Oct. 6, 1997
Demon Deacons Take On Top Ten Tar Heels
Wake Forest faces its biggest challenge to date during the 1997 season this Saturday
(October 11) when it travels to Chapel Hill to meet 5th-ranked North Carolina. Kickoff time in Kenan Stadium for the regionally televised (ACC/JP Sports network) contest is 12 noon.
This marks the fifth time in six weeks that the Demon Deacons have appeared on either a regional or national network telecast.
Team Data
WAKE FOREST (2-3 / 1-2 in ACC) NORTH CAROLINA (5-0 / 2-0 in ACC)
Offense: Multiple Offense: Multiple
(21.8 pts / 361.0 yds per game) (34.0 pts / 387.4 yds per game)
Defense: Multiple Defense: 4-3
(22.4 pts / 331.0 yds per game) (13.4 pts / 199.6 yds per game)
Head Coach: Jim Caldwell (5th year) Head Coach: Mack Brown (10th year at UNC)
W-11, L-38 W-64, L-45, T-1
same record overall 81-73-1 overall (14th year)
0-4 vs North Carolina 8-2 vs Wake Forest (7-2 @ UNC)
THE SERIES WITH NORTH CAROLINA - College football in the state of North Carolina began in 1888 with a meeting between squads from Wake Forest College and the University of North Carolina at the State Fairgrounds in Raleigh. The date was October 18th and the men of Wake Forest won by the unlikely score of 6-4.
Those same two schools meet for the 94th time this Saturday. The Demon Deacons have lost seven in a row to the Tar Heels and trail in the overall series, 62-29-2. Wake's last win over UNC came in Kenan Stadium in 1989, 17-16, a win that concluded a three-game winning streak for the Deacs over their longtime rival. In 41 previous visits to Kenan, Wake Forest is on the short end of a 26-13-2 ledger.
North Carolina recorded a decisive 45-6 triumph last year in Winston-Salem (see reverse side) and has now outscored the Deacons over the past three seasons, 126-13 (50-0 in 1994; 31-7 in 1995).
THE EYE OF THE CAMERA - As noted at the top, for the fifth time in six weeks, Wake Forest will be playing on television as this week's game at North Carolina has been selected as part of the ACC/JP Sports network. The Demon Deacons also were part of the ACC "Game of the Week" last Saturday at Virginia. Previous Deacon games this fall have been shown regionally on ABC (Northwestern), Fox Sports South (East Carolina) and nationally on ESPN (N.C.State).
LAST YEAR'S GAME - Nationally 15th-ranked North Carolina displayed a balanced attack and a stingy defense last October 5th in Groves Stadium, defeating Wake Forest, 45-6. The Demon Deacons contributed to their own demise with five turnovers and problems in the kicking game (blocked PAT and FG attempts, and a UNC touchdown on a kickoff return).
The Tar Heels opened the day's scoring on the final play of the first quarter on a five-yard run by Leon Johnson. Wake then responded in the second period, moving 54 yards in six plays to score a TD of its own on a 15-yd pass from Brian Kuklick to running back Morgan Kane. The extra-point try was blocked, however, and when Johnson returned the ensuing kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown, the visitors seemed to take over for good.
An interception and a blocked field goal try led to 10 more UNC points and a 24-6 halftime deficit for the Deacs. The second half was all Tar Heels as they added three TDs, including quarterback Chris Keldorf's second and third scoring passes of the afternoon. Keldorf finished with 262 yards throught the air, completing 22-of-34 passes. Kuklick had almost equal numbers (21-of-31 for 251 yds) but was intercepted three times. UNC outgained the Deacons on the ground, 191 to 29, leading to a dominating advantage in time of possession (35:55 to 24:05).
THE DEACS LAST WEEK - For over 50 minutes, it appeared as if Wake Forest would end its 13-game losing streak against Virginia last Saturday in Charlottesville. But the Cavaliers put together an 87-yard drive to take a one-point lead with 5:29 left in the fourth quarter, then added an interception return for a touchdown in the closing seconds to defeat the Demon Deacons, 21-13.
