Making the Grade: The Wake Forest Demon Deacons

OFFENSE: B

Rush: It may have taken 12 games, but in the season finale, Duke’s rushing attack finally gave Blue Devil fans reason to be optimistic.  The team averaged a respectable 3.6 yards per carry, led by freshman Desmond Scott’s 10 carries for 41 yards. Sophomore Jay Hollingsworth even overcame the multitude of injuries that held him back this season to add 19 yards of his own.  What’s more, the pair only had a single carry for loss, a clear step forward for the often anemic running game.

Pass: The passing attack operated like business as usual for Duke— 387 yards and three touchdowns for Thaddeus Lewis and a combined 19 catches for 267 yards and two touchdowns for the “Killer V’s.”  But the biggest story might have been the return to form of junior Austin Kelly, who had three catches for 93 yards and a touchdown after amassing only 54 yards in his previous two games. His performance was the biggest spark in another commanding performance by the unit.  

X’s & O’s: In amassing 455 yards, Duke’s offense was once again dominant on paper. But in a game that was established as a shootout early, settling for two field goals, including one from within the red zone, proved to be too much for the Blue Devils to overcome.  One mistake by Lewis—his late interception—proved to be the final nail in the Duke’s coffin in this contest.

DEFENSE: C

Rush: Early in the first half, Duke’s front seven, led by senior Vincent Rey’s 11 tackles, looked as if it would be able to contain Wake Forest’s speedy running backs.  But as the game wore on and the Blue Devil defense grew tired, the Demon Deacons’ running game gradually broke through, finishing with 127 yards on the ground.  Duke seemed ill-prepared to face running plays out of Wake Forest’s shotgun offense, which led to long runs to the outside throughout the second half.

Pass: Duke’s secondary was its biggest defensive weakness for the third straight game, as Wake Forest quarterback Riley Skinner tore through the unit for 372 yards and a career-high five touchdowns.  The big play burned the Blue Devils once again—evidenced by an early 54-yard touchdown pass that tied the game at 14—but what was most jarring was Skinner’s 73 percent completion rate.  When your top cornerback and safety combine for 16 tackles but only one pass breakup, there is a serious problem.

X’s & O’s: The first eight minutes of this contest were a frantic shootout. But while Wake Forest’s defense was able to adjust, Duke’s own unit proved unable to answer in kind.  As the game developed and Wake Forest began using its running attack more efficiently to control the ball, Duke defenders seemed conspicuously fatigued, which only exacerbated the team’s inability to stop the long pass.