Deacons cruise 4 QBs play in Wake Forest's romp over PC

Wake Forest opened both the season and the floor for a spirited debate with last night's 53-13 victory over Presbyterian in front of 28,205 at BB&T Field.

For while the Deacons' victory was never in doubt, starter Ted Stachitas' hold on the quarterback position was after freshman Tanner Price played in his first college game.

Brendan Cross and Skylar Jones also got into the game in the second half, giving Coach Jim Grobe a light-hearted explanation as to how his team is going to avoid the problems that often beset those with no established starter at the sport's most vital position.

"There are a lot of problems sometimes with a two-quarterback system," Grobe said. "We'll be the first team in the country using a four-quarterback system."

Stachitas, Devon Brown and Josh Harris all scored touchdowns on runs of at least 34 yards as Wake Forest piled up 415 yards rushing -- the highest total by the Deacons since they gained 419 yards against Duke in 2005. Senior Alex Frye also returned an interception 44 yards for a touchdown as the Deacons scored their most points since a 56-28 victory at Vanderbilt in 1990.

Even so, Grobe saw a need to improve in several areas before next week's ACC opener against Duke. The Blue Hose of the Big South, who have now lost 15 straight games, passed for 292 yards, scored a 68-yard touchdown on a trick play and twice stuffed the Deacons on third-and-1 to force punts.

"We had too many mental mistakes," Grobe said. "I think we have to look real hard as coaches and make sure we're not asking our guys to do too many things.

"We have smart guys, but sometimes if you ask them to do too much, it shows."

Stachitas, a sophomore who won the starting position in fall camp, scored the first touchdown of the season on a 34-yard run, and finished the game with seven completions on 13 attempts for 84 yards and 10 carries for 76 yards. But the offense bogged down by the end of the first quarter and was forced to punt three straight times.

Grobe said before the game that Price would play if Stachitas wasn't effective. When Stachitas fumbled the ball away at the Presbyterian 19 with 8½ minutes left in the first half, Grobe considered making the substitution then.

"When he fumbled the ball now, I'm telling you I wasn't very happy with that," Grobe said. "As I looked at Ted on the sideline, I felt like he knew that we expected more and it looked like he was a little determined.

"So we said `OK, one mistake doesn't kill you. Let's try it again.' "

Stachitas made amends by directing touchdown marches on the final two possessions for a 35-7 halftime lead. His 33-yard pass to Marshall Williams was followed by a 22-yard romp by Tommy Bohanon, setting up Brandon Pendergrass's 16-yard touchdown run. A possession later, he threw a 23-yard strike to Jordan Williams at the Presbyterian 3 to set up Harris' 3-yard touchdown run.

"He took us on two really nice drives," Grobe said. "So by the time we hit halftime we felt we'd seen out of him what we needed. We just felt we're not going through a season without playing (Price). So that's what we decided for the third quarter."

Price said the decision was a mild surprise.

"At halftime Coach actually said I was probably going to be going in," Price said. "So that's when I knew for sure I was going to be playing."

Price completed one of seven passes for 4 yards, but had two passes dropped. He carried three times for 17 yards.

Afterward he said he has no problem with the arrangement.

"Ultimately you just have to compete," Price said. "And whatever happens happens."

Stachitas also voiced no complaint.

"Whatever works," Stachitas said. "I'm not a selfish player. If that's what it takes to win, I'll do it. And if he wants to play one quarterback, I'm fine with that too.

"Me and Tanner get along fine. We're good friends, so it would be fine if we divide time."

Devon Brown broke an 85-yard run for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter for a 44-13 lead. It was the longest of his career and fourth longest in school history.

Kyle Wilber, who finished with three sacks and five tackles for loss, blocked an extra point after the Blue Hose's second touchdown. Kenny Okoro scooped up the ball and raced for the first defensive point-after-touchdown ever by Wake Forest.

Three freshmen played, Price and cornerbacks A.J. Marshall and Kevin Johnson.

Tight end Andrew Parker was sidelined by a hip pointer and linebacker Justin Jackson by a hyper-extended knee. Grobe said the prognosis on Jackson was not what he wanted to hear.

"We're afraid that Justin Jackson hurt his knee pretty good," Grobe said. "(Trainer) Don Steelman was not real encouraging to me.

"That's a big disappointment to me because we feel that kid is really special."

Grobe said that although he expects Stachitas to start against Duke, Price will definitely play.

"My guess would be, unless we think differently after we look at the film, that Ted played well enough to be the guy next week," Grobe said. "We've got to get Tanner on the field. We're going to be at least a two-quarterback system for awhile, I think.

"Now one of them could jump and take off and be the guy. Somebody could just own it. But from what I saw tonight, I think we've got to continue to give Ted and Tanner a lot of work and those other two need to know if (Stachitas or Price) stump their toe, they could be out there."

dcollins@wsjournal.com.


727-7323

Presbyterian 0 7 6 0 -- 13


Wake Forest 21 14 2 16 -- 53

First Quarter

WFU--Stachitas 34 run (Newman kick), 13:31.

WFU--Adams 14 run (Newman kick), 8:29.

WFU--Frye 44 interception return (Newman kick), 4:42.

Second Quarter

WFU--Pendergrass 16 run (Newman kick), 3:27.

Pres--Ruff 68 pass from Overholt (C.Miller kick), 3:12.

WFU--J.Harris 3 run (Newman kick), 1:01.

Third Quarter

Pres--A.Bailey 18 pass from Miley (kick blocked), 11:40.

WFU--2-point defensive conversion by Okoro, 11:40.

Fourth Quarter

WFU--Brown 85 run (Newman kick), 11:18.

WFU--FG Newman 36, 4:13.

WFU--J.Harris 46 run (run failed), 1:25.

A--28,205.

TEAM STATISTICS

Pres WFU

First downs 18 23

Rushes-yards 34-70 50-415

Passing 292 94

Comp-Att-Int 24-42-1 10-24-0

Return Yards 0 44

Punts-Avg. 9-37.9 5-40.4

Fumbles-Lost 2-0 2-1

Penalties-Yards 7-65 6-65

Time of Possession 32:11 27:49

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING--Presbyterian, Dendy 16-49, L.Byrd 8-19, Moreland 1-11, Sumner 0-9, Ruff 1-(minus 2), Miley 8-(minus 16). Wake Forest, Brown 2-91, Stachitas 10-76, J.Harris 6-74, Bohanon 6-47, Adams 8-43, Pendergrass 7-38, Price 3-17, Cross 3-15, S.Jones 3-12, Campanaro 2-2.

PASSING--Presbyterian, Miley 18-34-1-165, M.Gary 4-6-0-44, Overholt 2-2-0-83. Wake Forest, Stachitas 7-13-0-84, Price 1-7-0-4, Cross 1-3-0-3, S.Jones 1-1-0-3.

RECEIVING--Presbyterian, J.Cole 6-76, Ruff 4-122, Bumgarner 4-33, A.Bailey 3-38, McKoy 3-7, L.Byrd 2-13, Dendy 2-3. Wake Forest, Davis 3-12, Ma.Williams 2-39, J.Williams 1-23, Brown 1-9, Campanaro 1-5, C.Ford 1-4, Adams 1-2.