Once again, Wake Forest Football’s fate hung in the balance of a single score.
But in a game where Wake Forest’s offense did “just enough,” the Demon Deacons’ defense proved capable of winning the day. Despite struggles at critical moments on offense, Wake Forest snuck out of their final non-conference game with a win.
The Demon Deacons’ staunch run defense held the Huskies almost all day. Connecticut, which had been averaging over 200 yards per game, pieced together just 45 rush yards all game, and failed to find the endzone in the first half.
While Wake Forest was set on stopping the run, the Huskies adjusted to make progress through the air. Connecticut quarterback Nick Evers passed for 264 yards and two impressive second-half touchdowns, the latter of which would make it a one-score game inside three minutes to play. Demon Deacons’ defense eventually delivered with a critical fourth down stop, ending Connecticut’s attempted game-winning drive and sealing the win for Wake Forest.
“We did what we wanted to do against the run game [and] obviously the pass defense, that’s still a work in progress,” Head Coach Dave Clawson said after the game.
The defense’s accomplishments dually underscored Wake Forest’s lack of offensive production. The Demon Deacons failed to convert on several red zone visits and set up Connecticut’s near game-winning drive with a gainless, 25-second drive. And while Demond Claiborne punched in the Demon Deacons’ two touchdowns of the day, the star running back notched just 60 yards on season-high 24 carries.
Wake Forest quarterback Hank Bachmeier, meanwhile, threw for 21-of-36, 274 yards, plus a pick just before the half. It was Bachmeier’s fourth straight game throwing an interception after starting the season off free of any turnovers through the air.
“I thought [Bachmeier] maybe missed throws,” Clawson said, evaluating his quarterback’s play. “I thought he did not throw the ball on the run as well as he has.”
Coming into the game, Bachmeier had been battling an injury sustained two weeks ago that eventually took him out of last week’s blowout loss to No. 10 Clemson. In the week before traveling to play Connecticut, however, Clawson confirmed Bachmeier had resumed practicing.
Bachmeier frequently found veteran wideout Taylor Morin for 104 yards on six catches. Morin passed Atorian (A.T.) Perry in his quest to become Wake Forest’s all-time receiving yards leader, and now sits just 273 yards from reaching the program milestone. Morin’s 45 additional return yards were also critical in the prolonged struggle for field position.
“It’s nice to score touchdowns, but we pride ourselves in getting a first down for the offense,” Morin said. “It can really change the momentum of a game – and a drive to say the least – so we’re trying to help out where we can.”
Despite the offensive underperformance, Wake Forest’s defense proved capable of fending off an opponent and coming up big in critical moments. Saturday’s win was Wake Forest’s first of the season that didn’t need a 30-point performance, cutting the offense some slack. With three wins on their season, Wake Forest is now halfway to qualifying for a bowl game.
“It was huge, just thinking about all the goals that we have for our football team,” Morin said. “Coming in here we knew we had to get this one to keep those goals alive.”
The Demon Deacons will travel out west to Stanford next week and welcome their new rival to the Atlantic Coast Conference. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. EST on ACC Network.
