The Demon Deacons won their fourth game of the season last weekend in an offensive barrage that took down Oregon State 39-14. Despite the nearly 3,000-mile trip, Wake Forest found its stride early and took care of business on the other side of the country.
“I’m really excited for our football team. We held it down in Corvallis,” Coach Dickert said following Saturday’s matchup. “The defense really suffocated those guys. We were timely on offense. Just proud of our team to come across the country and get a win like this.”
While defeating a winless team in Oregon State may not sound all that impressive, the way in which this squad came out on top is nothing to scoff at. By overcoming challenges and sticking to the plan, Wake Forest was able to succeed with minimal faults.
The big hurdle that the Demon Deacons had to climb was replacing Robbie Ashford’s presence, with backup quarterback Deshawn Purdie sliding into the starting role. Any nerves that Purdie may have had, though, did not show.
“The biggest thing for me coming into this game was keeping the nerves down,” Purdie said. “My mindset is to stay ready no matter what.”
On the first drive of the game, the strong arm of Purdie found wideout Chris Barnes for a 36-yard touchdown. This connection would go on to repeat itself two more times, as Barnes’s three total receptions were all touchdowns, and long ones at that. Nevertheless, it was Purdie’s first pass that took the weight off his shoulders.
“We hit [Purdie] all week in practice,” Coach Dickert said. “To hit that first ball created so much confidence for our team, but also for Deshawn. There’s tons of growth in this for him.”
From there, it was smooth sailing for the sophomore transfer. Purdie ended the day with 270 passing yards and four touchdown passes, even going on to call his deep throws “layups.”
Be that as it may, it wasn’t just Purdie and Barnes on offense. Demond Claiborne, who has been on a tear as of late, shone again in Corvallis. The senior running back rushed for 144 yards, including a 66-yarder to the house. His performance last weekend was good enough to earn him ACC running back of the week.
The defense, too, exceeded expectations. While it was a clear team effort that held Oregon State to 14 points, the defensive line in particular shut down the Beavers’ offense for four quarters.
“[The defensive line] is starting to establish its identity,” Dickert said. “They’re tough to handle. That’s where our strength is, and I think we’re leaning into it.”
It’s become quite clear over the past few weeks that this team is different from ones in years past. Instead of tumbling towards the finish line by week eight, the 2025 Demon Deacons are competing with reason. With an off week coming up, Wake Forest will have plenty of time to plan accordingly for their upcoming matchup against SMU on Oct. 25.