Wake took an early 7-0 lead on a 13-yard Brian Kuklick pass to Desmond Clark before Virginia tied the game on a 13-yard play of its own (Aaron Brooks passing to Germaine Crowell) on the first play of the second period. The two sides' defenses took over at that point with the only scoring coming on two Matthew Burdick field goals--one 4:38 before halftime, the second with 3:04 remaining in the third quarter.
The game-winning UVa drive began on its own 13 with 7:45 left and ended 2:16 later when Brooks scrambled for 25 yards and a TD. The Deacons could not pick up a first down on their next possession, then had a Kuklick pass intercepted and returned for a TD by the Cavs' Joe Williams with 0:24 to go.
COMMENTS from COACH JIM CALDWELL
(On the loss to Virginia) - "We went into the game believing that we would win and came away feeling as
if we should have won. That's not meant to take anything away from a talented Virginia team, which made the plays that it needed to make in the fourth quarter. We simply needed one more stop on defense, one more score on offense, and we're definitely not pleased with losing a close game to a good opponent. We do not measure our team by good efforts or close losses. We measure our success by winning games and feel we should have won this one."
(On North Carolina) - "This North Carolina team has the entire package. Their defense is as good as any
in the country and their offense is very explosive. They are solid in the kicking game as well. Certainly, they are deserving of the high national rankings they hold. "
WAKE FOREST FOOTBALL / MEDIA SERVICES
WEEKLY MEDIA CONFERENCE - Weekly sessions with head coach JIM CALDWELL and selected Demon
Deacon players are on Tuesday afternoon. Newspaper and radio media can meet with players from 2:30 to 3:00 in the Rovere Room in the football office complex. Coach Caldwell will be available from 3:00 to 3:30. Television interviews with the coach and players will take place on the practice field beginning at 4:00.
ACC TELECONFERENCE - Coach Jim Caldwell takes part in the ACC Teleconference each Wednesday from 12:20 to 12:30 p.m. (Eastern time). For the number needed to access the teleconference, contact the Wake Forest Sports Information Office or the ACC Office (910-851-6062). A replay of the teleconference will be available for 24 hours each Wednesday afternoon. The replay phone number is 402-220-3128.
ACC HIGHLIGHTS - ACC video highlights are available via satellite on Wednesday from 1:45 to 2:45 p.m. on C-band satellite Galaxy 9 / Transponder 22. The downlink frequency is 4140 Horizontal and the Bandwidth is 36 Mhz. Call the ACC Office for more information.
TRAVEL PLANS - The Demon Deacons will travel to Chapel Hill on Friday via charter buses. No workout is planned for Kenan Stadium.
NOTING THE DEMON DEACONS
THE DEACONS VS HIGHLY RANKED HEELS - Wake Forest had gone 17 years (since the 1979 season) before defeating a nationally ranked opponent until its win over #13 Northwestern last fall. The Demon Deacons knocked off another Top 25 Wildcat squad (#21) back on September 6th of this year as well.
During that 1979 campaign, Wake Forest beat three nationally ranked foes, including a 24-19 upset of a 14th-rated Tar Heel club in Kenan Stadium--that win catapulted the Deacons into the Top 20 themselves.
Six times since 1979 Wake has tangled with a nationally ranked Carolina squad. The highest that UNC has been during that span was in 1983 when the Heels were #4 and defeated the Deacs, 30-10, in Chapel Hill.
HIGHEST RANKED VICTIM - The highest ranked opponent that a Wake Forest team has ever defeated was 4th-ranked Tennessee. That upset came 51 years ago when the Demon Deacons journeyed to Knoxville on October 26, 1946 and came home with a 19-6 victory.
DEACONS FROM THE TAR HEEL STATE - Not surprisingly, more current Demon Deacons are residents of North Carolina than any other state. In fact, 22 members of this season's WFU squad list hometowns in the "Tar Heel" state, but only 11 of those individuals are also listed on this week's depth chart.
