chalmers. The Deacons added another quick score moments later when
Kuklick connected with Desmond Clark on a 56-yard strike.
Clemson rallied from that 26-7 deficit behind the passing of Brandon
Streeter, who threw for 319 yards. His 58-yard scoring pass to Brian
Wofford brought the Tigers to within 10 points (29-19) with 6:42 remaining.
A fumble recovery by Dustin Lyman and an interception by David Moore
stopped the home team's final two drives to clinch the win.
Kuklick went over the 250-yard mark passing (251) for the second game in a
row, while Morgan Kane took over the ACC lead in rushing by gaining 113
yards on a career-high 35 carries. Lyman led all Deacon tacklers with 10,
but eight other players contributed four-or-more stops.
SCORING SUMMARY
1st 2nd 3rd 4th Total
Wake Forest 10 2 14 3 29
Clemson 7 0 0 12 19
WFU - Burdick 43-yard field goal, 10:38 in 1st
CLEM - Witherspoon 4-yard run (Richardson kick), 10:01 in 1st
WFU - Makovec 36-yard interception return (Burdick kick), 0:17 in 1st
WFU - Safety, 7:17 in 2nd
WFU - Chalmers 48-yard pass from Kuklick (Burdick kick), 13:49 in 3rd
WFU - Clark 56-yard pass from Kuklick (Burdick kick), 7:02 in 3rd
CLEM - Zachery 14-yard run (pass failed), 10:50 in 4th
WFU - Burdick 21-yard field goal, 7:47 in 4th
CLEM - Worrod 58-yard pass from Streeter (pass failed), 6:42 in 4th
WFU STATISTICS CLEM
16 First Downs 13
350 Rushing Attempts 26
122 Net Yards Rushing 56
24 Passes Attempted 39
14 Passes Completed 21
0 Had Intercepted 4
251 Net Yards Passing 350
373 Total Offense 406
9-43.2 Punts-Average 6-42.5
3-3 Fumbles-Lost 4-3
10-92 Penalties-Yards 6-57
34:12 Time of Possession 25:48
TOP INDIVIDUALS
RUSHING - (WF) Kane 35-113
(CU) Zachery 9-49-1
PASSING - (WF) Kuklick 14-24-251-2td
(CU) Streeter 18-32-319-1td-4int
RECEIVING - (WF) Clark 5-110-1, Deese 3-43
(CU) Lawyer 5-89, Wofford 3-71-1
Deacon Injury Report
Senior RB Kito Gary (broken arm): out; junior OT Marlon Curtis (shoulder):
out; redshirt freshman WR/KR Fabian Davis (knee-MCL sprain): doubtful;
senior DT Rufus Taylor (ankle sprain): doubtful; senior FS DaLawn Parrish
(ankle/foot sprain): questionable; junior LB Nick Bender (foot sprain):
questionable; sophomore DB Michael Clinkscale (fractured hand):
questionable; sophomore S Tehran Carpenter (foot sprain): questionable;
sophomore LB Marquis Hopkins (concussion): questionable; redshirt freshman
FB Ovie Mughelli (shoulder): probable; sophomore WR/KR John Stone (toe
strain): probable; senior OG Sam Settar (sprained knee/ankle): probable;
junior DE Bray Ray (knee-MCL sprain): probable.
Head Coach Jim Caldwell
Jim Caldwell is in his seventh season as head coach at Wake Forest with a
career record of 21-52. A native of Beloit, Wis., Caldwell graduated from
Iowa in 1977 with a degree in English literature and played four years for
the Hawkeyes as a defensive back. His career includes assistant coaching
stints at Iowa (1977), Southern Illinois (1978-80), Northwestern (1981),
Colorado (1982-84), Louisville (1985) and Penn State (1986-92). He
presently is chairman of the American Football Coaches Association Ethics
Committee and is a member of the AFCA's Board of Trustees.
Caldwell Calls the Shots
Seventh-year head coach Jim Caldwell has taken on a new role this fall as
the team's offensive coordinator. Caldwell now calls the plays from the
sidelines and scripts the play chart for each game. His explanation: "I'm
doing it primarily because I want to have more influence on how we go about
trying to win." Quarterbacks coach Jamie Barresi and offensive line coach
George Belu assist Caldwell with the day-to-day duties assigned to the
offensive coordinator.
A Man of His Word
When coach Jim Caldwell promised a greater commitment to the running game
this year, he certainly meant it. Wake Forest ranked last in the nation in
rushing last year, managing only 65.4 yards per game.
Through the first
seven games of '99, however, Wake is averaging 186.4 yards per game -
third-best in the ACC. It marks the highest per-game rushing average by
the Deacs since 1971 (when they netted a school-record 304.0 ypg). The
Deacs have run the ball 356 times this fall to 126 passes, a 74 percent
average. In the season opener, Wake gained 320 yards on the ground vs.
Army - the most by a WFU team since a 396-yard effort vs. Maryland in 1993.
WFU also piled up 266 ground yards vs. NC State and 257 vs. UAB. Seven
games into the season, the Deacs have 1,305 rushing yards, more than the
team's season totals in each of the last five years.
A Record Improvement
Should the Deacs maintain their current pace on the ground, it would mark
the greatest single-season improvement in rushing offense ever by an ACC
team. Wake's jump from a 65.4 yards-per-game rushing average last year to
a 186.4 average this year marks a +121.0 margin of improvement. The
current ACC record for the biggest single-season turnaround is held by
North Carolina, who improved their running game by 117.5 yards per game
from 1985 to 1986 (135.0 to 252.5).
