No. 1 Wake Forest powers to nonconference win
Wake Forest, ranked No. 1 in The News and Observer football poll, scored on its first seven possessions Friday night and rolled to a 50-3 nonconference win at Apex.
With three runners gaining over 100 yards each in the first half, and sophomore quarterback Chris James throwing for another 143 yards, coach Reggie Lucas’ squad led 44-0 after taking a knee at the Apex 1-yard line as the first half ended.
Senior Shy’heem Mitchell led the scoring outburst with two rushing touchdowns, a touchdown catch and a 92-yard kickoff return.
Turning point:
The second offensive possession by Apex. Trailing just 7-0, the hosts lost 19 yards in three plays and punted. It took Wake Forest just one play to score and the route was on.
They said it:
“We got here a little late and I was concerned about how we would start the game,” Lucas said. “But we got off to a very good start and it was good to see the focus there early in the game.”
Three who mattered:
Nathan Davis, Apex: The senior kicker booted a 43-yard field goal with 16 seconds left for Apex’s only points. He was five of six on field goals last year before being injured and missing half the season.
Shy’heem Mitchell, Wake Forest: Mitchell had his second kickoff return for a touchdown in the young season as one of his four scores. He picked up 115 yards rushing, joined by sophomore Marquis Dunn (105 yards) and sophomore Devon Lawrence (101 yards), all in the first half.
Chris James, Wake Forest: Taking over at quarterback for one of the top teams in the state as a sophomore, he completed his first six passes and ended the game 7 for 9 for 143 yards.
By the numbers;
131: Yards passing by Apex quarterback Grayson Boyd, who spent the first half pressured by Wake Forest’s monster defensive front.
7: The total number of plays that Wake Forst ran in the second half as the two teams played with a running clock. Apex ran 22 plays.
8: Receptions by Apex senior running back Isaiah Totten against the tough Wake Forest defense.
This story was originally published August 28, 2015 at 10:24 PM with the headline "No. 1 Wake Forest powers to nonconference win."