Wake Forest starters from North Carolina include cornerback DAMEON DANIEL (Ellenboro/East Rutherford HS), wide receivers THABITI DAVIS (Charotte/Olympic) and JAMMIE DEESE (Laurinburg/Scotland County), offensive tackle JEFF FLOWE (Charlotte/Independence), defensive end KELVIN JONES (Winston-Salem/Mount Tabor), and offensive tackle BRIAN WOLVERTON (Winston-Salem/North Forsyth).
Placekicker MATTHEW BURDICK (Winston-Salem/Mount Tabor) is a former all-state performer from North Carolina. Other Deacons who figure to see action against UNC are special teams standout DAVID MOORE (Smithfield/Smithfield-Selma) and defensive tackle KELVIN SHACKLEFORD (Farmville/Farmville).
Five members of this year's freshman class are North Carolinians, as are four of the program's walkons.
ACC LEADERS - Quite a few Demon Deacons are among this week's statistical leaders in the ACC, including sophomore wide receiver JAMMIE DEESE, who is ranked in the top five in three difference categories.
Deese is 2nd in receiving with 31 catches, 4th in all-purpose yardage (107 ypg), and 5th in receiving yardage (79.2 ypg). Another Deacon wideout, DESMOND CLARK, is 3rd in the league in both receptions (30) and yardage (88.2 ypg).
Quarterback BRIAN KUKLICK ranks 2nd in the ACC in both total offense (260.0 ypg) and passing yardage (265.4 ypg), while kicker MATTHEW BURDICK is 3rd in scoring (37 pts) and punter TRIPP MOORE is 3rd in his specialty (40.4 avg). Burdick and Duke's Sims Lenhardt are tied for tops in the conference in field goal productivity, each with nine on the season.
NATIONALLY SPEAKING - The highest-ranking individual on the national level for the Deacons is placekicker MATTHEW BURDICK, whose nine field goals (1.8 per game) ties him for the 6th-best figure in the country this week.
BRIAN KUKLICK is 17th in total offense, while JAMMIE DEESE and DESMOND CLARK are 21st and 23rd respectively in receiving.
STRING OF CLOSE ENDINGS ENDS--SORTA - Wake Forest had played three consecutive games that were decided by a total of four points prior to Saturday's contest at Virginia. The eight-point loss to the Cavaliers ended that sequence of extremely close outcomes, although the final margin is a little deceptive. The Demon Deacons trailed by only one point (14-13) and had possession of the ball until a Virginia interception return for a touchdown (by Joe Williams) with 0:24 remaining accounted for the final score.
HALFTIME DISADVANTAGE CONTINUES- In every Wake Forest game this season, the team ahead at halftime has lost.
Date Halftime Score Final Score
September 6 Northwestern 10, Wake Forest 6 Wake Forest 27, Northwestern 20
September 13 Wake Forest 21, East Carolina 13 East Carolina 25, Wake Forest 24
September 20 Wake Forest 17, Georgia Tech 7 Georgia Tech 28, Wake Forest 26
September 25 N.C.State 10, Wake Forest 3 Wake Forest 19, N.C.State 18
October 4 Wake Forest 10, Virginia 7 Virginia 21, Wake Forest 13
TURNOVER TRAVAILS - The twofold problem of turnovers continued to plague the Demon Deacons at Virginia as they committed three giveaways while not taking the ball away from the Cavaliers a single time. On the season, Wake Forest now has a negative-10 total in that important category, committing 15 turnovers in its five outings while the opposition has lost the ball just five times.
Even in victory, the Deacs have had to overcame three turnovers to defeat Northwestern and five turnovers in downing N.C.State.
DEFENSIVE IMPROVEMENT - A much-improved Demon Deacon defense has been a key factor in the team's ability to overcome turnovers. Wake Forest has allowed only 331 yards per game to its first five opponents and been particularly stingy against the run, surrendering only 103 yards per contest. Last year, the opposition averaged 476 yards per game in total offense versus the Deacon defense, including 254 on the ground.
