Wake Forest will take the win, but wouldn’t mind shedding the cliffhanger finish when the Demon Deacons play the second of a four-game homestand to open the season on Saturday in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Western Carolina is next up for the Demon Deacons (1-0), who used a late third-quarter Connor Calvert field goal to pull ahead of Kennesaw State in a nail-biter to begin the 2025 season last week.
The kick became vital because Kennesaw State’s missed point-after attempt following a first-quarter touchdown made up the difference in a 10-9 Wake Forest win in coach Jake Dickert’s debut.
Dickert took over at Wake Forest in the offseason, coming over from Washington State where he coached the Cougars to three bowl games in four seasons.
“The players we have can execute. We showed that at times throughout the game,” said Demon Deacons offensive coordinator Rob Ezell, who joined Dickert’s staff from South Alabama.
“Just didn’t do it consistently enough, and that’s what we’re trying to build right now is our consistency.”
Wake Forest failed to generate push up front.
The Deacons averaged only 2.8 yards per rush, with quarterback Robby Ashford’s 42 yards on the ground leading the team. Ashford accounted for the only Wake Forest touchdown, a 5-yard carry to cap a 75-yard drive in the first quarter.
Running back Demond Claiborne, who rushed for 1,049 yards and 11 touchdowns last season, suffered a rib injury after only three touches. Dickert told reporters Claiborne is day-to-day, and his status might not be fully determined until gameday.
Western Carolina (0-1) struggled with a different problem in its season-opening loss to Gardner-Webb.
The Catamounts scored effectively, rushing for 221 yards to help fuel a 45-point effort.
Gardner-Webb rolled off 24 of its 52 points in the fourth quarter for a come-from-behind win. Western Carolina gave up 627 yards of offense, including 335 on the ground.
Quarterbacks Bennett Judy and Isaac Lee both played significant reps in Week 1, but Lee struggled through a 3-of-9 passing performance for 82 yards with 69 coming on a touchdown pass to Malik Knight.
Both quarterbacks threw an interception, and Lee lost a fumble. Western Carolina coach Kerwin Bell said on his radio show Monday that both will again play in Week 2 with Judy making the start.
Bell also emphasized the need for a dramatic defensive improvement after what he considered a disappointing showing from that group last week.
“I’m going to ride [the defense] until the end, because By God, I think we’ve got the talent and the coaches to get it done,” he said. “They took [Saturday’s performance] personal.”
