Wake holds on over Cavaliers

AP photo

WINSTON-SALEM —  Wake Forest scored more points in the first half of Saturday's game against Virginia than it had in three games in October.

With a dominant first-half performance, the Demon Deacons secured a 28-17 victory over the Cavaliers, rejuvenating their offense -at least for a half - and re-establishing their defensive might in the process.

Despite a less-than convincing effort in the fourth quarter, when the Cavs scored 14 points and cut their opponents' 28-3 halftime lead, the Deacs created three first-half turnovers and posted their first defensive touchdown this season.

In their second consecutive victory, the Deacs improved to 6-3 overall and 4-2 in the ACC. They became bowl eligible for the third consecutive season. 

Bolstered by stifling defense and mixing the passing and rushing attack, the Deacs stunned the Cavaliers in the first half of Saturday's game. They scored by air in the first quarter and on the ground early in the second. And scored in the way they've grown accustomed having led the nation in with eight defensive touchdowns last season.

Wake's safety Kevin Patterson returned an interception for a touchdown with 3:16 remaining in the second quarter.

His 47-yard return and Shane Popham's extra point conversion sent the Deacs into the locker room with a
comfortable lead.

The Deacs probably didn't want to leave the field considering how well things had gone in the first half. When they
reeturned in the second half they probably wished they had. They were not as crisp offensively and allowed Virginia
to gain footing in the game.

It wasn't until late in the fourth quarter that the Deacs ended the Cavaliers' second-half surge. Wake linebacker Stanley Arnoux intercepted Virginia quarterback Marc Veirca pass at the 36-yard line and returned it to his team's 14-yardline.

Wake would whittle down the clock and hold on for the victory.
With the defensive punch they showed in the first half, the Deacs kept the Cavaliers off the scoreboard in the third quarter, mustering an impressive late goal-line stand.

With first-and-goal from the 1-yardline, the Cavaliers were stopped on four consecutive plays and held out of the end zone with three minutes remaining in the quarter. The Deacs forced their opponents to fourth-and-6 and then held on when redshirt freshman corner back Josh Bush tackled tailback Cedric Peerman catching pass in the flat.  

Without starting running back Josh Adams, who was sidelined for the second consecutive game with an ankle injury, the Deacs fed redshirt freshman Brandon Pendergrasss (27 carries for 110 yards).

Pendergrass's 1-yard touchdown run capped a 15-play, 71-yard drive that spanned 8 minutes, 49 seconds.  It was the Deacs' longest scoring drive of the season and put them ahead 21-3 with 4:29 remaining.

Pendergrass, who rushed 16 times for 84 yards in the half, rushed for 59 yards on the drive, one that re-enforced the Deacs' recent switch from a spread team to a primary I-formation team.

They were impressive.

Virginia cut Wake's lead to 14-3 on the first series of the second quarter when kicker Yannick Reyering nailed a 33-yard field goal.  

Two touchdown passes from Skinner staked the Deacons to an early lead. He connected with wide receiver Devon Brown on a 58-yard pass play with less than three minutes remaining in the quarter, putting the Deacs ahead 14-0.

The Deacs took a 7-0 lead at the 8:51 mark. They drove 51 yards on the first series of the game and capped that drive with a 2-yard touchdown pass from Skinner to junior tight end Ben Wooster.

Wooster, who returned after missing two games with a hamstring injury, slipped free in the back of the end zone and pulled in a laser pass from Skinner. Skinner rolled right and waited for Wooster to clear on the right side.

The Deacs forced three turnovers in the first half, including a fumble recovery by linebacker Aaron Curry and an interception by defensive tackle Boo Williams.