Despite a 23-point Syracuse lead, Demon Deacon fans sat on beach towels or stood barefoot on the grass hill behind the end zone at BB&T Field and continued to root for their team until the final moments of the fourth quarter came to a close.
For a short time in the first quarter, it looked as though Wake Forest fans would be cheering for their team’s first ACC win of the season after the Deacons scored what would ultimately be their only touchdown of the afternoon.
But a strong defensive showing and a solid performance by true freshman quarterback AJ Long allowed Syracuse to avoid a fifth straight loss.
The Orange scored 30 unanswered points in Winston-Salem, N.C. on Saturday for a final score of 30-7.
Syracuse Head Coach Scott Shafer said with a number of key positions suffering from injuries, he was pleased to see the team adjust.
“Coming out of the Florida State game, our defensive kids — they were banged up,” Shafer said. “We had to try to be smart with the way we practiced. I thought mentally they were extremely strong.”
After a 13-play, 91-yard Wake touchdown drive with just over five minutes left in the first quarter, SU answered back with a field goal to end the first 15 minutes of play.
But the Demon Deacons sideline appeared noticeably energized after holding the Orange to three points, with high-fives and fist pumps being shared amongst players in black and gold.
That feeling would transfer to the Syracuse sideline midway through the second quarter after a 15-play, 92-yard drive by the Orange, which ended with a 4-yard touchdown run by Long.
Long’s touchdown gave SU a 10-7 lead.
“He showed his athleticism down there in the red zone where he took off with it,” Shafer said.
Before the end of the first half, Syracuse defensive end Rob Welsh returned an interception for 42 yards, bringing its lead to 17-10.
The interception happened after Dyshawn Davis hit Wake quarterback John Wolford as he was about the throw the ball.
Davis hit Wolford with such force that the quarterback returned from halftime in street clothes after showing signs of a possible concussion.
The Orange continued to find scoring opportunities in the second half, completing a 12-play, 51-yard field goal drive early in the third quarter.
Two minutes later, Syracuse fans were out of their seats when senior defensive end Micah Robinson found the end zone on a 51-yard fumble recovery.
“It popped up in the air and I grabbed it and ran for my life,” Robinson said. “I was just running as fast as I could.”
The fumble was the result of heavy pressure applied to the Wake offense by the SU defense, a tactic which proved to be successful for the Orange throughout the afternoon.
The Demon Deacons converted on just 3 of 15 third down attempts.
Wake Forest Head Coach Dave Clawson said he couldn’t remember the last time he was so disappointed in a game outcome.
“I did not have our team ready to play today,” Clawson said. “Our offense gave up more touchdowns than our defense did.”
With three minutes remaining in the third quarter, Syracuse went on to score the last three points of the game after a 5-play, 81-yard field goal drive.
The Orange ended the day with 370 yards of total offense, averaging a gain of 5.3 yards each time an SU player touched the ball.
AJ Long completed 22 of 32 passing attempts for 171 yards.
Long also rushed for a touchdown.
With the 30-7 win over Wake Forest, the Orange took home its first victory since traveling to Central Michigan over a month ago.
The team’s record now sits at 3-4, while the Demon Deacons fall to 2-5.
Next week, the Orange travels to "Death Valley" where it will face Clemson (5-2), the second ranked team in the ACC.
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