ACC Top Three Single-Season Rushing Improvements
Wake Forest, 1998-99 65.4 to 186.4 +121.0
North Carolina, 1985-86 135.0 to 252.5 +117.5
Georgia Tech, 1994-95 104.1 to 211.0 +106.9
Defensive Turnaround, Too
The Demon Deacon defense has also shown a dramatic turnaround since last
season's injury-riddled campaign. In 1998, Wake Forest ranked dead last in
the ACC in total defense, rushing defense, pass efficency defense and
scoring defense. This year, however, the Deacs rank among the top three
teams in the league in each of those four categories. They also rank No.1
in the ACC in first downs allowed after ranking eighth last year. A look
at the improvement:
Category '98 (ACC rank) '99 (ACC rank) Improve Improve%
Total Defense 400.8 ypg (9th) 316.6 ypg (2nd) 84.2 ypg +21.0 %
Rushing Defense 187.2 ypg (9th) 122.6 ypg (2nd) 64.6 ypg +34.5 %
Pass Effic. Defense 129.9 pts (9th) 110.5 pts (3rd) 19.4 pts +14.9 %
Scoring Defense 30.5 ppg (9th) 17.1 ppg (2nd) 13.4 ppg +43.9 %
First Downs Allowed 19.2 pg (8th) 16.4 pg (1st) 2.8 pg +14.6 %
Protecting the Ball
Wake Forest has also been significantly more careful with the ball this
season. Last year, the Demon Deacons turned the ball over 32 times in 11
games for a 2.9 turnovers per game average. This fall, however, WFU has
committed just eight turnovers in seven games (or 1.1 per game), with four
coming on interceptions and four on fumbles. Five of those eight turnovers
came in the Deacs' first two games of the season, however (three fumbles
vs. Army and two interceptions vs. Virginia). Thus, in the last five
games, Wake has turned the ball over just three times.
Defensively, the Deacs have forced their opponents into 15 turnovers (9
interceptions, 6 fumbles), giving WFU a +1.00 turnover margin for the
season, which ranks second-best in the ACC. Twelve of those 15 turnovers
have come since those first two games of the year, giving the Deacs an
impressive +2.40 turnover margin in the last five games.
Kane Chases 1,000
Senior RB Morgan Kane has been the predominant weapon in Wake's new
run-based attack, rushing for 778 yards in the first seven games. That
makes him WFU's first 500-yard rusher since John Leach in 1993. Kane's
111.1 yards per game average currently ranks third in the ACC and puts him
on pace to become Wake's first 1,000-yard rusher since Leach netted 1,089
yards in '93. He even has a shot at breaking the school's single-season
rushing mark of 1,231 yards, set by James McDougald in 1979. Kane also has
181 carries on the year, a 25.9 rushes-per-game average. At that pace, he
will also top the school's single season record for carries (275), also set
by McDougald in 1979.
Kane Game-by-Game in 1999
Opponent Rush Yds TD
Army 32 211 2
Virginia 20 65 0
NC State 31 147 3
Rutgers 34 120 2
Maryland 30 128 0
Florida St 12 28 0
UAB 22 79 3
Totals 181 778 9
Kane Collects Seventh 100-Yard Outing
Morgan Kane has topped 100 yards rushing in four of the first seven games
of 1999, bringing his career total to seven 100-yard efforts. That ties
Kane for fourth on the list of career 100-yard games at WFU (the record is
15, held by James McDougald).
Morgan Kane's Career 100-Yard Rushing Performances
131 yards at Clemson, 9/28/96
146 yards at Duke, 10/25/97
113 yards at Clemson, 9/26/98
211 yards at Army, 9/11/99
147 yards vs. NC State, 9/25/99
120 yards vs. Rutgers, 10/2/99
128 yards vs. Maryland, 10/9/99
Wake Forest Career 100-Yard Rushing Games
1. James McDougald (1976-79) 15
2. Michael Ramseur (1982-85) 13
3. Larry Hopkins (1970-71) 10
4. Morgan Kane (1996-pres) 7
Ken Garrett (1970-72) 7
Brian Piccolo (1962-64) 7
Larry Russell (1969-71) 7
Kane Tops 200
Kane exploded for a career-high 211 yards in the season opener at Army,
becoming just the fifth Deac to eclipse the 200-yard mark. That marked the
seventh-best single-game rushing total in school history and was the first
time a Deac had eclipsed the bicentennial mark since John Leach's
ACC-record 329-yard performance vs. Maryland in 1993.
Wake Forest's 200-Yard Rushing Performances
1. John Leach vs. Maryland (11/20/93) 329 (ACC Record)
2. James McDougald vs. Clemson (10/9/76) 249
3. Nub Smith vs. Wm & Mary (10/22/49) 246
4. Larry Hopkins vs. Clemson (10/17/70) 230
Larry Hopkins vs. Tulsa (10/16/71) 230
6. James McDougald vs. Duke (11/10/79) 213
7. Morgan Kane vs. Army (9/11/99) 211
Kane Tops 2,000
With Morgan Kane's 128-yard outing vs. Maryland, the Canada native became
just the seventh Deacon ever to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a career.
Now with 2,167 rushing yards on 553 carries, Kane ranks seventh all-time at
WFU in rushing yardage and fourth in rushing attempts.
