Gary Hahn's Scouting Report: Wake Forest

NC STATE (3-2, 2-0) vs. WAKE FOREST (5-1, 1-1)

DATE: Saturday, October 14, 2006

TIME: Kickoff: 12:00 p.m. (EDT) at Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC (57,583)

RADIO: Wolfpack Sports Network. Airtime: 11:00 a.m. (EDT)

TELEVISION: Raycom/Lincoln Financial Sports (ACC Network)

OPPONENTWake Forest was sitting pretty with a 17-3 lead over No. 15 Clemson at Grove Stadium on Saturday afternoon.  In fact, the Demon Deacons were looking to increase that margin with a 42-yard field goal attempt by Sam Swank. Then, the roof caved in.

Holder, Jon Temple, fumbled the snap on the first play of the fourth quarter and tried to run with the ball. It was a huge mistake. Clemson’s Gaines Adams knocked it from Temple’s hands, picked it up and returned it 66-yards for a touchdown. That play started a Clemson 24-0 run that eventually ended with a 27-17 Tigers come-from-behind victory.

After Adams touchdown, Clemson could do no wrong and Wake Forest was all thumbs. On the next series, Deacons quarterback Riley Skinner fumbled and Clemson responded with a 43-yard drive to tie the game at 17 on Will Proctor’s 20-yard pass to Aaron Kelly. A possession later, the Tigers had the lead for good when C.J. Spiller broke free around right end and sprinted 72-yards for a touchdown.

Skinner completed 18 of 23 passes for 169 yards and a TD. He also caught a 19-yard scoring pass from Nate Morton to give the Deacons a 14-3 second-quarter lead. But, his first career interception led to Clemson’s final scoring drive that ended with Jad Dean’s 23-yard field goal with 1:12 to play.

Proctor was 20-of-30 passing for 214 yards and a touchdown, but Clemson overcame his fumble and three interceptions. Spiller finished with 104 yards and James Davis added 95 for the Tigers (5-1, 3-1) who denied Wake Forest its first 6-0 start since 1944.

 

The Deacons are defined by their toughness. Not many teams could withstand the loss of a starting quarterback, tailback and left tackle, but Wake Forest has handled that adversity and has proven it is capable of playing winning football.

Starting quarterback, Ben Mauk, was lost for the season in the opening game and knee injuries to tailback Micah Andrews and senior tackle Arby Jones forced the Deacons to go with less experienced reserves.

Those players have stepped up nicely to fill the void.

Skinner is being touted as an ACC Rookie of the Year candidate. The redshirt freshman is completing 68 percent of his passes which leads the ACC. He also leads the league in passing efficiency (146.4) and fewest interceptions. More importantly, he’s 4-1 as a starter.

Another redshirt freshman, Kevin Harris (6-1, 230), leads the team in rushing with 248 yards, a 6.4 yards per carry average and 3 touchdowns. Harris and redshirt junior De’Angelo Bryant (6-0, 245) combine to average 87 rushing yards a game.

Harris and Bryant run behind a veteran offensive line led by senior tackle Steve Vallos (6-3, 290), a fourth-year starter. The Lombardi and Outland Trophy candidate has started 40 straight games for 2,670 plays.

Redshirt junior Steve Justice (6-4, 280) is an outstanding center who is among the best in the nation. Jeff Griffin, a redshirt freshmen, starts for Jones who is listed as doubtful for the NC State game.

The Deacons run the football 66 percent of the time, average 301 yards of total offense and have the fourth-best rushing attack in the ACC (144.7 ypg.). They’re also an impressive 40 percent on third-down conversions compared to NC State’s 28.8.

However, in its two ACC games, Wake Forest has averaged only 44 rushing yards. Pass protection has also been an issue. The Deacons are near the bottom of the ACC in sacks allowed (14). Only Virginia and Duke have allowed more.

Although turnovers were a factor in its loss to Clemson, Wake Forest usually does not beat itself. The Deaks have a plus-one turnover margin. State’s minus-six turnover margin is among the worst in the ACC, but the Wolfpack had no turnovers its last time out in upsetting Florida State.

When Skinner throws the football his top targets are redshirt seniors Morton (6-3, 215) and Willie Idlette (5-10, 175). The pair has combined for 25 catches and 3 touchdowns. Morton led the Deaks in receiving in 2004 and 2005 and is regarded as one of the top possession receivers in the ACC.

