Vanderbilt Holds Off Wake Forest, 17-10
Demon Deacons football loses close one at home.

Oct. 7, 2000

Box Score

Oct. 7, 2000

By JOHN MARSHALL
Associated Press Writer

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Dan Stricker and Jared McGrath each scored touchdowns as Vanderbilt held off Wake Forest for a 17-10 victory Saturday.

Wake Forest moved from its 7 to the Vandy 24 with just over a minute left, but James MacPherson's pass to Ira Williams fell short on fourth-and-9.

The Demon Deacons (0-5) are off to their worst start since 1974, when they went 1-10.

Vanderbilt (2-4) took a 7-0 lead in the second quarter on Greg Zolman's 50-yard pass to Stricker, who beat Chris Justice on a quick inside route. Stricker went untouched up the middle after Wake Forest free safety Tehran Carpenter overran the play.

Zolman was 9-for-16 for 145 yards, and Stricker had four catches for 89 yards.

McGrath gave Vanderbilt a 14-0 lead when he took a draw and broke to the outside for an 11-yard touchdown on Vanderbilt's first possession of the second half.

Anthony Young made it 14-7 on a 6-yard run with 1:26 left in the third quarter. Young broke two tackles as he cut upfield and stretched the final 2 yards to the end zone, capping a 20-play, 80-yard drive that took 10:08.

Young led Wake Forest with 79 yards on 16 carries.

Tyler Ashe hit a 34-yard field goal for Wake Forest with 11:17 left after Oki Chukwumah intercepted a pass at the Vandy 45-yard line, but John Markham - who missed from 42 and 27 yards in the first half - answered with a 40-yard field goal with 3:27 left.

Wake Forest had a season-high 375 total yards, including 217 rushing. Vandy had 274 yards and eight fewer first downs than the Demon Deacons.

Wake Forest had 291 total yards in the first half - more than it had in three previous games this season - but no points.

The Demon Deacons got inside the 20 twice, but Ashe was wide right on field-goal attempts from 28 and 37 yards.