By Will Vandervort.
Here is an inside look at the Clemson-Wake Forest series as the No. 19 Clemson Tigers visit the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at BB&T Field today at 7:30 p.m. The game will be televised by ESPN.
About Wake Forest: The Demon Deacons have lost four straight heading into tonight’s game and are still looking for their first win in the ACC this season as well.
Wake’s offense: Wake Forest ranks last in the country in total offense (213.5 yds/gm) and rushing offense (34.5) and 123rd in scoring offense (14.8 points). The Deacons rank 106th in passing offense at 179 yards a game. Freshman quarterback John Wolford has struggled all year. He has thrown for 1,377 yards and has completed 61.3 percent of his passes, but he has also tossed 13 interceptions and has thrown just seven touchdowns.
Wake’s defense: The Demon Deacons defense has been a product of its own offenses lack of success. They are giving up 358.2 yards per game. But the secondary has two NFL calibers corners in Kevin Johnson and Merrill Noel. Wake’s secondary has allowed just six touchdown passes all year.
Records: Clemson 6-2, 5-1 ACC; Wake Forest 2-6, 0-4 ACC
Series record: Clemson leads 61-17-1
Last year: Clemson won 56-7 in Death Valley
First meeting: 1933: Clemson won 13-0 in Charlotte
Last Wake Forest win: 2008: 12-7 at Wake Forest
Stat worth noting: Tonight’s game will mark the third time in the last four outings that Clemson’s defense will face a true freshman quarterback. Louisville and Syracuse both started true freshman quarterbacks. The Tigers won both of those games.
Second stat worth noting: Clemson owns 61 wins over Wake Forest in history, its second highest victory total over any opponent. Clemson’s 65 wins over South Carolina ranks first.
Third stat worth noting: After losing 9 of its first 10 ESPN Thursday Night Games, Clemson has won three straight on ESPN Thursday Nights heading into tonight’s game at Wake Forest, including two Thursday Night wins last season at NC State and against Georgia Tech at home.
Memorable game: Clemson won the 2006 game at Wake Forest, 27-17. Trailing 17-3 at the start of the fourth quarter, the late Gaines Adams had a game changing 66-yard fumble return on a botched field goal attempt in the fourth quarter to cut the Demon Deacons lead to 17-10. The Tigers scored 24 points in the fourth period to gain the victory. C.J. Spiller had a 72-yard run in that game. Wake Forest went on to win the ACC Championship that year.