FIRST QUARTER "D" - Wake Forest has not allowed a touchdown in the first period yet this season. In fact, the only opposition points scored in the first 15 minutes of play in four games came on a field goal by Northwestern's Brian Gowins. Wake has outscored its three opponents, 34-3, in the first quarter thus far.
(This streak was maintained by just one play at Virginia, where the Cavaliers scored on the first play of the second quarter.)
LED BY LINEBACKERS - An outstanding trio of linebackers are an important component in the Wake Forest defensive scheme, providing both consistency and big plays. The trio are one-two-three in tackles on the Deacon chart, combining for 130 stops on the season (26 per game!) and 15 tackles-for-losses (5 each).
Sophomore DUSTIN LYMAN and junior KELVIN MOSES lead the Deacs in total tackles with 48 apiece. Lyman was the team leader agaisnt Northwestern (10 tackles), East Carolina (12) and Virginia (9), while Moses topped the Deacs in hits versus both Georgia Tech (14) and N.C.State (10).
DAVID ZADEL, the lone senior in the linebacking corps, is 3rd on the team with 34 total tackles and has been an extremely durable and consistent performer. Zadel has been on the field for every defensive play the past three games (201 consecutive snaps).
ROBBINS, JOYNER TOUGH UP THE MIDDLE - Sophomore FRED ROBBINS played one of the finest games of his young Wake Forest career at Virginia, registering six unassisted tackles, including three for negative yardage (one sack, two TFLs).
The play of Robbins and veteran ALJAMONT "AJ" JOYNER at the two defensive tackle spots has been instrumental in the Deacons' vastly improved performance against opposing rushers. Through five games in 1996, Wake Forest opponents were rushing for an average of 244 yards per game. And in each of the first five games a year ago, an opposing running back had gained more than 100 yards. This season, the opposition is averaging just 103 yards per game on the ground and N.C.State's Tremayne Stephens (with 87 yards) is the only back to pick up more than 70 yards against WFU.
Joyner had five first-half tackles at Virginia before being sidelined during the second half with a slight knee sprain. He will likely return to action this week. The Waverly, VA graduate student has been outstanding all season, ranking 5th on the team with 24 tackles (17 solo) and topping the squad with 6 TFLs (tied for that distinction with Robbins).
ELDER STATESMEN EXCELLING - There are only eight fifth-year seniors on the 1997 Wake Forest roster, but three of them are starters playing the finest football of their careers--and all three are enrolled in graduate school after already receiving their WFU degrees.
Veteran ALJAMONT JOYNER (see above) is joined on the Deacon defensive front by end ROBERT FATZINGER, who was a key factor in the win over N.C.State with eight tackles (4 solo), a pass breakup and a quarterback pressure. And on the other side of the ball is center CHRIS GASKELL, a leader on a rebuilt and improved Wake Forest offensive front. Gaskell has played all but four snaps for the Deacons this season and was the top lineman (as determined by the coaching staff) in both the Northwestern and Georgia Tech contests.
BILETNIKOFF CHECKLIST - Wake Forest's two outstanding wide receivers--senior THABITI DAVIS and junior DESMOND CLARK--are included in the preseason checklist for the 1997 "Biletnikoff Award," which is presented annually by the Tallahassee (FL) Quarterback Club to the top receiver in the country.
Davis raised his 1997 total in receptions to 18 with a season-high six catches at Virginia, while Clark ranks 3rd in this week's ACC stats with 30 receptions. He has enjoyed outstanding performances versus Northwestern (9 rec for 127 yards) and in the win over N.C.State (7 for 134 yds), scoring in both of those games as well. Last Saturday, Clark added his third TD of the season while catching 7 passes for 96 yards.
