The Duke football team (2-5, 0-3 in the ACC) started off strong against Wake Forest (4-3, 2-2) Saturday, but was unable to produce offensively in a 36-10 loss to the Demon Deacons.
Duke dominated early on both sides of the ball, forcing a three-and-out for Wake Forest and then marching 65 yards to the Demon Deacon five-yard line. After failing to put the ball in the end zone, kicker Brent Garber came on to attempt a 22-yard field goal. The snap was high and Garber's kick was blocked by Wake Forest's R.D. Montgomery. The ball was recovered at the ten-yard line by Demon Deacon Eric King, who ran the ball back 90 yards for the first score of the game.
Duke's next drive proved equally disappointing, as Kellen Brantley intercepted a tipped Adam Smith pass and returned it 29-yards for a touchdown.
"I have never been in a game like this before," Duke defensive end Shawn Johnson said. "We shut them down three and out on the opening drive, and then we did not get back on the field until there were two minutes left in the quarter, and we were down 14-0."
Duke retaliated on the strength of a 23-yard Alex Wade scamper, moving to the five-yard line yet again. It was again stymied in the red zone, however, and Garber converted a 24-yard field goal to cut the lead to 14-3.
"That's been our problem the entire year-scoring when we get in the red zone," Wade said. "We kick too many field goals on this team."
Ted Roof's defense continued to manhandle Wake Forest in the second quarter, holding the ACC's top rushing offense to just 32 first-half yards. Quarterback Chris Dapolito moved the chains, advancing Duke to the five-yard line with another opportunity to score seven points. However, Dapolito could not rectify the Blue Devils' problems in the red zone, as Duke settled for a 31-yard field goal that would sail wide left.
After trading punts, Duke linebacker Ryan Fowler caused a fumble with a jarring hit on receiver Jason Anderson. Kenneth Stanford recovered the fumble at the 48-yard line, setting up Duke's lone touchdown drive of the game.
Wade took matters into his own hands, as the following drive was all Wade-literally. He carried the ball for 41 yards and caught two passes for 11 more on the drive, highlighted by a 31-yard rumble to the one-yard line. He finished it off with a one-yard surge up the middle that cut the deficit to 14-10.
Despite accumulating 176 all-purpose-yards on the game, a chagrined Wade was disappointed with his performance.
"My stats might look good, but really I didn't play that well," Wade said. "I gave up a fumble. I gave up two sacks. We were down inside the five yard line four times in the first half and I don't put the ball in the end zone [more than once]. That's got to be my territory, and I wasn't successful."
Wake Forest took control in the second half and capitalized on Duke's ineffectual offense--the Blue Devils punted five times and had a fumble apiece from Wade and Stanford in their seven second half possessions.
Duke still managed to dominate the game stats, as the Blue Devils gained 114 more yards, controlled the ball for 11 more minutes and gained eight more first downs than the Demon Deacons.
"The guys hung in and moved the ball well and as a coaching staff we have to coach better," Franks said. "The scoreboard was not indicative of the game."
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