Herb FM Sports Radio
Menu
ACC Atlantic DivisionClemson
Florida State
Louisville
Wake Forest
NC State
Boston College
Syracuse
|
ACC Coastal DivisionVirginia Tech
Pittsburgh
UNC
Miami
Georgia Tech
Duke
Virginia
|
<
>
Clemson Dabo Swinney Teleconfence Calls
Duke FB Coach Dave Cutcliffe
Wake Forest FB David Clawson
Jimbo Fisher Teleconfence Call
Mark Richt Teleconfence Calls/Postgame
Brian Kelly Teleconfence Calls
Louisville FB Coach Bobby Petrino
UVA FB Coach Bronco Mendenhall
ACC Official Twitter |
|
Deacons Outlast Aggies in Epic Shootout
to Win Belk Bowl 55-52
Charlotte, NC - The 2017 Belk Bowl in Charlotte, NC featured the Aggies from Texas A&M and the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in a battle of the two best conferences in college football. Wake Forest entered the Belk Bowl 7-5, however they lost their last game 31-23 against Duke and came in hungry and as a slight favorite. The Demon Deacons success this year has a lot to do with the play of quarterback John Wolford. Wolford’s play has been consistently impressive and has led an offense that averages over 33 points per game. In fact, Wake Forest came into the game boasting the highest passing efficiency in the ACC (62.9%). Wolford’s 35 touchdowns have earned him second team All ACC honors.
On the other side of the ball with all the uncertainty surrounding the Texas A&M Aggies one thing has never changed, the Aggies high powered offense led by playmaking wide receiver Christian Kirk. Kirk has accounted for seven touchdowns this year while amassing over 700 yards receiving. Kirk earned first team All-SEC honors and is projected to be a first round draft pick in the NFL draft. He has returned six punt returns and one kick-off return for touchdowns. But unfortunately the Aggies are in a period of transition as long time coach Kevin Sumlin was recently relieved of his duties and interim head coach Jeff Banks who has been with the Aggies five years has been coaching the tight ends and special teams now holds the title of interim head coach and play caller. Of course new head coach Jimbo Fisher will be taking notes on how his new teams plays as well as how his potential new coaches coach. An interesting but not always beneficial dynamic.
The Aggies came out guns blazing as they took a 14-point lead early in the first quarter thanks to their special teams. After a three and out by the Wake offense the Aggies blocked a punt and recovered the ball in the end zone to give them a 7-0 lead. After forcing a three an out the Aggies struck again this way more conventionally when quarterback Nick Starkel hit Christian Kirk for a 42-yard gain setting up a first and goal from the Wake two-yard line. Running back Trayveon Williams took care of the rest as he took a handoff off the right side and scored standing up to increase the Aggie lead to 14-0.
That seemed to light a fire under the Demon Deacons entire team as they would go on to score 31 unanswered points. Wofford connected on a 50-yard pass to Scotty Washington to open the scoring for Wake. Wofford would add another two touchdown passes to wide receiver Tabari Hines in the 31 point barrage. The Aggies would show some heart in cutting the lead to 38-28 at halftime. Both offenses combined for 691 yards in the first half. The second half opened with WR Christian Kirk catching his third touchdown of the game that cut the lead to three. Wake would answer with a field goal that made the score 41-35. With Wake driving the Aggies defense forced a fumble at their own 33-yard line and cashed in on the turnover with a seven play 67-yard drive that was capped by a Keith Ford touchdown run that gave the Aggies their first lead since the first quarter, 42-41. The Aggie defense would cause their second consecutive turnover when Wofford scrambled out of the pocket and fumbled which was recovered by the Aggies.
The Aggies would have to settle for a field goal but that gave the Aggies a 45-41 lead with 12 minutes left to go in the game. Down by four Wake would again answer with a 11-play 69-yard drive capped off with a three-yard touchdown run by Cade Carney to regain the lead 48-45 with just over nine minutes left to go in the game. The seesaw battle would continue as A&M would regain the lead on a Starkel to Jhamon Ausbon slant pass that ended a ten play 72-yard drive with yet another touchdown. The Aggies lead 52-48 with just under six minutes left to go in the game. Matt Colburn would rumble in from a yard out for Wake to regain the lead 55-52 with just over two minutes left to go in the game. The Wake defense would seal the game with a defensive stand as Wake Forest held on to win the game 55-52.
The Aggies showed a lot of determination after being down 31-14 and battled back strong. Quarterback Nick Starkel had a tremendous game connecting on 42-63 passes for 499 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. Wide receiver Christian Kirk was a man among boys in what could be his final collegiate game. Kirk caught 13 balls for a whopping 189 yards and three touchdowns.
“There’s no moral victories in college football,” remarked interim Aggie head coach Jeff Banks. When asked about his player’s resiliency coach Banks offered these thoughts, “We didn’t finish winning but we finished fighting, scratching, clawing and showing great character.”
Most Valuable Player senior quarterback John Wolford played fantastic. He completed 32-49 passes for 400 yards and four touchdowns. He addressed the media after the game, “It was a crazy game. Our seniors have been through a lot and I’m really proud of our guys and the way we finished. The defense got that stop at the end. It was really a team effort,” remarked Wolford. “The offensive line played great as well. After the first two drives they got a little pressure but after that we seemed to settle down. To go out this way to end the season is really special,” added the senior quarterback.
One of his main targets tight end Cam Serigne who has tallied the most career yards and receptions for any tight end in ACC history caught nine passes for 112 yards and a touchdown. I caught up with an emotional Cam after the game and he shared these thoughts when asked about his team’s mindset when Texas A&M took the lead late in the second half, “We have guys that don’t give up. It’s just the kind of guys we have in our locker room and I couldn’t be prouder of them.” When asked about his quarterback John Wolford and his performance he offered these opinions, “John is the ultimate competitor and he’s tough as nails. He’s my best friend and we’ll be brothers for life.”