WFU Career Rushing Yards WFU Career Rushing Attempts
1. James McDougald (1976-79) 3,865 1. James McDougald (1976-79) 895
2. Michael Ramseur (1982-85) 3,325 2. Michael Ramseur (1982-85) 753
3. Topper Clemons (1982-85) 2,479 3. Larry Russell (1969-71) 659
4. John Leach (1990-93) 2,362 4. Morgan Kane (1996-pres) 553
5. Larry Hopkins (1970-71) 2,212
6. Anthony Williams (1988-91) 2,203
7. Morgan Kane (1996-pres) 2,167
Sankey in the Air
Senior Ben Sankey took over the starting quarterback duties in 1999 after
waiting patiently for four years behind the school's all-time leading
passer, Brian Kuklick. In seven games thus far, Sankey has been impressive,
ranking fourth in the ACC in pass efficiency (127.6). He has connected on
58 percent of his passes (66-of-114) with four TDs and three interceptions.
Ben Sankey's Career Passing Statistics
Year G-S Comp Att Pct Yds TD Int Lg
1996 5-0 13 30 43.3 180 1 0 29
1997 6-2 54 93 58.1 606 1 5 43
1998 5-0 38 58 65.5 468 4 2 61
1999 6-6 57 98 58.8 728 3 2 46
Totals 22-8 162 279 58.1 1982 9 9 61
Sankey On the Ground
QB Ben Sankey's great mobility has added a new dimsension to the Deacon
offense this year and has allowed coach Jim Caldwell to utilize the option
more frequently. A real threat on the ground, Sankey ranks second on the
team (and 12th in the ACC) with a 33.7 rushing yards per game average.
Discounting the yardage lost on sacks (17 for -99 yards), and Sankey has
averaged 4.7 yards per carry and 47.9 rushing yards per game.
Sankey achieved a rare feat in the UAB game, becoming just the second
quarterback in WFU history to rush for 100 yards (12 carries, 108 yards, 1
TD). Previously, former WFU head coach John Mackovic had been the only one
to do so, netting 131 yards on 15 carries vs. Virginia in 1964. Both QBs
also passed for 100 yards in those games, making them the only two Deacons
to rush and pass for 100 yards in the same game. With 108 rushing yards
and 132 passing yards against the Blazers, Sankey accounted for 61 percent
of the Deacs' total offense (260 of 396 yds). On the year, he leads the
Deacs and ranks seventh in the ACC in total offense (156.6 ypg).
Sankey's Game-by-Game Rushing Statistics
Opponent Rush Yds Avg TD
Army 12 29 2.4 1
Virginia 12 28 2.3 0
NC State 11 35 3.2 0
Rutgers 15 49 3.3 0
Maryland 14 3 0.2 2
Florida St 12 -16 -1.3 0
UAB 12 108 9.0 1
Totals 88 236 2.7 4
Deese Chases Clark's Mark
For the second straight year, WFU could see one of its players break the
ACC's all-time reception mark. Desmond Clark did it last year, setting new
school and ACC marks with 216 career receptions. This year, senior WR
Jammie Deese has a shot to make Clark's tenure as the ACC recordholder a
short one. Deese led the team and ranked second in the ACC with 68
receptions last year - the second-best total ever by a Wake Forest player.
Deese recorded his eighth career 100-yard receiving game earlier this fall,
catching six passes for 106 yards vs. Rutgers. With 24 catches in the
first seven games, Deese now has 176 career receptions, which ranks him
third all-time at WFU and eighth in the ACC. His 2,294 career receiving
yards ranks fifth all-time at WFU and 20th in the ACC.
WFU Career Reception Leaders
1. Desmond Clark (1995-98) 216 (1st ACC)
2. Ricky Proehl (1986-89) 188 (5th ACC)
3. Jammie Deese (1996-pres) 176 (8th ACC)
WFU Career Receiving Yardage Leaders
1. Ricky Proehl (1986-89) 2,949 (4th ACC)
2. Desmond Clark (1995-98) 2,834 (7th ACC)
3. Wayne Baumgardner (1979-81) *2,431 (11th ACC)
4. Todd Dixon (1990-93) *2,300 (18th ACC)
5. Jammie Deese (1996-pres) 2,294 (20th ACC)
* does not include bowl games
Deese on Biletnikoff List
Senior wide receiver Jammie Deese has been named to the "Watch List" for
the 1999 Biletnikoff Award, presented annually to the nation's top
collegiate receiver. During the season, updates on the players considered
for the award can be found on the internet at www.biletnikoffaward.com.
On the Lam
How versatile do you think a 6-4, 305-lb. football player can be? Pretty
versatile, if you're Deacon senior Willie Lam. Lam, who entered the season
as a reserve offensive tackle, caused a few folks to do a double-take when
he caught a TD pass as a tight end vs. NC State.
Then, at Florida State he
lined up as a fullback a few times, as the Deacs had a shortage of bodies
at that position. And last week vs. UAB, he played much of the game at
right tackle in place of starter Todd Hollowell. (Lam wears No. 62 as a
tackle and No. 94 when lining up as a tight end or fullback.) His TD
reception vs. NC State was the first (and only) catch of his collegiate
career.
A high school quarterback, Lam has added nearly 70 pounds to his
frame since enrolling at WFU and has played tight end, guard, tackle, and
fullback for the Deacs during his career.
Tight Ends Seeing More Action
Tight ends at Wake Forest have not garnered much of the offensive spotlight
in recent years, as they were primarily used as blockers. In 1998, Deacon
TEs caught just 10 of 255 balls, and in '97, they snared just 13 of 244.
