NC State vs Wake Forest first look: Pack set to host ACC Atlantic Division showdown
Some statistics are misleading in sports but not this one: eight turnovers in a game.
That’s how many Wake Forest had Saturday at Louisville and the result was a 48-21 beating by the Cardinals.
Eight. Ouch. Six turnovers came in the third quarter and the Cardinals turned them into 35 points, quickly turning a close game into a surprising rout.
The Demon Deacons went to Louisville ranked 10th nationally and with their only loss to Clemson in overtime. They limped home and have dropped to No. 20 in The AP poll. Next up: at No. 21 N.C. State.
Wolfpack coach Dave Doeren had a chance to watch the Wake-Louisville game after his team’s thrilling 22-21 comeback win Thursday against Virginia Tech. While the Cardinals exposed some Wake Forest flaws — quarterback Sam Hartman had a miserable day with two pick-6s and was benched — Doeren likely is counting on a strong bounce-back game from the Deacons against the Pack (6-2, 2-2 ACC) at Carter-Finley Stadium.
Speaking of statistics, Wake Forest (6-2, 2-2) had 29 first downs, more than 400 yards in total offense, converted 8 of 16 third-down plays and had seven more minutes of possession time than the Cardinals. All of which is totally misleading when a team loses by 27 points.
“They completely outcoached us, completely outplayed us,” Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson said to the media after the game. “They won both sides of the line of scrimmage, they won on the perimeter. I mean, that was a thorough (butt) kicking.”
Odds are, Clawson will demand a total reset this week in preparing for the Wolfpack. Some practices could be long and hard.
“A lot of times after a game like this, the message is, ‘We’ll see what we’re made of,’” Clawson said. “I know what we’re made up. Now, we have to prove what we’re made of. And I’m confident we will do that.”
The past two seasons have produced 45-42 shootouts between the Pack and Deacons. N.C. State won at Carter-Finley in 2020, when the pandemic limited attendance to 350. Wake Forest got away with a 45-42 win in Winston-Salem last year after Pack quarterback Devin Leary passed for 408 yards and four scores and Emeka Emezie caught 10 balls for 133 yards and two TDs.
Hartman threw for 290 yards and three scores, but with three interceptions, last season.
Game key
N.C. State quarterback MJ Morris, who had his first full college football baptismal against the Hokies, should be the starter this week against the Deacons. How will he respond to his first start?
Again, Leary could play a role against Wake Forest — but as an injured adviser for the freshman.
“He tells me the same thing, every day, every practice,” Morris said Thursday. “Every time I see him he says, ‘Go out there and protect the ball and have fun and play fast.’ He said, “ ’Don’t think too much when you go out there, that can get you into bad places. See what you can see, do what you’re coached and go out there and ball.’
“I love Devin Leary to death. He treats me like a little brother, and I see him like a big brother. I pick his brain on little stuff every day. It makes me a better player.”
Vegas odds
Wake Forest opened as a 3.5-point favorite over the Pack.
NC State vs Wake Forest football game details
When: Saturday, 8 p.m.
Where: Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh.
TV: ACC Network
This story was originally published October 31, 2022 at 5:40 AM.