“I thought it would be a high scoring game,” remarked Wake Forest head coach Dave Clawson. I told our offensive coordinator to keep his foot on the gas and to go fast. Turnovers were huge today. If you look at our year we beat six bowl teams. We are really proud of our guys, we got some really special kids here. That’s why it’s great to coach at Wake Forest,” added coach Clawson. Both the Aggies and Demon Deacons end their season 8-5 and head coach Dave Clawson has done a great job in changing the culture at Wake Forest as winning in now expected in Winston Salem.
By: Euan McCreath
On the other side of the ball with all the uncertainty surrounding the Texas A&M Aggies one thing has never changed, the Aggies high powered offense led by playmaking wide receiver Christian Kirk. Kirk has accounted for seven touchdowns this year while amassing over 700 yards receiving. Kirk earned first team All-SEC honors and is projected to be a first round draft pick in the NFL draft. He has returned six punt returns and one kick-off return for touchdowns. But unfortunately the Aggies are in a period of transition as long time coach Kevin Sumlin was recently relieved of his duties and interim head coach Jeff Banks who has been with the Aggies five years has been coaching the tight ends and special teams now holds the title of interim head coach and play caller. Of course new head coach Jimbo Fisher will be taking notes on how his new teams plays as well as how his potential new coaches coach. An interesting but not always beneficial dynamic.
The Aggies came out guns blazing as they took a 14-point lead early in the first quarter thanks to their special teams. After a three and out by the Wake offense the Aggies blocked a punt and recovered the ball in the end zone to give them a 7-0 lead. After forcing a three an out the Aggies struck again this way more conventionally when quarterback Nick Starkel hit Christian Kirk for a 42-yard gain setting up a first and goal from the Wake two-yard line. Running back Trayveon Williams took care of the rest as he took a handoff off the right side and scored standing up to increase the Aggie lead to 14-0.
That seemed to light a fire under the Demon Deacons entire team as they would go on to score 31 unanswered points. Wofford connected on a 50-yard pass to Scotty Washington to open the scoring for Wake. Wofford would add another two touchdown passes to wide receiver Tabari Hines in the 31 point barrage. The Aggies would show some heart in cutting the lead to 38-28 at halftime. Both offenses combined for 691 yards in the first half. The second half opened with WR Christian Kirk catching his third touchdown of the game that cut the lead to three. Wake would answer with a field goal that made the score 41-35. With Wake driving the Aggies defense forced a fumble at their own 33-yard line and cashed in on the turnover with a seven play 67-yard drive that was capped by a Keith Ford touchdown run that gave the Aggies their first lead since the first quarter, 42-41. The Aggie defense would cause their second consecutive turnover when Wofford scrambled out of the pocket and fumbled which was recovered by the Aggies.
The Aggies would have to settle for a field goal but that gave the Aggies a 45-41 lead with 12 minutes left to go in the game. Down by four Wake would again answer with a 11-play 69-yard drive capped off with a three-yard touchdown run by Cade Carney to regain the lead 48-45 with just over nine minutes left to go in the game. The seesaw battle would continue as A&M would regain the lead on a Starkel to Jhamon Ausbon slant pass that ended a ten play 72-yard drive with yet another touchdown. The Aggies lead 52-48 with just under six minutes left to go in the game. Matt Colburn would rumble in from a yard out for Wake to regain the lead 55-52 with just over two minutes left to go in the game. The Wake defense would seal the game with a defensive stand as Wake Forest held on to win the game 55-52.
The Aggies showed a lot of determination after being down 31-14 and battled back strong. Quarterback Nick Starkel had a tremendous game connecting on 42-63 passes for 499 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. Wide receiver Christian Kirk was a man among boys in what could be his final collegiate game. Kirk caught 13 balls for a whopping 189 yards and three touchdowns.
“There’s no moral victories in college football,” remarked interim Aggie head coach Jeff Banks. When asked about his player’s resiliency coach Banks offered these thoughts, “We didn’t finish winning but we finished fighting, scratching, clawing and showing great character.”
Most Valuable Player senior quarterback John Wolford played fantastic. He completed 32-49 passes for 400 yards and four touchdowns. He addressed the media after the game, “It was a crazy game. Our seniors have been through a lot and I’m really proud of our guys and the way we finished. The defense got that stop at the end. It was really a team effort,” remarked Wolford. “The offensive line played great as well. After the first two drives they got a little pressure but after that we seemed to settle down. To go out this way to end the season is really special,” added the senior quarterback.
One of his main targets tight end Cam Serigne who has tallied the most career yards and receptions for any tight end in ACC history caught nine passes for 112 yards and a touchdown. I caught up with an emotional Cam after the game and he shared these thoughts when asked about his team’s mindset when Texas A&M took the lead late in the second half, “We have guys that don’t give up. It’s just the kind of guys we have in our locker room and I couldn’t be prouder of them.” When asked about his quarterback John Wolford and his performance he offered these opinions, “John is the ultimate competitor and he’s tough as nails. He’s my best friend and we’ll be brothers for life.”
“I thought it would be a high scoring game,” remarked Wake Forest head coach Dave Clawson. I told our offensive coordinator to keep his foot on the gas and to go fast. Turnovers were huge today. If you look at our year we beat six bowl teams. We are really proud of our guys, we got some really special kids here. That’s why it’s great to coach at Wake Forest,” added coach Clawson. Both the Aggies and Demon Deacons end their season 8-5 and head coach Dave Clawson has done a great job in changing the culture at Wake Forest as winning in now expected in Winston Salem.
By: Euan McCreath
Proudly powered by Weebly