Wake Forest Does Just Enough To Top Tigers

Wake Forest 12, Clemson 7

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., Oct. 9 -- They tossed it back and forth all night, as if it were the tab at last call. Neither No. 21 Wake Forest nor Clemson wanted the moniker of "ACC's most disappointing favorite," yet neither squad seemed determined to be rid of it, either.

A statistically dominant yet point-deficient first half for Wake Forest was followed by a Clemson revival that lasted just long enough to gain a lead. The Demon Deacons quickly regained the momentum, only to fail once again to reach the end zone.

In the end, though Wake Forest won 12-7, both squads may have agreed to split the cost down the middle, shove a fistful of cash at the bartender and stumble home together. Several flashes of brilliance on both sides could not mask the night's most basic truth: The ACC's Atlantic Division, not to mention the conference crown, remains a wide-open affair. There was no superiority to be found Thursday night at BB&T Field.

The first half provided many examples. Clemson went three and out on its first four drives, and the Tigers' next two were halted on failed fourth-down conversions. Wake Forest, meanwhile, drove inside the Clemson 25-yard line three times but only came away with three points after backup place kicker Shane Popham missed 2 of 3 field goal attempts in the first half.

"The thing you always worry about as a coach, especially early in the game when we missed those opportunities down there, you know, we were really, really close and came away with three points," Wake Forest Coach Jim Grobe said. "With those two chances, you wonder if you'll ever get a chance to make that up."

When Wake Forest quarterback Riley Skinner threw a seven-yard touchdown pass to D.J. Boldin with less than six minutes remaining in the game, a collective relief swept through the stadium. The Demon Deacons (4-1, 2-0) had reclaimed the lead, and this time would not hand it back.

"We left too many chances in the red zone," Skinner said. "We moved the ball really good. You know, we're on the 1-yard line, the 5-yard line, first down and we come away with three points. And that's on me; that's on our whole offense."

The Tigers (3-3, 1-2) briefly built some momentum late in the third quarter when quarterback Cullen Harper found wide receiver Nelson Faerber open on a crossing route for a 35-yard gain. Seven plays later, Harper connected with Jacoby Ford on a 10-yard touchdown pass and a 7-6 lead.

Clemson Coach Tommy Bowden pointed out afterward that his team made an array of attempts to kick-start its offense. Deep throws. Crossing routes. Reverses. Fake punts. Runs to the outside. Runs to the inside. "We just couldn't develop any kind of continuity," Bowden said. "And we sure tried everything we had."

Grobe shook things up from onset, lining up Skinner in the slot to the left of tailback Josh Adams, who took the snap. Adams handed off the ball to Boldin, who gained 19 yards down the right sideline.

Skinner frequently lined up out wide during the first half. He also displayed a previously unseen knack for running the ball, with 73 yards on 11 attempts.

The problem Wake Forest struggled with for most of the night was its inability to cross the goal line, a problem exacerbated by Popham making only 2 of 4 field goal attempts for the game. The starter, senior Sam Swank, dressed for the game but remained on the sideline. Swank, one of the top place kickers in the nation, did not play because of a right quadriceps strain.

For Clemson, the central concern revolved around its injury list, mainly along the offensive line. Two more linemen, along with running back C.J. Spiller (left leg injury), left Thursday night's game with injuries and did not return.

Though Wake Forest exited the game without further injury news, another illness plagues the Demon Deacons. They are 2-0 in ACC play, yet have scored just one touchdown in the process.

"Bottom line," Skinner said, "we've just got to get in the end zone."