2008 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team

The 2008 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team represented Wake Forest University during the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It was Wake Forest's 56th season as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).

2008 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football
EagleBank Bowl champion
EagleBank Bowl, W 29–19 vs. Navy
ConferenceAtlantic Coast Conference
DivisionAtlantic
2008 record8–5 (4–4 ACC)
Head coachJim Grobe (8th season)
Offensive coordinatorSteed Lobotzke
Offensive schemeSpread
Defensive coordinatorBrad Lambert
Base defense4–3
Home stadiumBB&T Field
(Capacity: 31,500, FieldTurf)
2008 Atlantic Coast Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
Atlantic Division
Boston College xy  5 –3     9 –5  
No. 21 Florida State x  5 –3     9 –4  
Maryland  4 –4     8 –5  
Wake Forest  4 –4     8 –5  
Clemson  4 –4     7 –6  
NC State  4 –4     6 –7  
Coastal Division
No. 15 Virginia Tech xy$  5 –3     10 –4  
No. 22 Georgia Tech x  5 –3     9 –4  
North Carolina  0 –4     0 –5  
Miami  4 –4     7 –6  
Virginia  3 –5     5 –7  
Duke  1 –7     4 –8  
Championship: Virginia Tech 30, Boston College 12
  • $ – BCS representative as conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
  • North Carolina vacated 8 wins, including 4 ACC wins
Rankings from AP Poll

The Demon Deacons were led by eighth-year head coach Jim Grobe. Wake Forest played its home games at BB&T Field. The Deacons began their season on August 28 at Baylor. A win in the 2007 Meineke Car Care Bowl against UConn gave the Deacons twenty wins over the last two seasons.

The team is finished 8–5 overall and 4–4 in ACC play, and beat Navy in the inaugural EagleBank Bowl on December 20.

Before the season

Roster changes

Quarterback Zach MacDowell enrolled Coastal Carolina University in January, and will play there starting in 2008.[1]
Running back Lucas Caparelli was dismissed from the university after an off the field incident in January.[2]

Recruiting

On National Signing Day, the Demon Deacons received letters of intent from 17 players.

  • Andrew Parker TE 6–5 225 Jacksonville, Florida Bartram Trail
  • Terence Davis WR 6–1 180 Lilburn, Georgia Brookwood
  • Gabe Irby OL 6–3 315 Mt. Airy, Georgia Habersham Central
  • Ted Stachitas QB 6–3 185 Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida Nease
  • Derricus Ellis DE 6–2 225 Rome, Georgia Darlington School
  • Joey Ehrmann LB 6–4 210 Baltimore, Maryland Gilman
  • Ramon Booi DL 6–6 330 Jacksonville, Florida Nease
  • Scott Betros LB 6–1 220 Jacksonville, Florida Bolles School
  • Riley Haynes LB 6–1 225 Jacksonville, Florida Nease
  • Kevin Smith DE 6–4 210 Plano, Texas East
  • Lovell Jackson RB 5–10 170 Tampa, Florida Plant
  • Garrick Williams OL 6–4 314 Columbia, Missouri Rock Bridge
  • J.T. Dixon TE 6–4 230 Chandler, Arizona Hargrave Military
  • Chance Raines OL 6–2 270 Jacksonville, Florida Bolles School
  • Joe Looney OL 6–3 315 Lake Worth, Florida Lake Worth
  • Kenny Okoro CB 6–0 185 Greensboro, North Carolina Dudley
  • Chris Givens RB 6–0 200 Wylie, Texas Wylie[3]

Schedule

[4]

