It probably goes without saying that the mood of a winning post-game press conference is a lot lighter than the same room after a loss. There were a lot more smiles in the Wake Forest press conference Saturday after the 34-30 win at North Carolina State. There was a lot more ease in the answers to questions also. So let’s find out what Wake Forest said after Saturday’s comeback win.
Dave Clawson
The head coach called it one of the best wins he has ever had. Context matters. The team was on a three-game losing streak. The only win this season was against an FCS school. And Wake Forest had lost a one-score game twice already. His Demon Deacons were down by 10 points in the fourth quarter and mounted the comeback win.
“I thought our defense played well at times,” he said. “The big thing is we did not have any of those big busts.”
He factored in some of the younger receivers who were counted on in the game as well. Walker Merrill and Donavon Greene were both out and others had to step in and step up. “Hopefully we’re growing up a little bit,” Clawson opined. “Some of our young receivers; Micah Mays, Deuce Alexander, those guys really stepped up in that last drive.”
That last drive. That was everything, wasn’t it? Wake went for it twice on fourth down in that series. The first time they had no real option. The Deacs were down three points and at midfield on fourth and five. Quarterback Hank Bachmeier picked up 17 yards with a completion to Alexander.
But the second one came with an option. It was fourth and three at the NC State 26-yard line, and within field goal range to tie the game. Clawson said he was concerned that doing that would have left too much time on the clock for NC State to go back downfield for its own game-winning field goal. Bachmeier read the all-out blitz coming and unloaded quickly to Alexander for a six-yard gain. “What a play by Hank,” the coach said. “If that ball is tipped, I’m a dumb ass right now. It’s the nature of what we do.”
Rewards
Clawson talked about the work that went into the off-season, and each week thereafter, and the win feeling like a much-needed reward. “If you work really hard, at some point you need to have a real reward to keep you going. Our staff needed a reward. Our team needed a reward. And our fan base needed a reward.”
“It’s about freakin’ time,” Clawson said when asked what it felt like to finally come out on the upside of a one-score ball game.”
He also gave a lot of credit to Bachmeier, who statistically did not have his best game, but was there fighting at the end. Clawson said the sixth-year quarterback was in the locker room after the game apologizing for the one interception he threw. “The players really like him. They know he is about the team. He didn’t come here to put up numbers, he came here to be part of a team and help our team win.”
Nick Anderson
He agreed with Clawson’s concept of the team needing a reward. “Especially a fourth-quarter game like that,” he said. To finally get over the hump and get one, especially in this environment was awesome.” He called it something to be proud of.
Hank Bachmeier
He said the team had practiced against the blitz package that NC State threw at them late in the game. But they were not getting it right. Saturday, he gave credit to Alexander for the quick reaction time to find the hole. “I honestly threw it kind of blind. But I knew he was going to be in that area.”
Bachmeier talked about not having his best statistical game. “These guys really saved me out there.” He was quick to give credit to the offensive lines, his running back Demond Claiborne and the receivers for the blocking they did in the run game.
On the issue of the one-score games, he said he was hopeful this would provide a mental breakthrough for the team. “For us to be able to do that, I just think it provides that belief and that condition that you’ve done it so you can do it again. Because I’m sure there are going to be more games like that.”
Demond Claiborne
Last week he dislocated his kneecap in the first half of the loss to Louisiana. He came back in for the second half and ran for a 60-yard touchdown. He did not play much after that because of soreness in the knee. But at NC State Saturday he had 20 carries for 136 yards and two touchdowns.
“Last week my kneecap was on the side of my leg,” Claiborne said describing the experience and the comeback. He said he was on limited reps throughout the week at practice in order to let the leg get some rest. “Coming into this game I was fresh.”
On Bachmeier’s game, “We rallied behind him. That’s our QB. We love him. I kept going up to him after every drop and telling him, ‘I got your back, Bro.’”
Claiborne laughed when telling the story of his head coach’s demeanor on Saturday. “Coach Clawson, his whole energy today was just different.” Claiborne said from the time the team got off the bus, the coach’s energy level bordered on “hyper.” “Coach Clawson definitely had a different swagger about him today. It allowed me to feel extra confident when I was on the field.”
One more thought on the issue of Wake and one score games. Clawson pointed out that from 2016 to 2021, the Deacs were one of the most successful teams in the country in one-score games. But then? “And the second I share that with our team, we sh*t the bed,” he laughed. “So any time you do something well, I’m not even going to bring it up anymore.”
The coach said he was sure the players would enjoy the win for the evening. But he was already moving on to having to play a resurgent Clemson team Saturday afternoon at Allegacy Stadium.
