Wake comes up short against BC

Eagles dash hopes of conference crown

WINSTON-SALEM -- Struggling offensively, as it has for much of this season, Wake Forest relied on its defense and special teams to try and pull it through in a must-have football game against Boston College on Saturday.

It was almost enough.

Boston College pulled ahead with just over a minute remaining and pulled off a deflating 24-21 victory over the Demon Deacons at BB&T Field.

Down 21-16 and running out of time, the Eagles (8-3, 4-3 ACC) climbed back into the game with a stunning 9-play, 70-yard drive that was extended by two deep catches and ended on a 1-yard touchdown run by backup quarterback Dominique Davis.

Montel Harris tacked on a two-point conversion run and changed the temperament of Wake fans among the announced crowd of 30,373.

The Deacs (6-5, 4-4) were left with 1:12 to respond.

In five plays they drove to Boston College's 39-yard line, but on fourth-and-5 junior quarterback Riley Skinner, pressured in the pocket, threw hurriedly downfield to Ben Wooster, covered by free safety Wes Davis and strong safety Paul Anderson. His pass fell incomplete with 22 seconds on the clock.

That incomplete pass summarized the Deacs' distressful offensive efforts on Saturday and removed them from the ACC championship game hunt.

The Deacs, losers of two straight, needed a win to keep those title game hopes alive.

"It was disappointing," Wake coach Jim Grobe said. "Any time Riley's in there you feel pretty good about your chances, but we just didn't make it happen."

Producing the lowest total yardage (191) in the Grobe era, there were very few instances where the Deacs were able to make much happen on offense. With little push from an injury-depleted offensive line, they often looked dormant against the physical Eagles' defense -- one that sacked Skinner four times and intercepted him twice. Skinner completed 14 of 28 passes for 126 yards.

"They were doing a lot," Skinner said. "They were probably the best defense we've played all year. They brought a lot of heat and schemed us up pretty well."

Entering the game, the Deacs also needed Maryland to lose twice in order to advance to the Dec. 6 title game in Tampa. But that scenario now becomes irrelevant.

Wake took a 21-16 lead on a 1-yard touchdown pass from Skinner to senior Rich Belton after redshirt freshman Gelo Orange blocked a BC punt and Alphonso Smith recovered the loose ball and carried it to the 1.

The Deacs host Vanderbilt in their final regular-season game. Wake is bowl eligible, though the thought of a third consecutive loss has players feeling less certain of that chance.

"There's a chance the season could be over if we don't win this next game," Skinner said. "There will be no bowl game. So ... let's lock in a bowl game and end on a winning note."