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
August 288:00 PMat Baylor*No. 23
FSNW 41–1330,633[5]
September 63:30 pmOle Miss*No. 20
ABC/ESPN2W 30–2831,986[5]
September 207:00 PMat No. 25 Florida StateNo. 18
ESPN2W 12–379,235[5]
September 273:45 PMNavy*No. 15
  • BB&T Field
  • Winston-Salem, NC
ESPNUL 17–2433,173[5]
October 97:30 PMClemsonNo. 21
  • BB&T Field
  • Winston-Salem, NC
ESPNW 12–733,988[5]
October 1812:00 PMat MarylandNo. 19
RaycomL 0–2646,257[5]
October 2512:00 PMat Miami
ESPNUL 10–1641,208[5]
November 13:30 PMDuke
  • BB&T Field
  • Winston-Salem, NC
ESPN360W 30–33 OT32,226[5]
November 83:30 PMVirginia
  • BB&T Field
  • Winston-Salem, NC
ESPNUW 28–1734,014[5]
November 153:30 PMat North Carolina State
ESPNUL 17–2156,174[5]
November 223:30 PMNo. 25 Boston College
  • BB&T Field
  • Winston-Salem, NC
ABC/ESPN2L 21–2430,373[5]
November 297:00 PMVanderbilt*
  • BB&T Field
  • Winston-Salem, NC
ESPNUW 23–1025,902[5]
December 2011:00 AMvs. Navy*
ESPNW 29–1928,777[5]

Roster


Bold indicates started last game

Quarterbacks

  • 6 Brett Hodges – Junior
  • 10 Christian Hartford – Freshman
  • 11 Riley Skinner – Junior
  • 12 Skylar Jones – Freshman
  • 13 Ted Stachitas – Freshman
  • 15 Ryan McManus – Senior
  • 32 Turner Faulk – Freshman

Running Backs

  • 14 CJ Washington – Freshman
  • 20 Lovell Jackson – Freshman
  • 22 Brandon Pendergrass – Freshman
  • 27 Josh Adams – Sophomore
  • 34 Willie Dixon – Freshman

Wide Receivers

  • 3 Devon Brown – Freshman
  • 4 D.J. Boldin – Senior
  • 7 Jordan Williams – Sophomore
  • 8 Marshall Williams – Sophomore
  • 17 Christopher Langley – Junior
  • 18 Danny Dembry – Freshman
  • 21 Andrew Wright – Junior
  • 36 Casey Hill – Junior
  • 81 Terence Davis – Freshman
  • 82 Chris Givens – Freshman
  • 86 Matt Hartford – Junior
  • 88 Chip Brinkman – Senior

Fullbacks

  • 23 Kevin Harris – Junior
  • 35 Rich Belton – Senior
  • 44 Mike Rinfrette – Junior
  • 48 Anthony Williams – Junior

Tight Ends

  • 80 Andrew Parker – Freshman
  • 83 Cameron Ford – Freshman
  • 84 J.T. Dixon – Freshman
  • 85 Ben Wooster – Junior
  • 89 Kenneth Coe – Sophomore
  

Offensive Linemen

  • 61 Barrett McMillin – Junior
  • 62 Doug Weaver – Freshman
  • 64 Jeff Griffin – Junior
  • 65 Gage Crews – Junior
  • 66 Chance Raines – Freshman
  • 67 Trey Bailey – Junior
  • 69 Dennis Godfrey – Freshman
  • 71 Ryan Britt – Freshman
  • 72 Russell Nenon – Sophomore
  • 74 Garrick Williams – Freshman
  • 75 Michael Hoag – Freshman
  • 76 Joe Birdsong – Junior
  • 77 Boomer Peterson – Junior
  • 78 Joe Looney – Freshman
  • 79 Gabe Irby – Freshman

Linebackers

  • 26 Jonathon Jones – Junior
  • 32 Scott Betros – Freshman
  • 35 Lee Malchow – Junior
  • 39 Chantz McClinic – Senior
  • 40 Kyle Jarrett – Freshman
  • 41 Michael Potteiger – Junior
  • 43 Stanley Arnoux – Senior
  • 45 Riley Haynes – Freshman
  • 46 Matt Woodlief – Sophomore
  • 50 Joey Ehrmann – Freshman
  • 52 Dominique Midgett – Junior
  • 54 Collin Granger – Freshman
  • 55 Tristan Dorty – Freshman
  • 56 Hunter Haynes – Sophomore
  • 57 Gelo Orange – Freshman
  • 59 Aaron Curry – Senior
  • 60 Barrett Powell – Freshman
  • 63 Andrew Conroy – Senior

Cornerbacks

  • 2 Alphonso Smith – Senior
  • 5 Marcus Williams – Sophomore
  • 6 Kenny Okoro – Freshman
  • 17 Brandon Ghee – Junior
  • 24 Michael Williams – Freshman
  • 25 Josh Bush – Freshman
  • 29 Kerry Major – Senior
  • 37 Morgan Harris – Freshman
  