This year, Wake has utilized its tight ends as receivers a bit more often,
however. In addition to Willie Lam's TD catch (above), senior James Lik
has caught nine passes for 97 yards (a 10.8 average).
Other Targets
Don't let Wake's run-oriented attack fool you into overlooking the Deacons'
arsenal of receivers. The Deacon QBs have distributed their 70 completions
this year among 11 different targets, including Deese, Lik and Lam (above);
WRs Jimmy Caldwell (10 for 97 yards), Ira Williams (7 for 145), Fabian
Davis (3 for 31), Marvin Chalmers (3 for 25) and William Merritt (2 for
19); and RBs Morgan Kane (7 for 38), Chris McCoy (3 for 48) and Jon Jordan
(1 for 7).
Linebacking Corps Healthy Again
Wake Forest suffered a slew of injuries at linebacker last season, losing
starters Dustin Lyman and Kelvin Moses for the season with knee injuries.
Unfortunately, the LB curse carried over to the early '99 campaign as well,
as Lyman reinjured his knee and Abdul Guice - who had started in place of
Moses in 1998 - suffered a knee injury as well. Wake has slowly gotten its
linebacking corp back in healthy condition, however.
Moses, who was
granted a rare sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA, and Lyman both
returned to the starting lineup early this fall, with Moses starting vs.
Virginia and Lyman coming back the following week vs. NC State. The return
of the "dynamic duo" has had an immeasurable impact on the Deacon defense;
Moses currently ranks third on the team in tackles with 31 in six games,
while Lyman is ninth with 23 in five outings.
Guice, who was cleared to
play vs. Florida State but did not see any action, started at outside
linebacker vs. UAB last week, his first time on the field in nearly a year.
He was moved to the outside position just days before the game when
sophomore Mark DeOrio, who started the first six games at OLB, decided to
leave the team.
Sophomore LB Ed Kargbookorogie, who was forced into action
last year as a true freshman, had also injured his knee vs. Virginia but
has since returned to action.
Ray Among ACC Leaders in Sacks, TFLs
Junior DE Bryan Ray has stepped up to become a dominant defensive force in
the ACC this fall. Currently, Ray ranks among the ACC's best in
quarterback sacks (8) and tackles for loss (15) through seven games. He
has recorded at least one TFL in six of the first seven games and at least
one sack in five of the first seven outings. Ray had his best outing of
the year vs. NC State, collecting five TFLs and three sacks - one of which
forced the fumble that set up the Deacs' second TD - to earn ACC Defensive
Lineman of the Week honors.
Ray's eight sacks this season already rank as the third-best season total
in WFU history (the record is 16, set by current Baltimore Raven Mike
McCrary in 1992). With 11 career sacks, Ray is already tied for fourth on
the WFU all-time sack list.
Ray Game-by-Game UT AT Tot TFL/Yds Sack/Yds
Army 9 3 12 2/-8 1/-2
Virginia 4 3 7 3/-18 2/-15
NC State 5 1 6 5/-26 3/-24
Rutgers 3 1 4 2/-2 0/0
Maryland 1 4 5 1/-10 1/-10
Florida St 1 1 2 2/-10 1/-7
UAB 1 0 1 0/0 0/0
Totals 23 13 36 15/-74 8/-58
Wake Forest Career Sack Leaders
1. Mike McCrary (1989-92) 31
2. James Parker (1976-79) 15
3. Rudy Thompson (1989-92) 13
4. Bruce Hopkins (1974-77) 11
Gary Baldinger (1982-85) 11
Maurice Miller (1989-92) 11
Bryan Ray (1997-pres) 11
Injuries Hit Safety Spot
Senior FS DaLawn Parrish, one of the Deacs' top tacklers, suffered a foot
and ankle sprain vs. Florida State and missed the UAB game. He is
questionable for the Clemson game, as are reserve safeties Tehran Carpenter
(foot sprain) and Michael Clinkscale (fractured hand). Senior SS David
Moore remains healthy, however, and has had an outstanding year thus far.
Moore has tallied 29 tackles, including a team-high 25 solo stops, plus two
TFLs and three pass break-ups.
Parrish a Defensive Leader
In the first six games before his injury, FS DaLawn Parrish tallied a
team-high 37 stops (including 23 solo hits) and two interceptions. He also
led the team in hits last year with 75, including a team-high 59 solo
stops, 10 tackles-for-loss and two interceptions. Parrish played most of
'98 at safety, but moved to outside linebacker for the final four games
when injuries decimated the linebacking corps. This year, Parrish has a
chance to make the ACC Academic Honor Roll for a fourth straight year; he
would be just the fourth athlete in ACC history to do so.
"Iron Man" Streaks Snapped
Wake Forest's "iron men," offensive guards Sam Settar and Brian Wolverton,
both saw their impressive streaks of consecutive plays snapped this year.
Neither had missed a single offensive snap in a game dating back to the
1997 season. Settar's streak was snapped vs. NC State when he went down
with a sprained knee and ankle. He had played every offensive down for the
Deacons since joining the starting lineup as a sophomore in 1997, a streak
of 1,729 consecutive offensive plays covering 25 games. Wolverton's streak
had reached 1,913 consecutive snaps before he left the UAB game last week.
He had played every single snap since the Georgia Tech game in 1997, a
streak covering 27 games.
Curtis Lost To Shoulder Injury
Junior OT Marlon Curtis was lost for the season after injuring his shoulder
vs. NC State. Curtis, who has a history of shoulder problems, was the
Deacs' starting center in '98 before going down with a shoulder injury. He
had surgery last year and was moved to right tackle in '99, backing up Todd
Hollowell. Curtis will undergo surgery on the shoulder and miss the rest
of the '99 season.