BILETNIKOFF NOMINEES PLUS ONE - The Wake Forest wide receiving corps was rated by preseason publications as one of the best in the nation, largely on the strength of returning starters DESMOND CLARK and THABITI DAVIS. Add a third name to that list with the emergence this year of sophomore JAMMIE DEESE as a legitimate threat at wideout as well.
Deese was outstanding in Wake's win over N.C.State, grabbing a career-high nine receptions and topping the 100-yard mark in receiving for the second consecutive game. The Laurinburg, NC native had recorded a personal best of 118 yards (on 7 catches) the previous outing against Georgia Tech. Deese now leads the team in receiving on the year with 31 receptions, a total that places him 2nd in the ACC this week.
Last Saturday at Virginia, Deese contributed 5 receptions for 66 yards.
KUKLICK MAINTAINS HOT STREAK - Demon Deacon quarterback BRIAN KUKLICK has topped the 250-yard mark in every game this season and now has an impressive streak of seven straight contests with passing yardage above that figure. Kuklick completed 27 of 40 passes versus Virginia for 264 yards, and while he did have three interceptions, two came in the final 30 seconds when the Deacons were desperately trying to move the ball into scoring position.
Brian Kuklick - The Last Seven Games
11/16/96 Duke 27-of-50 for 299 yds 2 TDs, 0 ints
11/23/96 at N.C.State 28-of-57 for 330 yds 3 TDs, 2 ints
9/6/97 Northwestern 23-of-33 for 273 yds 2 TDs, 0 ints
9/13/97 at East Carolina 19-of-30 for 257 yds 1 TD, 1 int
9/20/97 Georgia Tech 22-of-42 for 258 yds 2 TDs, 1 int
9/25/97 N.C.State 23-of-34 for 275 yds 2 TDs, 1 int
10/4/97 at Virginia 27-of-40 for 264 yds 1 TD, 3 ints
TOTAL 169-of-286 for 1,956 yds 13 TDs, 8 ints
(59%) (279 per game)
NOW OVER 4,000 - BRIAN KUKLICK's 275-yard passing performance against N.C.State pushed him over the 4,000-yard mark as a Demon Deacon and into 6th place on the school's career passing chart. With his 264 yards through the air at Virginia, the Hatboro, PA junior now has 4,481 career passing yards at WFU and could well move into third place on that list this season.
Wake Forest Career Lists
Passing Yardage Pass Completions Touchdown Passes
(1) Mike Elkins 7,304 Gary Schofield 640 Gary Schofield 44
(2) Gary Schofield 7,205 Mike Elkins 609 Mike Elkins 43
(3) Jay Venuto 5,251 Rusty LaRue 472 Jay Venuto 38
(4) Rusty LaRue 5,016 Jay Venuto 422 Keith West 29
(5) Keith West 5,010 Keith West 380 Norm Snead 27
(6) BRIAN KUKLICK 4,481 BRIAN KUKLICK 373 Foy White 26
(7) BRIAN KUKLICK 23
Phil Barnhill 23
Rusty LaRue 23
Receptions Receiving Yardage
(1) Ricky Proehl 188 Ricky Proehl 2,949
(2) James Brim 153 Todd Dixon 2,466
(3) John Henry Mills 146 Wayne Baumgardner 2,431
(4) Wayne Baumgardner 141 James Brim 2,040
(5) Todd Dixon 139 Red O'Quinn 1,990
(6) THABITI DAVIS 130 John Henry Mills 1,735
(7) Red O'Quinn 124 Steve Brown 1,678
(8) Steve Brown 122 Tim Ryan 1,591
(9) DESMOND CLARK 115 THABITI DAVIS 1,572
(10)Tim Ryan 111 Kenny Duckett 1,507
DESMOND CLARK 1,459
SPECIALISTS TRULY SPECIAL - The Wake Forest kicking game in 1997 has been a solid one as both placekicker MATTHEW BURDICK and punter TRIPP MOORE have handled their duties in outstanding fashion.
Burdick, as noted earlier, ranks not only among the ACC leaders, but also among the best in the nation in field goal kicking. The Winston-Salem product has not missed an extra-point try this season and has nailed his last seven field goal tries since missing from 50 yards at East Carolina.