Safeties

  • 8 Geoff Wissing – Junior
  • 9 Chip Vaughn – Senior
  • 10 Kevin Patterson – Senior
  • 21 Alex Frye – Sophomore
  • 28 Cyhl Quarles – Freshman
  • 30 John Stamper – Freshman
  • 36 Peter Grimm – Freshman
  • 37 Junior Petit-Jean – Freshman

Defensive Ends

  • 34 Antonio Wilson – Senior
  • 42 Matt Robinson – Senior
  • 53 Joe Hall – Freshman
  • 54 Derricus Ellis – Freshman
  • 90 Will Wright – Freshman
  • 91 Kevin Smith – Freshman
  • 93 Anthony Davis – Senior
  • 94 Tripp Russell – Sophomore
  • 97 Kyle Wilber – Freshman
  • 99 Michael Lockett – Junior

Defensive Tackles

  • 51 John Russell – Junior
  • 58 Michael Carter – Sophomore
  • 87 Ted Randolph – Junior
  • 92 Bryson Dunmeyer – Freshman
  • 95 Ramon Booi – Freshman
  • 96 Boo Robinson – Junior

Place Kickers

  • 14 Shane Popham – Freshman
  • 21 Andrew Wright – Junior
  • 38 Sam Swank – Senior

Punters

  • 14 Shane Popham – Freshman
  • 38 Sam Swank – Senior

Long Snappers

  • 53 Greg Bechtel – Junior
  • 54 Collin Granger – Freshman

Kick Returners

  • 2 Alphonso Smith – Senior
  • 3 Devon Brown – Freshman
  • 21 Alex Frye – Sophomore

Punt Returners

  • 2 Alphonso Smith – Senior
     
See also: American football positions and Glossary of American football

Coaching staff

After the 2007 season, The Deacons had two assistant coaches accept other coaching positions. Defensive Coordinator Dean Hood accepted the head coaching job at Eastern Kentucky.[6] Quarterbacks coach Jeff Mullen left the Deacons to assume the Offensive Coordinator position at West Virginia.[7]

Position Name First year at WFU
Head Coach Jim Grobe 2001
Secondary Tim Billings 2006
Quarterbacks Tom Elrod 2003
Defensive Ends Keith Henry 2001
Defensive Coordinator Brad Lambert 2001
Offensive coordinator / Offensive line Steed Lobotzke 2001
Defensive Tackles Ray McCartney 2001
Assistant Head Coach / Running backs / Kickers Billy Mitchell 2001
Tight Ends / Fullbacks Steve Russ 2008
Wide Receivers Brian Knorr 2008
Source: http://wakeforestsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/wake-m-footbl-mtt.html

Game summaries

@ Baylor
See also: 2008 Baylor Bears football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Demon Deacons 10 10 14 7 41
Bears 0 6 0 7 13

In front of a national television audience, Riley Skinner threw for three touchdowns, including two to Chip Brinkman. Josh Adams and Brandon Pendergrass added touchdown runs in a lopsided 41–13 scoreline. Alphonso Smith and Alex Frye notched interceptions for the Deacons, who won their first ever game in the state of Texas.[8]

Ole Miss
See also: 2008 Ole Miss Rebels football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Rebels 7 7 0 14 28
Demon Deacons 7 3 10 10 30

Sam Swank's 42 yd FG with three seconds remaining gave Wake Forest a thrilling 30–28 win over Ole Miss. In a game with several lead changes, Ole Miss took the lead with just over one minute remaining in the fourth quarter. Wake quarterback Riley Skinner led the Deacons down the field in 53 seconds to set up Swank's game-winning field goal.[9]

@ Florida State
See also: 2008 Florida State Seminoles football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Demon Deacons 3 0 6 3 12
Seminoles 0 0 3 0 3

In a game that featured no touchdowns, Sam Swank made four field goals to lead the Demon Deacons to a 12–3 win in Tallahassee. The win was the Deacons' second consecutive win in Tallahassee, and the third straight overall over the Seminoles. The Wake Forest defense was stout, allowing Florida State under 250 yards of offense, and forcing seven turnovers, including five interceptions.[10]