Mughelli Paves The Way
One of the major reasons for Wake's success running the ball this year is
the blocking of redshirt freshman FB Ovie Mughelli (pronounced
Muh-HAY-lee). A steamroller on the field, the 6-2, 232-lb. Mughelli has
made quick work of numerous linemen and linebackers this season. As Coach
Jim Caldwell put it, "He just loves to hit people." In addition to his
strength (he can squat 625 lbs.), Mughelli possesses good quickness and is
a talented ball-carrier. Although he has not carried the ball much at WFU,
he rushed for over 4,500 yards and nearly 70 TDs in his high school career.
Mughelli missed the FSU game due to a shoulder injury, and the Deacs
struggled to just 42 yards on the ground.
Burdick Ties Career Field Goal Record
Senior PK Matthew Burdick continues to rewrite the kicking section of the
Wake Forest record book. Last week, he tied the school career field goal
record with his second kick vs. UAB, a 26-yarder. That was his 37th career
field goal, which matched Wilson Hoyle's career mark. Burdick's 11 points
vs. UAB (2 FG, 5 PAT) also upped his career point total to 181, which moved
him into fourth place on the WFU career scoring list.
Last season, Burdick was a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award, presented
to the nation's top kicker. He has converted 37-of-58 field goal attempts
in his career, including 26-of-30 (.867) from inside the 40. He has nailed
71-of-73 career PATs and 19-of-19 so far this season in that statistic. In
1997, Burdick booted 15 field goals, one shy of the WFU single-season
record set by Hoyle in 1987. His 53-yard field goal vs. App State last year
tied the school record for the longest kick.
WFU Career Scoring Leaders
1. Wilson Hoyle (1986-89) 230
2. Michael Ramseur (1982-85) 194
3. James McDougald (1976-79) 192
4. Matthew Burdick (1996-pres) 181
WFU Career Field Goal Leaders
1. Wilson Hoyle (1986-89) 37
Matthew Burdick (1996-pres) 37
In Remembrance
Wake Forest senior PK Matthew Burdick sports a black armband this season in
memory of his older brother, Bryon, who died of leukemia in 1989.
Placekicker Challenge
Despite his impressive history, PK Matthew Burdick has found himself
challenged for the first time in his career. Nagged by a groin injury since
preseason, Burdick is an uncharacteristic 7-of-14 on field goals this year.
Thus, coach Jim Caldwell ordered a weekly "kick-off," giving all PKs on the
roster a chance to earn the starting job. Sophomore walk-on Kevin Church
won the honor vs. Rutgers but missed a 30-yard field goal, prompting
Caldwell to revert to Burdick for an important 29-yarder late in the game.
Burdick has retained the job since then, although Tyler Ashe came in for
the last two field goals of the UAB game.
Kicking Ashe
Sophomore PK Tyler Ashe has become a valuable weapon for the Demon Deacons
with his powerful leg on kickoffs. This season, Ashe has booted 29 of 34
kickoffs into (or out of) the endzone - an 85 percent average. Of those 29
endzone kicks, 24 resulted in touchbacks. Of the 10 kickoffs that
opponents have run back, however, they've averaged 27.0 yards per return.
Ashe even pitched in on kickoff coverage vs. NC State, earning his first
career tackle when he helped bring down Rahshon Spikes on NCSU's lone
kickoff return. Last week vs. UAB, Ashe also nailed both of his first two
career field goal attempts, a 23-yarder and a 46-yarder in the fourth
quarter.
Sagarin Ratings
Wake Forest is currently ranked No. 31 in the Sagarin Ratings through games
of October 23rd. The Demon Deacons' schedule ranks as the 22nd-toughest in
the nation. This week's opponent, Clemson, is ranked 14th by the Sagarin
computer and has a strength of schedule rating of No. 1 in Division I-A.
First-Timers
Three true freshmen have seen action for the Deacs this season - the most
for Wake since 1996. QB C.J. Leak has played as a reserve in five games,
going 4-for-12 with one TD and one interception. His first career TD came
against the nation's top-ranked team, a 1-yard strike to Fabian Davis on
the final play of the Florida State game. Leak has also added 27 yards on
the ground. Injuries at running back and linebacker have forced RB Tarence
Williams and LB Jamaal Argrow into action as well. Williams has contributed
48 yards on nine carries in three games, while Argrow has tallied six
tackles (4 solo) in seven games.
Last season, Wake Forest redshirted 13 of the 14 members of its freshman
class, and only four returning players on the roster have not redshirted
during their careers (senior PK Matthew Burdick, senior SS David Moore,
senior CB Reggie Austin, and sophomore LB Ed Kargbookorogie).
Myers, DeOrio Depart
Sophomore FB Matt Myers and sophomore LB Mark DeOrio both recently elected
to leave the football squad for personal reasons. Myers, the Deacs' No. 2
fullback behind Ovie Mughelli, decided to leave the university entirely
just prior to the Florida State game. DeOrio left the team last week but
will remain at the university to complete his degree. He started the first
six games of '99 at outside linebacker, tallying 15 tackles and two pass
break-ups. Senior LB Abdul Guice, a starter at inside linebacker in 1998
who suffered a preseason knee injury and missed the first six games,
started against UAB in DeOrio's spot.
Wolverton, Ray Named ACC Players of the Week for Sept. 27
Wake Forest senior OL Brian Wolverton and junior DL Bryan Ray were named
ACC Players of the Week on Sept. 27 for their performances vs. NC State.
