Chestnut Hill, MA – On a cold, blustery day in New England, Wake Forest traveled north to best Boston College, 41-10, to take the ACC Atlantic title. The No. 18 Demon Deacons (10-2, 7-1) travel back to neighborly Charlotte, NC next to meet No. 17 Pitt (10-2, 7-1) for the ACC championship. For the Deacs, their last 10-win season came in 2008.
A slow start overcame Boston College which seemed more sluggish as the Deacs held the Eagles scoreless beyond midway through the second quarter. Surprisingly, their defense held BC (6-6, 2-6) to 182 total yards. They made three take-aways and held the Eagles to only 19 yards passing.
The Demon Deacons invaded BC’s Alumni Stadium to stake their claim to the ACC’s Coastal Division title.
Hartman leads the Deacs
For Wake Forest, QB Sam Hartman (20/32 passes, 236 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT) punctuated a 71-yard scoring drive in the first with a seven-yard TD run. Their second score came the more conventional Wake way as he connected with AT Perry on a 35-yard pass and catch following an INT by DB Ja’Sir Taylor. Trailing 14-0, the Eagles looked like that would climb back into the game. Before the first period ended, QB Phil Jurkovec who has experienced better days, completed one of his three completes of the game for 15 yards to TE Trae Barry to close the score 14-7.
Wake’s defense sacked BC QB Phil Jurkovec three times to shut down the Eagle passing attack.
Accurate, Wake PK Nick Sciba booted a 45-yard FG early in the second, and the Eagles responded with a 23-yarder by Connor Lytton. Jurkovec fumbled the ball away on the next BC possession on his 19. Wake failed to capitalize though as Hartman’s pass into the end zone was picked easily by BC CB Brandon Sebastian. After a punt by BC from their 13. Wake’s next drive starting at the 50 went for paydirt as Hartman connected with Perry again (four catches 81 yards, two TDs) for an 11-yard TD pass with 00:10 left in the half.
Wake’s AT Perry (9) caught two TD passes today, but BC CB Brandon Sebastian picked off a Hartman pass in the end zone to thwart a third.
It’s sunnier in Philadelphia and in the upper stands at BC
With a 24-10 Wake Forest halftime lead, we looked for warmer climes during intermssion. We moved out of the shade in the south end zone to the upper west sideline of BC’s Alumni Stadium in the warm sunshine. The 25,851 in attendance reported seemed to be dwindling aleady. The figure was most likely bloated as student season ticket holders probably stayed home on Thanksgiving weekend. Their Eagles hadn’t given them much to cheer about. They lost five of their last seven games. Why bother to stay on campus to sit out in 35 degree weather against the best of the ACC this year?
All Wake Forest in the second half
A BC punt from their four was returned 22 yards by WFU’s Tyler Morin. With the aid of a face mask penalty,the Deacs started at the BC 14. Sciba drilled a 23-yard FG midway through the third. On Wake’s next series, a 32-yard completion to Jacquiri Roberson (5 catches for 71 yards) put Wake at the BC three. It resulted in a five-yard TD pass to RB Christian Turner (18 carries for 51 yards, one TD) to put the Deacs up, 34-10. An INT by Wake DB Malik Mustapha had Wake Forest on the move again heading into Q4.
Wake’s Tyler Morin (83) returned this punt and a face mask penalty put the Deacs at BC’s 14.
Sixty-one yards later, Hartman connected with TE Blake Whiteheart for a two-yard scoring pass. With 11:10 remaining, the writng was on the wall. This game was over. The sun set and the chill picked up. Didn’t want to drive back to Rhode Island in the dark. Getting hungry. Time to go. Good call. No one scored after we left.
TE Blake Whiteheart hauled in a two-yard TD pass for Wake’s final score of the day.
Mission accomplished
Contacted Wake Alum and enthuisast, Jim “Bug” Harton, “Mission accomplished.” My Wake nickname officially changed. With this win, the Deacs have won 10 of 11 games collegefootballfan.com has attended in person. The new moniker is now “10 and almost 0” Koreivo! Proud of that mark and proud to be of service to my Wake Forest friends looking forward to seeing their Deacs play Pitt in the warmer climes of Charlotte next Saturday.
CFF.com plans for AAC championship
Having rooted hard for some new blood in the CFP and focusing on Cincinnati since early this season as our favorite longshot, we’ve decided to go to Nippert Stadium next Satureday for the 4 pm EST kickoff! The No. 3 Bearcats (12-0, 8-0) host the No. 16 Houston Cougars (11-1, 8-0). We want to root hard for the Cats in this one to be sure they make it to the CFP.
Since Houston lost their first game of the 2021 season to Texs Tech, 38-21, they went undefeated the rest of the season. Last Saturday, they defeated 1-11 UConn on the road, 45-17. A tougher animal than the hapless Huskies await them in Cincy. In the annals of our 43-year history, the Bearcats stand, 2-3. The Cougars stand 3-3. First trip to Nippert, so we’re psyched! Check out our Conference Championship picks later this week on Steveo’s Salvos!
Steve Koreivo, ed. Author of “Tales from the Tailgate: From the Fan who’s seen ‘em all!” Click on the title to do your Christmas shopping. The books aren’t sitting offshore, they’re right here in the USA!
Maybe some day more Wake Forest fans will understand the legend of “10 and almost 0” Koreivo! Bigger question: How much longer can we keep the “almost 0” intact?