See also: 2008 Navy Midshipmen football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Midshipmen 7 10 0 7 24
Demon Deacons 0 0 10 7 17

Eric Kettani ran for a career-high 175 yards and backup quarterback Jarod Bryant scored the decisive touchdown in the fourth quarter, as Navy came into Winston-Salem and upset Wake Forest 24–17.[11]

Clemson
See also: 2008 Clemson Tigers football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Tigers 0 0 7 0 7
Demon Deacons 3 0 0 9 12

Riley Skinner's 7-yard touchdown pass to DJ Boldin with 5:28 to go gave the Deacons a 12–7 win against Clemson. In a defensive battle, the Deacons' defense managed to hold Clemson to less than one yard per carry. Wake Forest dominated the game statistically but were unable to capitalize on several scoring chances. The sole turnover in the game was a Cullen Harper pass intercepted by Alphonso Smith, who tied a school record with his 17th career interception. Riley Skinner also threw for 186 yards and a touchdown on 22-of-34 passing, and also added 73 yards on the ground.[12]

@ Maryland
See also: 2008 Maryland Terrapins football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Demon Deacons 0 0 0 0 0
Terrapins 7 6 6 7 26

Chris Turner completed 28-of-41 passes for 321 yards and a touchdown, and Maryland knocked off another top-25 team with a 26–0 thumping of No. 21 Wake Forest.[13]

@ Miami
See also: 2008 Miami Hurricanes football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Demon Deacons 7 3 0 0 10
Hurricanes 3 0 10 3 16

Wake Forest was not able to maintain a halftime lead in falling against Miami. The Deacons were unable to mount much offense in the second half, and a Robert Marve QB sneak in the third quarter ended up being the game-winner. Fullback Mike Rinfrette scored the lone Deacons touchdown on a one-yard run on Wake's first offensive series.[14]

Duke
See also: 2008 Duke Blue Devils football team
1 2 3 4OT Total
Blue Devils 7 0 13 100 30
Demon Deacons 9 3 10 83 33

In a back and forth affair, Wake Forest held off Duke 33–30 in an overtime battle. Alphonso Smith blocked a punt for a safety and had two interceptions for the Deacons, including one in overtime to end the game. Riley Skinner had a touchdown pass to DJ Boldin, and also scored on a quarterback sneak. The Blue Devils had their chance to win at the end of regulation, but missed a 42-yard field goal that would have won it. Aaron Curry led the Deacons with 16 tackles.[15]

Virginia
See also: 2008 Virginia Cavaliers football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Cavaliers 0 3 0 14 17
Demon Deacons 14 14 0 0 28

On homecoming weekend in Winston-Salem, the Demon Deacons dazzled fans en route to a 28–3 halftime advantage. Riley Skinner threw two touchdown passes in the first half, including a 58-yard strike to Devon Brown. Kevin Patterson gave the Wake defense their first touchdown of the season, as e brought back a UVA pass for a 53-yard touchdown. Wake Forest turned more conservative in the second half, and allowed UVA to pick up a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns, but the lead was safe, and the Deacons claimed bowl eligibility for the third consecutive season.[16]

@ NC State
1 2 3 4 Total
Demon Deacons 7 7 3 0 17
Wolfpack 7 7 0 7 21

Russell Wilson threw the game-winning touchdown to Anthony Hill will ten minutes remaining, and NC State held off Wake Forest 21–17 in Raleigh. DJ Boldin had a hand in both Wake touchdowns, throwing a pass to Marshall Williams for a 64-yard touchdown, and catching a 7 yarder of his own. Williams had his first career 100 yard receiving day, grabbing 7 balls for 116 yards.[17]

Boston College
See also: 2008 Boston College Eagles football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Eagles 3 13 0 8 24
Demon Deacons 0 7 7 7 21

Backup quarterback Dominique Davis scored on a one-yard quarterback sneak in the final minutes to send Wake Forest to their second straight close defeat. In a defensive battle, the Demon Deacon defense scored two touchdowns, and a punt block set up the third. Kevin Patterson and Kyle Wilbur returned fumbles for touchdowns, and Rich Belton caught a 1-yard touchdown pass from Riley Skinner. This game also saw the return of kicker Sam Swank, who missed several weeks with injury.[18]