Wolverton earned Offensive Lineman of the Week honors after paving the way
for a 266-yard rushing effort. Ray was named ACC Defensive Lineman of the
Week after recording six tackles, including five tackles for loss and three
sacks. One of his sacks forced a fumble which set up a 4-yard TD pass on
the next play.
Deacs Earn First Win vs. a Ranked ACC Team in Groves
The victory over No. 25 NC State marked Wake's first-ever win over an
AP-ranked ACC team in Groves Stadium. The Deacs had only won three times
in 58 previous tries vs. ranked ACC foes (3-54-1), and all three had come
on the road. The Deacs are now 13-87-1 vs. all AP-ranked teams and 4-18 in
Groves Stadium.
Already an ACC Champion
Redshirt freshman punter Matt Brennie can already lay claim to being a
member of an ACC championship team. Last season, Brennie was on the roster
of Wake Forest's baseball squad that won its second consecutive ACC crown.
A knee injury forced Brennie to redshirt the season, but he is expected
back on the Diamond Deacs' squad this spring as an outfielder. Brennie is
currently averaging 36.6 yards per punt and has put nine boots inside the
20 this year.
A Family Affair
Wake Forest football is a family affair for head coach Jim Caldwell. His
oldest son, Jimmy Caldwell, is a sophomore wide receiver for the Deacs and
ranks as Wake's second-leading receiver on the year. Last year Jimmy
lettered as a redshirt freshman, catching three passes for 48 yards. In the
first seven games this year, he's caught 10 passes for 97 yards, including
a career-high four catches for 61 yards vs. Virginia. Caldwell also serves
as the holder for kicker Matthew Burdick, a role he also held when both
were teammates at Mount Tabor High School.
Petz Out
Junior DE Mat Petz is sitting out this season after being declared
academically ineligible. Last season Petz tallied 61 tackles, 15 tackles
for loss and six sacks. His TFL total was the third best in the ACC. Petz
can regain his eligibility for 2000.
A Veteran Lineup
Wake welcomed 14 starters and 50 letterwinners back this fall, including
three starters from 1997 who missed most of '98 with injuries. With 24
fifth-year seniors on the roster, Coach Jim Caldwell boasts the most
experienced team in his tenure at WFU. The returning starters and their
cumulative career starts: LB Kelvin Moses# (39), DT Fred Robbins (39), OG
Brian Wolverton (35), FS DaLawn Parrish (31), WR Jammie Deese (29), LB
Dustin Lyman# (26), RB Morgan Kane (26), OG Sam Settar (25), CB Reggie
Austin (22), DE Kelvin Jones# (20), DE Bryan Ray (16), OT Michael Collins
(13), LB Abdul Guice (12), OT Marlon Curtis (7). (# started in 1997 but
missed most of '98 due to injury)
Bachelor's Degree
Senior LB Abdul Guice picked up an impressive preseason honor this summer,
but it didn't come in The Sporting News, Street & Smith, or any other
football publication. Guice was named the most eligible bachelor in North
Carolina by Cosmopolitan magazine in its July "All About Men" issue.
Guice's neighbor, Ryan Smith, saw an advertisement in the magazine and
submitted his nomination. She wrote a paragraph and included a photo from
Guice's modeling portfolio. Guice's mailing address was included in the
magazine and he has received several dozen letters inquiring about his
bachelor status. The attention has earned him a new nickname among his
teammates, "Cosmo."
Speed Demons
Four members of the WFU football team made a tremendous impact during the
1999 ACC Outdoor Track & Field Championships, winning three league titles.
Wide receiver John Stone was involved in all three, capturing the 100- and
200-meters and combining with Reggie Austin (who was second in the 100),
Jammie Deese and Chris Justice to win the 4x100 relay. Deese had a full day
of activity last April 17th, driving from Clemson (site of the ACC
Championships) to Winston-Salem that afternoon to arrive in time to catch a
touchdown pass in the Deacons' Spring Game in Groves Stadium.
Consecutive Starts
Several Deacs have long consecutive starting streaks heading into the UAB
contest: DT Fred Robbins (35), OG Brian Wolverton (35), WR Jammie Deese
(29) and CB Reggie Austin (19).
Deacons with Diplomas
The Deacon roster includes eight players who have already earned their
undergraduate degrees and are enrolled in graduate programs at WFU. Six
fifth-year seniors graduated last May, and two others completed their
degrees over the summer.
The list of grads includes QB Dan Bradley
(Communications), PK Matthew Burdick (Education), LB Abdul Guice
(Sociology), LB Kelvin Moses (Communication), DB DaLawn Parrish (History),
QB Ben Sankey (History), TE Ben Stafford (Sociology) and OL Brian Wolverton
(Communication). Burdick completed his degree last summer, less than three
years after he enrolled at WFU.
Academic Excellence
Part of Wake Forest football tradition is excellence in the classroom.
Last year, WFU was again recognized by the American Football Coaches
Association for having one of the top graduation rates in the nation. Wake
Forest earned "Honorable Mention" status for graduating over 70% of the
freshmen that entered school in 1993. It marked the eighth time in the
last nine years that WFU has been among the top institutions in this
survey, including 1995 when the Deacs tied for the best graduation rate in
the country. Wake sported a 67 percent grad rate for its class that entered
in 1992 - 17 percent higher than the national average of 50 percent. The
University's overall graduation rate for all student-athletes was 69
percent, well above the national average of 58 percent.
