It wasn’t always pretty. But when you are desperate for wins, it all looks nice. Wake Forest got what it needed from quarterback Hank Bachmeier and got defense at critical times to beat UConn 23-20 Saturday in Storrs, CT.
The sixth-year quarterback engineered an offense that totaled 391 yards. He was 21 of 36 passing for 274 yards. A bad interception at the end of the first half cost the Deacs some points, but there was enough in the second half to overcome it, in large part thanks to the defense.
UConn came into the game averaging 220 yards per game rushing. Wake held the Huskies to just 40 yards on the ground Saturday.
Close Is Good Enough
“We’re fortunate to get out of here with a three-point win,” head coach Dave Clawson said after the game. “You prefer to clean these things up after a win,” he said referring to some of the missed opportunities the Demon Deacons had to pull away in the game. “Your problems are your problems. They’re just a lot more fun to clean up after you score more than them.”
The two teams spent the first half of the first quarter going nowhere on offense and relying on the punting game to help with field position.
It was on Wake’s third drive of the game that they finally put some points on the board. A 34-yard drive stalled out. But Matthew Dennis hit a 32-yard field goal for the 3-0 lead.
UConn tied it in the closing minute of the quarter with a 35-yard field goal from Chris Freeman.
Wake’s Offense Chimes In
Bachmeier put together a real drive of substance to start the second quarter. While in the clutches of UConn defensive linemen, he managed to strong-arm a throw out into the flat, connecting with running back Demond Claiborne for what turned out to be a 20-yard completion. Two plays later he hit Micah Mays down the middle with a perfectly executed pass play for a 41-yard gain down to the UConn five-yard line.
On the next play, Claiborne swept around the right end of the line and dove into the end zone for the 10-3 lead.
The hot and cold feel of the offense was front and center on Wake’s next drive. Bachmeier started the drive six for six passing. But then two incompletions stalled the drive out. The Demon Deacons settled for a 31-yard Dennis field goal to extend the lead to 13-3.
The Huskies put the last points of the half on the board with a 53-yard field from Freeman, the longest kick of his career. Wake held on to a 13-6 lead at the half. The stats for the first 30 minutes were decidedly in Wake’s favor but the Deacs were back to taking more field goals than they were touchdowns in the red zone.
Decisive Second Half
Bachmeier stood tall in the pocket on Wake’s first drive of the third quarter. Twice he had a blitz right in his face, and both times he completed the pass. One went to Horatio Fields for 10 yards. The other was caught by Taylor Morin for 34 yards to the UConn 31-yard line. UConn was called for a personal foul, adding another 15 yards to the play. Morin was Bachmeier’s most prominent target on the day. The sixth-year senior finished with six catches for 104 yards.
Demond Claiborne bulled up the middle from one yard out, with some help from Bachmeier shoving him from behind. The lead was 20-6 Wake. But Claiborne’s taunting penalty after the touchdown was going to make that lead short-lived.
Wake had to kick off from its own 20. While Caleb Carson’s kickoff was strong, there was so much more ground for the Wake special teams unit to cover that Mel Brown was able to return it to midfield.
Six plays later Nick Evers completed a 20-yard pass to Jasaiah Gathings, who had created separation from Capone Blue, for the touchdown. The Wake lead was now 20-13.
A blocked field goal attempt by Dennis kept it like that going into the fourth quarter. Dennis did add a 36-yard field goal to his tally in the fourth quarter to extend the lead to 23-13.
Making It Close
Wake’s offense went stagnant in the fourth quarter. The Demon Deacons managed only 54 yards of total offense in the period. That left the door open for UConn and Evers attacked the soft zone defense. On fourth and two he completed a pass along the right side to Brett Buckman for 17 yards. Later in the drive on third and 15, he connected with Louis Hansen who made a leaping catch in the end zone for the 25-yard touchdown. The Wake lead was down to 23-20 with 2:27 left on the clock.
When Wake went three and out you could sense the nerves from Winston-Salem all the way up to Storrs. But Evers missed back-to-back passes and the Huskies wound up with a fourth and eight with 1:31 left. Evers threw to Gathings along the left side. For the rest of the season, UConn fans will be claiming that Wake defensive back Jamare Glasker made contact with the receiver well before the ball got there. The replay shows they may have a case. But the flags never came out. Wake took over and got to do something they have not done much lately…kneel in victory formation.
The win puts Wake at 3-4 overall and they are now done with their out of conference games having two of the four. They go cross country next week to face Stanford in an ACC game. Wake is 1-1 in conference play. UConn drops to 4-3.
Last Word will have extensive coverage of the post-game interviews on Sunday.
