Saturday’s parent weekend football game ended in upsetting disappointment for the Demon Deacons as they fell to Georgia Tech by one point in overtime. The No. 16 Yellowjackets orchestrated a fiery comeback in the second half to defend their undefeated record.
On the final play of the game, Head Coach Jake Dickert made a controversial call to go for two points to win, but the attempt failed, leading to the 29-30 loss. It was gutsy, but Dickert defends his decision.
“We had an opportunity to go win a game, we took it,” Dickert said. “I would make the same decision again.”
Dickert’s two-point attempt was not the only controversial call of the game.
Wake Forest led 23-20 on 3rd and 5 with 1:39 remaining. Georgia Tech had only one timeout left. The Demon Deacons only needed five more yards to end the game.
A Yellowjackets defender jumped offside. Ashford noticed and threw a deep ball, assuming he had a free play, and the ensuing five-yard penalty would result in a first down.
Unfortunately for Ashford and the Demon Deacons, the refs did not call the five-yard penalty that would have allowed them to burn the rest of the clock.
“I’m not putting that on Robby,” Dickert said. “There’s no way he can see the flag.”
A spokesperson from the ACC has confirmed the missed call and apologized to Wake Forest on Monday morning. The outcome of the game will remain unchanged.
Following the punt on the next play, Georgia Tech drove down the field to tie the game on a field goal with just two seconds left on the clock, and Wake Forest lost in overtime.
Disheartened students who had prepared to rush the field after what looked like a guaranteed ranked victory ushered themselves out of the stadium with their heads hung low.
Wake Forest outplayed the Yellowjackets seemingly all game long. Quarterback Robby Ashford threw accurate darts to open receivers, the defensive limited chunk plays and the Demon Deacons commanded a 17-3 halftime lead.
While Ashford’s 219 passing yards on just a 48% completion rate did not look pretty in the box score, he definitely passed the eye test. The senior added 82 yards and a touchdown on the ground, and even laid a huge block that led to a Claiborne score.
Everything changed for the Demon Deacons when Ashford exited the game early in the 3rd quarter after he hurt his leg on a long scramble.
“I don’t want to say I feel great, but I’m not dead,” Ashford said in a postgame interview.
When backup Deshawn Purdie entered, the offense slowed down, and the defense was forced to stay on the field for much of the 3rd quarter. Georgia Tech was able to tire the defense out with countless option plays and quarterback runs, leading to several Yellowjacket scores.
With Ashford playing on one leg the whole 4th quarter and Claiborne going down with an arm injury on his overtime touchdown, the Demon Deacons could not outlast the Yellowjackets.
While the outcome of the game was crushing for the Demon Deacons, the product on the field was encouraging.
“You know, we might be two and two right now, but we’re a good football team,” said Ashford.
This Saturday, Wake Forest will travel to Blacksburg, V.A, to face Virginia Tech for their first road game of the season.