Moore turned in an excellent outing at Virginia, averaging 46.2 yards per punt on five kicks, raising his overall average to 40.4 yards per boot (3rd-best in the ACC). Of Moore's 23 punts this season, 13 have been driven the opposing team back inside its own 20-yard-line. Just eight of those punts have been returned for a total gain of only 14 yards.
ANOTHER MOORE DESERVES MENTION - There's another Moore on the Deacon roster and special teams who has been doing an excellent individual job. That is DAVID MOORE, who has already totaled 10 hits (8 unassisted tackles, 2 assists) on special teams coverage this season.
THE STARTING LINEUP - Only three players have made their first career starts for Wake Forest thus far in 1997 They are cornerback DAMEON DANIEL, defensive end KELVIN JONES and offensive guard SAM SETTAR. Twelve Deacons have personal streaks of consecutive starts that have now reached double digits.
Demon Deacon Career Starts (1997 starts)
28 Robert Fatzinger (5) 16 Desmond Clark (5) 7 Jon Mannon
D'Angelo Solomon (5) Chris Gaskell (5) Clint Wilburn
27 Kelvin Moses (5) 15 Taris Clark (5) 5 Dameon Daniel (5)
26 David Zadel (5) Fred Robbins (5) Jammie Deese (5)
22 Jeffrey Muyres (5) 14 Joe Zelenka (5) Kelvin Jones (4)
19 Thabiti Davis (5) 12 Morgan Kane (5) Sam Settar (5)
18 Jeff Flowe (5) 11 Brian Wolverton (5) 3 Reggie Austin
Aljamont Joyner (5) 10 Dustin Lyman (5) 2 Herman Lewis
Brian Kuklick (5) 8 DaLawn Parrish (5) Mark Makovec
Kelvin Shackleford (1)
Consecutive Starts: Solomon - 28; Zadel - 22 ; D.Clark, Davis, Flowe, Joyner, Kuklick, Moses - 16; Muyres 15;
Gaskell 12; Robbins, Wolverton 11
BREAKING DOWN THE TWO-DEEP - The sophomore class dominates the current Wake Forest depth chart. Of the 46 players listed on the most recent two-deep, 22 are current sophs. That's two more than the TOTAL of seniors (11) and juniors (9). There are only three redshirt freshmen.
The '97 sophomore class consists of 26 individuals. Twenty-two of those entered as freshmen two years ago but have been redshirted either in 1995 or 1996 (DESMOND CLARK is the only '95 newcomer who has not been redshirted). The other four current sophomores played as true freshmen last fall--REGGIE AUSTIN, MATTHEW BURDICK, DA'VAUGHN MELLERSON & DAVID MOORE.
REDSHIRTING REGIMEN - Although he was not able to redshirt the desired number of individuals in his first two classes to Wake Forest, coach JIM CALDWELL has stayed with that course the past two years.
There are only eight fifth-year scholarship players on this year's roster, the lone remainder of Caldwell's first group of Demon Deacon freshmen. His second incoming group (in 1994) had five of 16 players play as true freshmen. Since then the redshirt numbers have increased considerably. Of 1995's 23 freshman, 22 have been redshirted, and 12 of 16 first-year players a year ago were held out as rookies.
And thus far in the 1997 campaign, no true freshman (of a class of 17) has seen action for the Deacons.
Deacon Redshirting Progress
1997 Class Total Members* Not Been Redshirted Have Redshirted
Senior 13 5 8
Junior 12 1 11
Soph 26 4 22
Redshirt Freshmen 12 12
1997 True Freshmen 17 17#
*scholarship players only #have not played in 1997
1997 CAPTAINS - Wake Forest players have selected four seniors to serve as co-captains throughout the
'97 season. They are wide receiver THABITI DAVIS, defensive end ROBERT FATZINGER, center CHRIS GASKELL and defensive back D'ANGELO SOLOMON.
