GAME NOTES: It has been a hard few weeks for Wake Forest, which is dealing with a terrible losing skid, but the Demon Deacons will try to snap out of their funk this Saturday when they host the Boston College Eagles in an ACC bout at BB&T Field.
Before this past weekend, the Eagles were also stuck in a major slump, losing five consecutive games. However, this past Saturday coach Frank Spaziani's squad returned to the win column with a 16-10 victory over Clemson. It was the first league win for Boston College, which is still searching for its first road win on the year.
As for the Deacons, they continue to free fall on the year. After winning the first two games on the season, Wake Forest has lost its last six matchups, including an embarrassing 62-14 loss to Maryland this past weekend. Wake Forest, which only won three league games a year ago, is still looking to claim its first ACC victory of the 2010 campaign.
Boston College has won the last three matchups against Wake Forest, and now own a 9-6-2 edge over the Demon Deacons in the all-time series. Last year the Eagles grabbed a slim, 27-24, overtime decision over Wake Forest.
Boston College might have been victorious this past weekend, but the offense was rather unimpressive, totaling just 304 yards. The majority of the team's success came from the ground attack, which rumbled for 168 yards. Montel Harris did most of the work out of the backfield, rumbling for 142 yards on 36 carries. The passing attack, however, did not enjoy similar success as Chase Rettig finished with just 136 yards and one touchdown, but was also intercepted once, while completing just 9 of 16 passes.
Since taking over for Dave Sinskie, Rettig has been inconsistent, completing less than 50 percent of his passes and comes into this weekend with just three touchdowns against three interceptions. Through eight games the only real threat for this offense has been Harris, who has rushed for 836 yards, while scoring all three of the team's rushing TDs.
The lack of success by the offense has overshadowed the team's performance defensively, which has been solid for most of the year. Boston College is surrendering a mediocre 23.1 ppg, and has done an outstanding job against the run, limiting the opposition to just 83.9 ypg on a mere 2.9 yards per attempt. However, if there was a problem for this unit, it would be its play against the pass. Through eight games teams are averaging 223.8 ypg and have scored 12 of their 17 touchdowns against BC via the pass.
The Eagles put forth one of their best defensive performance this past weekend, as Boston College surrendered just 10 points, and the lone touchdown for Clemson was a defensive score. Boston College was stifling against the Tigers on the ground, holding its ACC foe to just 86 yards. What was crucial for the team's success was the effort against the pass, and the secondary got the better of this showdown, as the Eagles allowed just 176 and finished with two interceptions.
The Demon Deacons might be stuck in a terrible slump, but the recent losing skid isn't because of the offense, which is currently averaging a healthy 26.6 ppg. The majority of the team's success has come on the ground, as Wake Forest heads into this weekend averaging 180.4 ypg, and out of the 26 touchdowns scored by this unit, 18 have come via the run.
However, the Deacons do not have one main back, and in fact, eight different players have scored at least one touchdown on the ground for Wake Forest. Redshirt freshman Josh Harris has been the best of the bunch, rushing for 457 yards and five touchdowns, while Josh Adams has contributed 208 yards and two scores.
This past weekend against Maryland, no one on Wake Forest's roster had success running the ball, as the team finished with negative three yards on 21 carries in the blowout loss. Harris scored one of the team's two touchdowns, but finished with just 27 yards on 10 carries. The passing attack was not much better as true freshman Tanner Price finished with just 156 yards and one score, but also tossed an interception and was sacked five times. Price has been nothing special under center for the Deacons and comes into this weekend with just 879 yards and seven touchdowns against four interceptions.
What has caused this year to be a lost season for coach Jim Grobe's squad has been the performance of the defense or lack thereof. Wake Forest has allowed 41 touchdowns through eight games and come into this matchup surrendering a whopping 40.8 ppg. The Deacons are being trounced for 217.2 rushing yards per game, and surprisingly the pass defense has been worse, as the secondary is being torched for 236.1 ypg and has already been scored on 24 times via the pass.
The last time Wake Forest was in action the team was demolished by Maryland, which scored 62 points. Wake Forest surrendered four passing touchdowns in the loss, but the major problem in this matchup was the team's effort against the run, as the Terrapins rumbled for 261 yards.
The poor play by the defense for Wake Forest will be a problem for the rest of the season, and until this unit can put forth a better effort it is unlikely the team will win again in 2010. Boston College has enjoyed success on the ground and will likely run early and often in hopes of claiming another league win.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Boston College 38, Wake Forest 24
Saturday, November 6th, 3:30 p.m. (et)