Vanderbilt
See also: 2008 Vanderbilt Commodores football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Commodores 3 0 0 7 10
Demon Deacons 3 7 7 6 23

Three different Deacons ran for touchdowns as Wake held off Vanderbilt 23–10 in each team's regular season finale. Brandon Pendergrass, Kevin Harris, and Rich Belton got in the endzone, and Alphonso Smith tied the ACC record for career interceptions. The win guaranteed Wake Forest their third consecutive winning season.[19]

vs. Navy–EagleBank Bowl
See also: 2008 EagleBank Bowl
1 2 3 4 Total
Demon Deacons 0 7 7 15 29
Midshipmen 10 3 0 6 19

Wake Forest scored 29 points in the last 31 minutes of action to win the inaugural EagleBank Bowl, and took revenge on Navy for a regular season defeat. Josh Adams got in the end zone twice for Wake Forest, who also got touchdowns from Ben Wooster and Rich Belton. Alphonso Smith intercepted a second quarter pass to break Dre Bly's ACC record for career interceptions. The Deacons outrushed the potent Navy option attack, led by a career-high 136 yards from Kevin Harris, and Riley Skinner set a FBS bowl record by completing eleven passes without an incompletion.[20]

Post Season

Conference
  • All-ACC First Team
DJ Boldin (WR)
Aaron Curry (LB)
Alphonso Smith (CB)
  • All-ACC Honorable Mention
Boo Robinson (DE)
Riley Skinner (QB)
[21]

National
  • Aaron Curry (LB)- 2008 Butkus Award Winner, 2nd Team AP All-American, 2nd Team Sporting News All-American, 2nd Team Rivals.com All-American
  • Alphonso Smith (CB)- 1st Team AP All-American, 2nd Team Sporting News All-American, 2nd Team Rivals.com All-American

Roster changes

Rankings
See also: 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings
Ranking Movement
PollPreWk 1Wk 2Wk 3Wk 4Wk 5Wk 6Wk 7Wk 8Wk 9Wk 10Wk 11Wk 12Wk 13Wk 14Wk 15Final
AP #23 #20 #20 #18 #16 #25 #21 #21 NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR
Coaches #23 #20 #19 #18 #15 #25 #21 #19 NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR
Harris Not released #25 #22 #21 NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR
BCS Not released NR NR NR #24 NR NR NR NR NR

Scores by quarter
1 2 3 4OT Total
Wake Forest 63 61 64 823 273
Opponents 54 55 39 900 238

References
  1. "Former Wake Forest QB enrolls at Coastal". Archived from the original on 2008-02-02. Retrieved 2008-02-06.
  2. Student tied to threat is no longer at WFU
  3. Signing Day Central
  4. "ACC Announces 2008 Football Schedule". Archived from the original on 2008-05-13. Retrieved 2008-02-08.
  5. "Wake Forest Game Results". Wake Forest University. Archived from the original on 2012-04-07. Retrieved 2011-10-16.
  6. Hood leaves job at Wake Forest
  7. Former Wake Forest assistant Mullen will direct Mountaineers' offense
  8. Wake Forest opens season with 41–13 win over Baylor
  9. Swank's 41-yard Field Goal Lifts #20 Wake Forest Past Ole Miss
  10. Defense Forces Seven Turnovers in 12–3 Wake Forest Victory
  11. No. 15 Deacons Downed by Navy 24–17
  12. Boldin's First Touchdown Catch Lifts No. 21 Wake Forest to 12–7 Victory
  13. Maryland Shuts Out No. 19 Wake Forest 26–0
  14. Hurricanes Drop Deacons, 16–10
  15. Wake Forest Beats Duke 33–30 in Overtime Thriller
  16. Wake Forest Defeats Virginia, 28–17
  17. Wake Forest Drops Close Contest at NC State
  18. Boston College Defeats Wake Forest 24–21 on Senior Day
  19. "Wake Forest Closes Season with 23–10 win Over Vanderbilt". Archived from the original on 2008-12-02. Retrieved 2009-01-06.
  20. Bowl Season Opens With Wake Forest Victory Over Navy, 29–19
  21. "Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association Announces 2008 All-ACC Football Teams". Archived from the original on 2009-05-22. Retrieved 2008-12-01.
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