Gary Lost to Broken Arm
The rushing attack lost the services of senior TB Kito Gary after he
suffered a broken arm vs. NC State. Gary, an exeptionally quick runner,
had just returned to the lineup after being slowed by a preseason injury.
He had surgery on the arm and will be out 6-8 weeks. Gary totaled 526
yards on 140 carries in his career.
Getting Stronger
The Deacs' off-season conditioning program has paid tremendous dividends in
recent years. This season 34 players bench pressed over 400 pounds during
their annual testing, up from 24 players in 1998. In 1995, only one player
topped the 400-pound bench press mark, and in 1994, no players accomplished
it. The top mark on the team of 465 pounds belongs to senior DE Kelvin
Jones.
A Cameron Legend
Sophomore LB Ed Kargbookorogie hopes to make as big of a bang on the
football field this season as he did last year on the basketball court.
Kargbookorogie has gained legendary status at Duke's Cameron Indoor Stadium
among the Cameron Crazies. Last year, as a walk-on member of the men's
basketball team, Kargbookorogie was taunted by Duke fans during pregame
warmups that he could not dunk. He responded by dunking the ball so hard
that he shattered the backboard, delaying the start of the
nationally-televised game by 23 minutes.
Captains
The captains for the 1999 Wake Forest football team are wide receiver
Jammie Deese, quarterback Ben Sankey, linebacker Dustin Lyman and free
safety DaLawn Parrish, who were selected by their teammates in a preseason
vote.
In the Red Zone
The Wake Forest offense has performed well in the red zone this year,
scoring on 21 of 25 attempts through seven games (84 percent). Fourteen of
those scores were touchdowns, while seven were field goals. On the
defensive side, Deacon opponents have gotten in the red zone 20 times and
scored 18 times (90 percent) - 10 times on TDs and eight times on field
goals.
Red Zone Scoring Att TD FG Fail Pct.
Wake Forest 25 14 7 4 .840
Opponents 20 10 8 2 .900
THIS WEEK'S GAME
Opponent: Clemson
Date: Oct. 30, 1999
Time: 12:00 p.m.
Site: Groves Stadium (31,500)
Winston-Salem, NC
Television: Jefferson Pilot Sports Network
(WFMY TV-2 in Winston-Salem)
Steve Martin (play-by-play)
Rick Walker (color analyst)
Mike Hogewood (sideline reporter)
Radio: Wake Forest ISP Radio Network
(WXII 830 AM flagship)
Stan Cotten (play-by-play)
Ed Bradley (color analyst)
Mike Pratapas (color analyst)
Internet: Radio cybercast available at
www.wakeforestsports.com
Tickets: Call 1-888-758-DEAC
Series: Clemson leads, 49-14-1
Last Meeting: Wake Forest won, 29-19, in Clemson
First Meeting: Clemson won, 13-0, in Charlotte
In Groves: Clemson leads, 9-3-1
1999 WAKE FOREST SCHEDULE
(4-3 OVERALL, 1-3 ACC)
Sept. 11 at Army* 34-15 W
Sept. 18 at Virginia# 7-35 L
Sept. 25 NC STATE+ 31-7 W
Oct. 2 RUTGERS 17-10 W
Oct. 9 MARYLAND+ 14-17 L
Oct. 16 at Florida State* 10-33 L
Oct. 23 UAB 47-3 W
Oct. 30 CLEMSON+ 12:00 pm
Nov. 6 at North Carolina 1:30 pm
Nov. 13 at Duke TBA
Nov. 20 GEORGIA TECH TBA
* Fox Sports Net, # ESPN2, + JP Sports, *Sunshine PPV
WAKE ON THE WEB
Keep up with all of Wake Forest's 18 varsity sports teams on the internet.
Check out the Demon Deacons on-line at www.wakeforestsports.com
STATISTICAL COMPARISON
WFU Average CU
17.6 First Downs 20.9
186.4 Rushing Offense 137.1
128.7 Passing Offense 239.3
315.1 Total Offense 376.4
22.9 Scoring Offense 24.6
122.6 Rushing Defense 137.1
194.0 Passing Defense 205.3
316.6 Total Defense 355.1
17.1 Scoring Defense 22.9
32.5 Net Punting 36.8
10.6 Punt Return Avg. 8.8
21.3 Kickoff Return Avg. 17.6
+1.00 Turnover Margin +0.43
32:17 Time of Possession 28:52
.434 3rd Down Conv. .363
.667 4th Down Conv. .556
55.6 Penalty Yards 71.4
2.4 Sacks Per Game 3.7
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Wake Forest
Rushing Morgan Kane 111.1 ypg
Receptions Jammie Deese 3.4 rpg
Receiving Yards Jammie Deese 55.7 ypg
Pass Efficiency Ben Sankey 127.6 pts
