Film room: Wake Forest brings rushing attack, aggressive defense to matchup against Duke

Duke football faces a short turnaround after failing to score in a 23-0 loss to Louisville, as Wake Forest comes to Durham Thursday. The Blue Zone breaks down film on the Demon Deacons:

Coming off a second consecutive disappointing loss, Duke football will look to get back to its winning ways as it hosts in-state foe Wake Forest Thursday night. The Blue Devils haven’t scored in their last six quarters, dating back to their Week 8 loss at No. 4 Florida State. The Demon Deacons are coming off a 41-16 defeat at the hands of the Seminoles, and they present a perfect opportunity for Duke to get back on track and finally clinch that coveted sixth win and, with it, bowl-eligibility.

Although head coach Dave Clawson has built a successful program in Winston-Salem, N.C., Wake Forest is experiencing a bit of a down year in his 10th season at the helm. Three consecutive wins to start the year — albeit against relatively weak non-conference competition — showed promise, but the Demon Deacons lost four of their last five conference contests, with the sole victory coming against Pittsburgh in Week 8. Wake Forest ranks last in the ACC in scoring offense with 22.3 points per game. Although the defense is in the middle of the pack, Clawson’s team allows the most passing yards per game of any team in the league at 256.5.

Under center for the Demon Deacons will be redshirt sophomore Mitch Griffis. The Ashburn, Va., native has been banged up in recent weeks but should take the reins of the offense when Wake Forest comes to Durham. Griffis racked up eight touchdowns in the team’s first three wins, but he has thrown for just one score while turning the ball over three times in his four games since. If Griffis is healthy and can return to his early-season form, the Blue Devils could be in some danger. Watch as he delivers a strike over the top of the defense for one of his three second-half scores against Old Dominion in Week 3. (1:33)

While the offense has sputtered often this season, Wake Forest has found some success in the running game. The rushing attack, led by sophomore Demond Claiborne and junior Justice Ellison, has been heavily relied on throughout the campaign. The duo combined for 168 yards on the ground in the Demon Deacons’ victory against the Panthers. Check out how Claiborne explodes through the hole and uses his speed en route to a 42-yard run to take the lead. (16:20)

Defensively, Wake Forest has stood relatively strong for most of the season despite often being put in difficult situations as a result of turnovers or poor drives by the offense. Although they are coming off a 41-point gashing at the hands of Florida State, the Demon Deacons have allowed just 19.5 points per game in their four wins this season. As Wake Forest fights for bowl eligibility down the stretch, defensive coordinator Brad Lambert’s unit will need to be a leading factor. Defensive back DaShawn Jones leads the Demon Deacons with three interceptions, including this one before half in a Week 2 victory against Vanderbilt. (11:05)

Wake Forest has been struggling since beginning league play, but the season is far from over; after all, they are just two wins away from becoming bowl-eligible. Thursday night’s matchup is an opportunity for both squads to right the ship and rebound from their biggest losses of the season. The Demon Deacons will need to shore up their recurring offensive mistakes to upset Duke, while the Blue Devils will be looking to pressure Griffis, force mistakes and get back on track offensively. With a short week for both teams, an ugly game could be in the cards. However, both sides would be more than happy with a less-than-perfect performance as long as it ends in a victory.