First look at Wake Forest, who scored quickly, often vs. WCU

Wake Forest’s offense proved abysmal in a 10-9 win over Kennesaw State on Aug. 29, but that wasn’t the case against Western Carolina on Saturday.

All six touchdown drives took less than a minute during the 42-10 victory, while dealing with two weather delays. Wake Forest ended up playing a 10-minute fourth quarter as the game got reduced after a two-hour weather delay in the second quarter and then around a 40-minute delay that extended halftime.

Having a healthy senior running back Demond Claiborne made a difference for the Demon Deacons. He rushed 10 times for 193 yards and three touchdowns, including a 85-yard sprint.

NC State (2-0) plays at Wake Forest at 7:30 p.m. Thursday on ESPN.

Dominant spurt

Wake Forest had a dominant first quarter once the lengthy rain delay ended.

Three big running plays — two by Clairborne and one by senior quarterback Robby Ashford helped the Demon Deacons build a 21-0 lead after the first quarter.

Ashford, who is one of the most athletic quarterbacks in the country, took off for 41 yards to get a touchdown with 5:57 left in the quarter.

Wake Forest’s Claiborne then sprinted 33 yards for the second touchdown of the game to make it 13-0 with 2:59 left. 

WFU senior defensive lineman B.J. Williams got good pressure on WCU quarterback Bennett Judy, and it led to defensive back Zamari Stevenson getting the interception to the Western Carolina 27-yard line. Clairborne found an ally on the first play of the drive and he ran for a 27-yard score with 2:47 left in the opening quarter.

The cherry on top was WCU fumbled the snap in the end zone for a safety and it was 21-0 after one quarter.

Wake Forest has things to work on

Wake Forest also had a decent amount of self-inflicted wounds in the blowout win.

The second half of the second quarter had freshman kicker Connor Calvert missing a 35-yard field goal after he got his timing thrown off somehow with 3:38 left in the quarter. A shotgun snap went by Ashford and recovered at the WFU 35-yard line with 2:01 left.

Ashford fumbled with 8:55 left in the third quarter at the WFU 34-yard line.

Wake Forest’s receivers are a work in progress. Redshirt freshman Jeremiah Melvin dropped a touchdown catch on a bomb, and junior Carlos Hernandez also had a drop over the middle. Hernandez, a Washington State transfer, is also the punt returner, and Melvin redeemed himself in the third quarter catching a 27-yard streak route.

The one receiver that NC State will need to keep in mind is 5-7, 168-pound redshirt freshman Chris Barnes, who came in with coach Jake Dickert from Washington State. he has six catches for 149 yards and a long of 64 against Western Carolina.

The vertical taller deep threat was 6-3, 203-pound Sterling Berkhalter. He played two years at North Carolina A&T, then went home to Cincinnati for a year and transferred to Wake Forest. He caught a 51-yard touchdown to make it 35-3 with 7:16 left in the third quarter.

Foundation of the defense

Wake Forest’s defense revolved around the sure tackling of safeties Davaughn Patterson, a sophomore, and senior Nick Andersen. Patterson looks to be a future All-ACC performer.

Edge rusher Langston Hardy, the son of former NFL outside linebacker Kevin Hardy, had four tackles and 2.5 sacks. He transferred in from Connecticut, where he played with NCSU senior tight end Justin Joly.

Senior defensive tackle B.J. Williams plugs up the middle and previously has played at Bethune-Cookman and Western Kentucky.

Wake Forest finished with five sacks and 14 tackles for loss, and Stevenson got the lone interception.

Western Carolina didn’t have the same playmakers of a year ago that played NC State in its season opener. WCU’s expectant quarterback Taron Dickens has been out and Judy has started the first two games. The Catamounts lost 52-45 to Gardner-Webb in their season opener.