Total Offense Ben Sankey 156.6 ypg
Scoring Morgan Kane 8.6 ppg
All-Purpose Morgan Kane 119.0 ypg
Punt Returns Reggie Austin 10.2 ypr
Kickoff Returns John Stone 25.7 ypr
Interceptions D. Parrish/A. Duncan 0.3 ipg
Tackles Bryan Ray 5.3 tpg
Sacks Bryan Ray 1.1 spg
Clemson
Rushing Travis Zachery 70.5 ypg
Receptions Rod Gardner 7.1 rpg
Receiving Yards Rod Gardner 90.7 ypg
Pass Efficiency Woodrow Dantzler 124.4 pts
Total Offense Woodrow Dantzler 238.8 ypg
Scoring Travis Zachery 7.0 ppg
All-Purpose Brian Wofford 92.9 ypg
Punt Returns Mal Lawyer 8.8 ypr
Kickoff Returns Brian Wofford 19.1 ypr
Interceptions R. Carswell/D. Polite 0.4 ipg
Tackles Keith Adams 15.3 tpg
Sacks Keith Adams 1.0 spg
DEACS VS. CLEMSON
Some individual Demon Deacon highlights from past
meetings with Clemson:
Morgan Kane 98: 35 rushes, 113 yds
96: 33 rushes, 131 yds
Ben Sankey 97: 13-of-22, 148 yds
Jammie Deese 97: 7 catches, 102 yds
Marvin Chalmers 98: 2 catches, 60 yds, 1 TD
Dustin Lyman 98: 10 tackles, 1 sack, 1 PBU
Kelvin Moses 96: 11 tackles, 1 sack
WAKE FOREST IN THE ACC RANKINGS
INDIVIDUAL ACC
Rushing M. Kane 111.1 ypg 3rd
B. Sankey 33.7 ypg 12th
Receptions J. Deese 3.4 rpg 9th
Receiving Yds J. Deese 55.7 ypg 8th
Pass Efficiency B. Sankey 127.6 pts 4th
Total Offense B. Sankey 156.6 ypg 7th
M. Kane 111.1 ypg 9th
Scoring M. Kane 8.6 ppg 5th
M. Burdick 5.7 ppg 12th
All-Purpose M. Kane 119.0 ypg 5th
J. Deese 74.4 ypg 13th
Punt Returns R. Austin 10.2 ypr 5th
Kickoff Returns none
Interceptions D. Parrish 0.3 ipg 10th
A. Duncan 0.3 ipg 10th
Punting M. Brennie 36.6 ypp 7th
Field Goals M. Burdick 1.0 fgpg 5th
T. Ashe 0.3 fgpg 10th
TEAM ACC
Total Offense 315.1 ypg 7th
Total Defense 316.6 ypg 2nd
Rushing Offense 186.4 ypg 3rd
Rushing Defense 122.6 ypg 2nd
Passing Offense 128.7 ypg 9th
Pass Eff. Defense 110.5 pts 3rd
Scoring Offense 22.9 ppg 6th
Scoring Defense 17.1 ppg 2nd
Kickoff Returns 21.3 ypr 4th
Punt Returns 10.6 ypr 5th
Net Punting 32.5 ypp 9th
1st Downs 17.6 pg 5th
1st Downs Allowed 16.4 pg 1st
3rd Down Conv. .434 2nd
3rd Down Conv. .386 8th
Penalty Yards 55.6 ypg 1st
Sacks 2.4 spg 5th
Turnover Margin +1.00 2nd
1999 ACC STANDINGS
ACC Overall
Team W L W L
Florida State 6 0 8 0
Georgia Tech 3 1 5 1
Virginia 3 2 4 3
Clemson 3 2 3 4
Maryland 2 2 5 2
NC State 2 3 5 3
Wake Forest 1 3 4 3
Duke 1 3 1 6
North Carolina 0 5 1 6
Last Week's Scores:
Wake Forest 47, UAB 3
NC State 31, Duke 24, OT
Maryland 45, North Carolina 7
Florida State 17, Clemson 14
This Week's Games:
10/30
Clemson at Wake Forest JP 12:00
Duke at Maryland 1:00
Furman at North Carolina 1:30
NC State at Georgia Tech ABC 3:30
Florida State at Virginia ESPN 7:00
GAME-BY-GAME STARTING LINEUPS
OFFENSE
ARMY UVA NCSU RUT MD FSU UAB
WR Deese Lam (TE) Deese Deese Deese Lam (TE) Deese
T Hollowell Hollowell Curtis Hollowell Hollowell Hollowell Lam
G Settar Settar Settar Moosbrug Moosbrug Moosbrug Moosbrug
C Azzolina Azzolina Azzolina Azzolina Azzolina Azzolina Azzolina
G Wolverton Wolverton Wolverton Wolverton Wolverton Wolverton Wolverton
T Collins Collins Collins Collins Collins Collins Collins
TE Lik Lik Lik Lik Lik Stafford Lik
QB Sankey Sankey Sankey Sankey Sankey Sankey Sankey
FB Mughelli Mughelli Mughelli Mughelli Mughelli Love-Lane Mughelli
RB Kane Kane Kane Kane Kane Kane Kane
WR Davis Deese Chalmers Davis Merritt Deese Chalmers
DEFENSE
ARMY UVA NCSU RUT MD FSU UAB
DE Ray Ray Ray Ray Ray Ray Ray
DT Robbins Robbins Robbins Robbins Robbins Robbins Robbins
DT Shacklefd Shacklefd Shacklefd Shacklefd Shacklefd Shacklefd Shacklefd
DE Jones Jones Jones Jones Jones Smith, B. Smith, B.
LB Hopkins Hopkins Lyman Lyman Lyman Lyman Lyman
LB Kargbo. Moses Moses Moses Moses Moses Moses
LB DeOrio DeOrio DeOrio DeOrio DeOrio DeOrio Guice
CB Austin Austin Austin Austin Austin Austin Austin
FS Parrish Parrish Parrish Parrish Parrish Parrish Carpenter
SS Moore Moore Moore Moore Moore Moore Moore
CB Smith, Ky Smith, Ky Smith, Ky Smith, Ky Smith, Ky Smith, Ky Smith, Ky