The Deacons are almost automatic in the Red Zone. They’ve scored 20 of 22 times when they penetrate their opponent’s 20-yard line and have registered 13 touchdowns.

Defensively, Wake Forest has one of the most experienced units in the conference. Ten starters, including seven who started eight or more games in ’05, are back. The result is a scoring defense that is allowing only 13.3 points a game, good enough for No.2 in the ACC and 14^th nationally.

The Deacons defense really tightens up in the Red Zone. Opponents are scoring only 56 percent of the time from inside the WFU 20-yard line. That mark leads the ACC. Wake Forest has allowed only 6 Red Zone touchdowns this season.

Senior defensive end Bryan Andrews (6-5, 263) anchors the defensive line. A Parade All-American in high school, Andrews is coming into his own as a fifth-year player. He leads the Deaks in tackles for loss (7) and sacks (3.5).

Another standout is middle linebacker Jon Abbate (5-11, 245). The redshirt junior leads the team and is No 4 in the ACC in tackles (8.0). The two-time honorable mention All-ACC selection is a tough, emotional player who never quits. Outside linebacker, Aaron Curry (6-3, 240) is a second year starter and is also playing well. The redshirt sophomore has 3 sacks and averages 6 stops a game.

The secondary is very experienced and has recorded 6 of the Deaks 7 interceptions. Safeties Patrick Ghee (6-1, 211) and Josh Gattis (6-1, 212) are both redshirt seniors and third-year starters. Cornerback Alphonso Smith, a second-year starter, was a freshman All-American in ’05 and returned an interception for a touchdown against NC State.

While a mistake in the kicking game cost the Deacons last week, that phase of the game is usually solid.

Redshirt sophomore, Sam Swank (6-2, 206) is the ACC’s No. 4 punter (42.7) and is second in the league in field goal percentage (8 of 11). He also has range, connecting on 3-of-5 field goal attempts beyond 40-yards with his longest a 52-yarder.

Idlette and wide receiver Kenneth Moore (6-0, 175, Jr.) are dangerous punt returners. Idlette’s 11.7-yard  average is third-best in the conference. The Deacons 21.4 yards per kickoff return is average, but Kevin Marion is a big threat. He’s returned three kickoffs for 150 yards, including a 93-yarder against Clemson. Wake Forest’s kickoff coverage is ranked in the lower third of the league.

 

NOTES: Saturday’s game marks the 100^th meeting between Wake Forest and NC State...The Deacons are the Wolfpack’s most frequent football rival...Wake Forest has won two of the last three games in its series with NC State, but the Deacons have not won in Raleigh since 1984, a span of 10 straight losses...The Wolfpack committed only one turnover in its last two games...Opponents have scored 27 points off NC State turnovers this season, all in the first three games...Andre Brown is averaging 105 rushing yards per game against ACC teams, the third best mark in the league...Wolfpack kicker, John Deraney, has never missed an extra point kick in his college career (74-74) and drilled a career-long 54 yard field goal at Southern Miss... Wolfpack linebacker, Pat Lowry, is averaging 8.8 tackles a game and is No.2 in the  ACC...Defensive end, Martrel Brown is tied for the ACC lead in forced fumbles with two...Wake Forest is tied for No.2 in the ACC with 17 sacks. However, the Deacons have allowed 14 sacks (10^th ACC)...Daniel Evans will start his third college game against the Deacons. If he had enough attempts to qualify, Evans would rank fourth in the ACC in passing efficiency (132.4). The redshirt sophomore has averaged 185 yards passing in two ACC games, both against ranked opponents...The Pack O-line has allowed only 7 sacks, third best in the conference...NC State’s last overtime game was a 27-21 win at home over Wake Forest in 2004...The Pack is 6-4 in overtime games...The Deacons have a 13-17 road record under coach Jim Grobe.

INJURIES--NC State: DT Tank Tyler-Probable, back spasms; LB Reggie Davis-Probable, neck; LB James Martin-Out, wrist surgery. Wake Forest OT Arby Jones-Doubtful, knee;  S Aaron Mason- Questionable, hamstring; S Johnny Edwards-Questionable, ankle; RB Micah Andrews-Out, knee; DE Matt Robinson-Out, knee; QB Benjamin Mauk-Out, arm and shoulder.

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North Carolina State University Athletics

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