Wake Forest Demon Deacons: Showdown in Death Valley Ahead

After losing on a last-minute touchdown against Florida State, the Demon Deacons travel to Memorial Stadium to take on a dominant Clemson Tigers team.

The Demon Deacons (4-1, 1-1 ACC) started the season strong with four wins against lackluster opposition. Non-conference foes Presbyterian, Utah State, and Appalachian State aren’t exactly teams that are perennial powerhouses, and fellow ACC Atlantic team Boston College is one of the conference’s consistent bottom-feeders.

Last weekend, Wake Forest faced its first true challenge against Florida State, and the Deacs almost pulled out the win. However, Seminole freshman quarterback James Blackman connected with Auden Tate for a 40-yard score with less than a minute left in play to end Wake’s hopes at an undefeated season.

Moving forward, the Demon Deacons must put last week’s loss behind them as they take to the road to face No. 2 Clemson (5-0, 3-0 ACC) in what is colloquially known as “Death Valley.”

The Tigers’ Strengths

The defending FBS Champion Tigers have gotten off to a tremendous start with junior quarterback Kelly Bryant. In five games, Bryant already has seven rushing touchdowns and three passings. He leads the Tigers in passing yards (1,059) and rushing yards (362).

Clemson’s other rushing threats include Travis Etienne (311 yards, four TDs), Tavien Feaster (278 yards, two TDs), and C.J. Fuller (116 yards, three TDs). The Tigers’ most reliable receiving targets are Ray-Ray McCloud (21 receptions, 253 yards, one TD) and Hunter Renfrow (23 catches, 221 yards).

One of the biggest reasons the Tigers sit second in the Top 25 rankings is its defense. Clemson ranks second in the ACC in sacks with 19 for 115 yards. Opposing teams average only 10.8 points per game, tied for fourth-fewest in the country and the fewest in the conference.

Wake’s Weapons

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John Wolford continues to impress as a dual-threat quarterback. He’s thrown for eight touchdowns and one interception on 74-of-117 passing. On the ground, Wolford has four more scores with 332 yards on 66 carries.

Greg Dortch, last week’s ACC Rookie of the Week, leads the Deacons in receiving with 30 receptions, 352 yards, and five touchdowns. Cam Serigne has four touchdown catches of his own with nine receptions total for 164 yards.

What a Wake Win Means

The Demon Deacons have much to play for this week. If Wake comes away with the win, the result doesn’t just give the team its fifth victory, one closer to bowl contention. It also has the implication of shaking up the entire College Football Playoff.

The Tigers are looking to repeat as champions, and their success thus far continues to add to their résumé. However, a loss to the Deacs opens the door for other Power-5 teams to take Clemson’s spot.

This would also give other teams in the Atlantic to take control of the division. Should Wake win and Louisville defeat NC State, there would be a four-way tie atop the standings with the Tigers, Cardinals, Wolfpack, and Deacons all stuck at 2-1 in ACC play.

This week’s matchup against the No. 2 Tigers will not be easy for Wake Forest, especially coming off the FSU loss. However, should the Deacs prevail, it should be smooth sailing for Tie Dye Nation.

Next: NC State Wolfpack: Critical Matchup Versus Cardinals Ahead

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