GAME BREAKDOWN: Deacs Outlast Pack 30-24

1ST QUARTER
It didn't take long for the NC State defense to make their presence felt. On the second play from scrimmage, Willie Young broke free off the corner and laid a violent blindside hit on Wake quarterback Riley Skinner, knocking the ball loose and giving the back the ball on the Wake 33. Russell Wilson quickly made them pay with a key third down scramble, keeping the drive alive, followed by a 4 yard touchdown pass to George Bryan on a sideline out.

The second drive was a different story for Wake. Riley Skinner drove Wake down the field, but a holding penalty and an overthrown pass, left the Deacs with only a Jimmy Newman 27 yard field goal, cutting the Wolfpack lead to 7-3. On the ensuing possession, the Wolfpack marched 55 yards, thanks to a key '3rd and 10' eleven yard completion to Jarvis Williams along the sideline, before stalling out at the Wake 13 yard line. Josh Czajkowski then split the uprights with a 30 yard field goal.

Now trailing 10-3, Riley Skinner began to air it out. He hit Devon Brown for a 31 yard strike, however when he tried to test the Pack secondary again he wasn't as lucky. Skinner's 37 yard pass down the sideline was picked off by safety Clem Johnson at the NC State 8 yard line.

The first quarter came to a close with the Pack in possession of the football, leading 10-3.

2ND QUARTER
On the first drive of the second quarter, the Wake defense, with the help of substitution infraction by NC State, held the Pack to a three and out, forcing them to punt. After a return of 29 yards, Wake took over at the NC State 29, giving them their best field position of the game to that point, and leading to a Riley Skinner to Marshall Williams, back of the endzone, four yard touchdown.

With the score tied 10-10, Wake let their building momentum slip with two consecutive personal fouls, costing Wake 30 yards and putting the Pack on on the Wake 48. That is when Russell Wilson did something that he hasn't done in 379 attempts. He threw an interception. Wilson was rushed, and caught in the pocket when he saw Owen Spencer streaking down the middle. Wilson lofted an off balance long ball, that was way off the mark and picked off by Wake's Josh Bush and taken back 61 yards to the State 25, giving the Demon Deacons their best opportunity yet. The Wolfpack defense did their part, holding the Deacs to a 35 yard field goal attempt. The Wolfpack then dodged a serious bullet as Wake kicker Jimmy Newman missed the chip shot off of the left upright.

The Pack took over at their own 25, but after a first down, Tony Baker handed the ball right back to Wake when he was wrapped up and stripped of the ball. With Wake once again in a great position to score, the comedy of errors continued as Skinner threw a bullet into the hands of NC State DT Leroy Burgess, who rumbled back to the Wake Forest 40. Wilson and the Wolfpack took over another drive inside Wake territory, but it was yet another drive crippled by a big penalty as Wilson's '4th and 5' seven yard scramble was called back for "tripping."

Wake, led by senior signal caller Riley Skinner, drove down the field with ease, exploiting the Pack secondary over and over again. On 3rd and goal from the 6, the NC State defense rushed Skinner, who didn't see a wide open Chris Givens for a sure touchdown. Wake then connected on a Jimmy Newman 23 yard field goal, giving them a 13-10.

At the end of a very sloppy first half in which NC State compiled 7 penalties costing them 80 yards, turned the ball over twice, and saw Russell Wilson complete a less than stellar 45% (almost 20% lower than his season average), NC State trailed the Demon Deacons 13-10.

3RD QUARTER
Wake Forest started the second half scoring by capping off a 7 play, 60 yard drive, with a Skinner to Williams 11 yard touchdown. (A pass that gave Skinner 44 career TD's and tied the Wake Forest record). With the score now 20-10 in favor of Wake, Wilson and company knew they needed a score. Wilson finally connected with Owen Spencer on a 41 yard bomb that put the Pack on the Wake Forest 18. It looked like State may had finally gotten their offense rolling again, but a botched snap, and a dropped touchdown pass by George Bryant let to a crucial 3rd and 6 from the Wake 14. Out of the shotgun Wilson dropped back. With a Wake DE baring down on his blindside, it looked as if the Pack was going to have to settle for another field goal. That was until Wilson felt the pressure, ducked under the tackle and took off for a foot race to the pylon. Wilson scampered in, cutting the Wake lead to only three. 20-17.

After the third quarter, the score stood 20-17.


4TH QUARTER
The Demon Deacons started the fourth quarter by driving 57 yards in five minutes, capped off by unbelievable pass by Riley Skinner to Chris Givens on a deep post, to the back of the endzone. Wake's lead was now 10 (27-17) and things were beginning to look bleak for the Wolfpack.

With their back against the wall, Wilson hit Owen Spencer with a 45 yard missile. Then, George Bryant for 8 and Jarvis Williams for 11. The Wake defense then forced three consecutive in completions, seemingly forcing the Pack to line up for a field goal, however, Wake's Boo Robinson shoved Julian Williams and was called for a personal foul. On the next play, Wilson found RB Toney Baker for a 5 yard touchdown and bringing State back within 3. 27-25, Wake.

With the way the second half had gone, you had to expect what happened next. Wake freshman Lovell Jackson broke a 80 yard kick return and setting up Wake on the State 16 and with the opportunity to put State away, however the Wolfpack defense came up big again and stood up Mike Rinfrette twice at the one before a false start pushed Wake back to the 6 yard line. Wake came away with a field goal and failed to nail shut the coffin on the Wolfpack. Wake by 6. (30-24)

With one last chance for the Wolfpack (3 minutes to play), starting at their own 19, Wilson wasn't going to go down without a fight. He hit Jarvis Williams for a 17 yard pass. Then on 3rd and 6, Wilson scrambled in the backfield, alluding sack after sack before making a miraculous backhanded pitch to Jamelle Eugene for 21 yards. With the Pack knocking at the door on the Wake 24 yard line, Wilson threw to the endzone to a closely guarded Donald Bowens, but Wake CB Kenny Okoro made an amazing, full extension interception, and closing the door on the Pack and leaving them 0-1 in the ACC.

Final Score: Wake Forest: 30 - NC State: 24