Demon Deacons still express concerns on defense
By ending a two-game losing streak, there were countless positives for Wake Forest to lean on. The resounding victory against Louisville rid some concerns.
But others still exist going into a homecoming game against No. 22 Syracuse on Saturday afternoon.
“I’m just really proud of how our kids kept the faith,” coach Dave Clawson said.
Wake Forest (4-4, 1-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) has been torched at times on defense and some of those problems haven’t totally gone away.
It’s such a concern that even after the Demon Deacons score it makes Clawson wonder if that was the best thing.
“At times I got worried we scored too fast,” Clawson said, referring the Louisville game, which the Demon Deacons won 56-35. “I was getting really nervous because we don’t have depth (on defense.”
But there’s a good feeling around the Demon Deacons for several reasons. Wake Forest racked up a season-high 591 yards of total offense in the Louisville game. Senior running back Matt Colburn gained 243 of those yards on the ground.
Clawson referred to some strong practices leading to the game as providing a big lift. It hasn’t been an easy stretch for the Demon Deacons.
“This team has stuck together, to come off the mat after Clemson and Florida State, they come back and practice hard,” Clawson said. “We have a lot of games left, who knows what’s going to happen.”
That might be a good outlook with a game against Syracuse next on the docket.
The Demon Deacons defeated Syracuse 64-43 last season, rallying from a 17-point hole. That included a 24-0 edge in the fourth quarter.
Wake Forest set a school record with 734 yards of total offense in that 2017 matchup. Colburn accounted for 237 rushing yards in that game.
Syracuse will be the third nationally ranked opponent to visit Wake Forest this season. The others were Notre Dame and Clemson, two teams that remain undefeated.
Aside from notching the team’s first ACC victory of the season, there are other developments that Clawson finds encouraging going into the final month of the season.
“This is the healthiest we’ve been all season,” he said.