The Deacs couldn’t close out the regular season with a victory.
The Wake Forest football team has been successful this season because of red zone execution and turnover margin, but the Deacs performed poorly in both areas today and the Boston College Eagles won, 17-14. The win improved Boston College’s record to 6-6 and made them bowl-eligible, while Wake Forest dropped to 6-6 with the loss.
Wake Forest outgained Boston College 287 to 167 (yuck), but had 3 turnovers to Boston College’s 1, and also missed 2 field goals. Boston College had just 58 yards in the first half, but was leading 10-0 at halftime. How does that happen? John Wolford threw an interception and BC took over at Wake’s 12 and Jessie Bates fumbled the ball at the Wake Forest 25 yard line on a punt return. That’s not winning football.
Conversely, Wake Forest got to the Boston College 19 yard line with 6 minutes remaining in the first quarter, and failed to convert a 4th-and-1. Wake had a 4th and 2 from Boston College’s 32 with 8 minutes remaining in the 2nd quarter and went for it, but Matt Colburn dropped a well thrown ball that would have given the Deacs a first down and then some. I strongly agreed with both decisions to go for it, but Wake simply failed to execute. Wake had yet another opportunity late in the half, but Mike Weaver missed a 51-yard field goal.
The Deacs had an excellent 3rd quarter and scored two touchdowns. The first came after an 8-play, 50-yard drive that was capped off by a 5-yard pass from John Wolford to Cam Serigne. The second drive was 65 yards, but lasted just 3 plays. Cortez Lewis hauled in a nice ball from John Wolford for a 37-yard touchdown to put the Deacs up 14-10.
Boston College responded several drives later with the game-winning touchdown drive. The Eagles drove 73 yards on just 8 plays and capped it off with a 13 yard pass to Tommy Sweeney. The key play on that drive was a 4th and 6 converted by Boston College where quarterback Patrick Towles threw a nice touch pass over Wake’s secondary. If Wake made a stop there it could have easily been a different outcome.
After trading punts, Wake got the ball back at the Boston College 42 yard line with a little over 3 minutes remaining, and got down to the BC 22 yard line, but could not convert on 3rd down. The Deacs brought out Mike Weaver to attempt the 40-yarder, but he hooked it wide left.
Wake’s defense was able to stop Boston College on the next possession and use all timeouts to get the ball back with 49 seconds remaining, but John Wolford thew an interception on 4th down and it was academic from there.
Wake Forest and Boston College will now wait about a week before learning where they will be playing in their respective bowl games.
