Wake Forest blows past Delaware for 8th win
Wake Forest piled up the yards and points in a 52-14 rout of visiting Delaware on Saturday at Allegacy Stadium.
The Deacons (8-3) rolled up a season-high 577 yards. They never punted, scoring six touchdowns, kicking three field goals and having two possessions end with interceptions.
Wake’s first three touchdowns all came on the ground. Demond Claiborne capped Wake’s first drive with a 1-yard touchdown run — ending a 15-play, 84-yard march. Before the first quarter ended, Ty Clark III scored from 13 yards out. The 2-point conversion made it a 15-0 lead early.
Quarterback Robby Ashford entered the game with four touchdown passes this season; he had three of them in about 12 minutes elapsed time against the Blue Hens (5-6).
Carlos Hernandez had a 79-yard catch-and-run touchdown with 19 seconds left in the first half, sending the Deacons to halftime with a 35-7 lead.
The Deacons took the opening drive of the second half 80 yards in eight plays, ending with a 19-yard pass from Ashford to Sterling Berkhalter. Later in the third quarter, Ashford and Hernandez connected for a 93-yard touchdown pass.
Ashford completed 15 of 22 passes for 292 yards, and rushed for 64 yards. Hernandez caught five passes for 197 yards and those two long touchdowns.
The last drama of this game was probably when Wake Forest led 18-7 in the second quarter. The Deacons forced a punt but a roughing-the-punter call extended the Blue Hens’ drive.
A third-down sack by Nuer Gatkuoth ended that possession. Wake’s first play from scrimmage on the ensuing drive was a 78-yard rush by Chris Barnes. Ashford ran for a 4-yard touchdown a few plays later to make it a 25-7 lead.
EXTRA POINTS …
– Delaware’s first touchdown, early in the second quarter, ended Wake’s stretch of not allowing a touchdown. The Deacons had not allowed a touchdown since the 11:51 mark of the fourth quarter at Florida State on Nov. 1.
– Wake’s top three tacklers were all playing their final home games — Quincy Bryant and Nick Andersen both had seven tackles and Dylan Hazen had six.
– Senior kicker Matthew Dennis made three PATs in his final home game.
– Ashford was intercepted once. Wake’s other interception was thrown by Deshawn Purdie on its final possession.
