April 14, 2007

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Wake Forest head coach Jim Grobe had two simple goals for today's annual spring football game - get in plenty of work and walk away injury-free.

The Deacons, the defending ACC champions, accomplished both goals and more in front of an overflow crowd. For the second straight year, Wake Forest concluded spring drills by playing the intrasquad scrimmage at its on-campus practice facility.

Three Wake Forest quarterbacks combined to complete 27-of-35 passing attempts for 306 yards and no interceptions. ACC Rookie of the Year Riley Skinner, who completed 11 straight passes at one point, finished 12-of-14 for 115 yards including a seven-yard touchdown strike to senior-to-be Kenneth Moore.

Kevin Marion (44 yards receiving), Chip Brinkman (34 yards), Moore (28 yards), Demir Boldin (22 yards) each had three receptions.

The only other touchdown of the 75-minute scrimmage was a five-yard run by rising sophomore Kevin Harris.

The Deacon rushing attack was limited. Rising senior Micah Andrews, a potential all-star candidate in 2007, did not play. Harris, a key reserve for the Deacons in 2006, carried twice for 11 yards.

Josh Adams and Lucas Caparelli, a pair of highly-touted freshmen who both redshirted last fall, showed glimpses of their potential. Adams carried just three times for four yards and Caparelli had five rushes for 16 yards. Each made a pair of catches out of the backfield.

Several Deacons enjoyed solid performances on the defensive side of the ball, but just seeing senior defensive end Matt Robinson on the field for the first time since 2005 may have been the highlight. Robinson, Wake's top pass-rusher in 2004 and 2005, sat out all of last season after breaking his kneecap in the final game of the `05 season. Robinson managed two sacks on consecutive plays.

Stanley Arnoux, a rising junior linebacker, led all Deacons with five tackles. John Russell, Anthony Davis, Boo Robinson and Michael Lockett each had one sack.

Wake Forest played without kicker/punter Sam Swank, who is nursing a sports hernia.

The Deacons, who played in the FedEx Orange Bowl, will resume drills in early August. Wake Forest opens the 2007 season Sept. 1 at Boston College.