Wake Forest went all in in its bid to upset 16th-ranked Georgia Tech on Saturday afternoon at Allegacy Stadium but fell just short.
The Demon Deacons battled the Yellow Jackets into overtime and went for the win by going for a two-point conversion after a Demond Claiborne short touchdown run. But Robby Ashford threw an interception as he was about to get sacked, and the Yellow Jackets came away with the 30-29 win.
The win by the Yellow Jackets improved them to 5-0 overall and 2-0 in the ACC.
Coach Jake Dickert, who made the bold call to go for the two points, watched his team fall to 2-2 overall and 0-2 in the ACC. There was never a doubt in Dickert’s mind to go for the win.
“We had an opportunity to go win the game and we took it,” Dickert said. “I’ll make the same decision, and obviously it’s a little easier to talk about afterwards, but I’m proud of my team and proud of the fight and their toughness.”
Dickert said all week he talked about how tough his team was while everyone was talking about how physical the 16th-ranked team in the country has been.
“We are a pretty damn tough team, too,” Dickert said. “I think we showed that and we were right there. We knew we’d get Georgia Tech’s best shot in the second half, and we did. I thought there were moments we responded and stayed with it, and we had an opportunity to go win it and we didn’t.”
The Demon Deacons were trying to beat a ranked team at home for the first time since beating 13th-ranked NC State in 2021.
On the final play of the game, Ashford faded to the right hoping to go back to the left to tight end Eni Falayi but he had double coverage, so Ashford tried to scramble some more but had no choice but to throw it.
“I felt like we had a good play called and they just covered it,” Ashford said. “The ball has to go in the air and tried to run around and find somebody because everybody was covered. It sucks, but I got a lot of respect for Coach Dickert to have the confidence to go for it.
“We were the better team today and I appreciate (Dickert) having the confidence in us to go out there and try to get it done.”
Connor Calvert’s field goal with five minutes to go gave the Demon Deacons a 23-20 lead. Calvert was able to redeem his miss from a minute earlier after the Demon Deacons caused a turnover.
The Yellow Jackets tied the game with 9:45 left on a Chris Coleman 20-yard field goal.
After the Demon Deacons took a 20-3 lead early in the third quarter the Yellow Jackets scored two touchdowns to cut the lead to 20-17 heading into the fourth quarter.
Ashford got banged up on a tackle after a long run and had to miss a series, and backup Deshawn Purdie struggled. Ashford, however, got back in the game wearing a knee brace on his right knee after the Yellow Jackets had cut the margin to three points.
“If I ain’t dead, I’m playing,” Ashford said. ” … The boys are hurting right now and it’s disappointing, but we have to come back and keep going.”
The Demon Deacons held a 17-3 halftime lead after Calvert made a short field goal with 22 seconds left.
Wake took a 14-3 lead late in the half thanks to a Claiborne 27-yard run that was helped by Ashford getting out in front for a block after making the handoff. .
The Demon Deacons finally got their offense going on their fourth possession of the game. Ashford first hit Chris Barnes on a stop-and-go for a long gain and a few plays later Ashford scored on a 4-yard keeper to make it 7-3.
On the completion to Barnes, however, he was banged up with what looked like a right leg injury. Barnes was able to walk off the field under his own power, and he returned on the next possession.
The Yellow Jackets scored on their second possession of the game, but the Demon Deacons defense buckled down. Georgia Tech had to settle for a 35-yard field goal by Aiden Birr for a 3-0 lead.
“We have to have the ability and maturity to wipe this one away after 24 hours,” Dickert said. “We have to set our sights on the next game, or it will be beat you twice.”
Next games
Wake Forest will travel to Blacksburg, Virginia, to face Virginia Tech on Saturday at 1 p.m. in a game that will be shown on The CW. This will be the Demon Deacons first road game of the season.
Georgia Tech will have this Saturday off but will also play Virginia Tech on Oct. 11 in Atlanta at Bobby Dodd Stadium.
Noteworthy
• Wake Forest’s last victory over the Yellow Jackets came in the 2006 ACC championship game, while their most recent home win for the Demon Deacons was in Winston-Salem in 1999.
• Chris Barnes ranks second in the ACC with an impressive 20.7 yards per reception. He has 12 catches for 248 yards and is ranked second in the nation in kick-return average at 42.8 yards per game.
Ga. Tech;3;0;14;6;7;—;30
Wake Forest;7;10;3;3;6;—;29
G – Aiden Birr 35 field goal
W – Robby Ashford 4 run (Connor Calvert kick)
W – Demond Claiborne 27 run (Calvert kick)
W – Calvert 24 field goal
W – Calvert 24 field goal
G – Eric Rivers 14 pass from Haynes King (Birr kick)
G – King 5 run (Birr kick)
G – Aiden Birr 20 field goal
W – Calvert 29 field goal
W – Birr 33 field goal
G – King 2 run (Birr kick)
W – Claiborne 25 run (conversion failed)
A – 30,264
jdell@wsjournal.com
336-727-4081
@johndellWSJ
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