Revisting the 10 keys: Wake vs. G-W
1) Did Wake Forest establish a rushing attack?
The Demon Deacons did not rush for 200 yards against Gardner-Webb, but 149 was good enough for a season high, and would be an impressive per game average if they can sustain it.
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The load was balanced between Josh Harris (14 carries for 54 yards) and Brandon Pendergrass (10 carries for 49 yards and a touchdown). Nick Knott added seven carries for 30 and a touchdown, and backup quarterback Ted Stachitas scampered 21 yards for a score.
2) How did Wake's o-line fare fundamentally?
Gardner-Webb threw out a number of different looks and schemes that the Deacs had not seen, creating confusion early in the game. The offensive line allowed two sacks, and a safety.
All of that is erased though when one looks at the total yards category, as the offense racked up a season best 454 yards. Head coach Jim Grobe said it is hard to get upset when they are getting so many yards and points.
3)Did they build depth?
Tanner Price put the Deacs up 34-5 with 11:01 in the third quarter when he connected with Chris Givens on a 19-yard touchdown pass, enabling Grobe to send in the subs at the 9:54 mark of that period.
Wake Forest's backups continued the domination, shutting out the Runnin' Bulldogs 14-0. Anyone looks good against inferior competition, so only time will tell if the Demon Deacons built any depth.
4) Did the Deacs avoid a let-down?
It was a lackluster beginning for Wake as it had to settle for field goals on two of its first three possessions, claiming a 13-5 lead with 13:13 left in the second quarter.
The levee finally broke when Givens blocked a punt that set up Pendergrass' six-yard touchdown run, extending the Demon Deacons' lead to 27-5.
Grobe said there is not a greater momentum-changer than a blocked punt, and after Givens' big play Wake Forest did not look back.
5) Were the Demon Deacons spread too thin?
That appeared to be a possibility when Gardner-Webb wide receiver James Perry III pulled in a 40-yard bomb, but Wake's defense quickly recovered, allowing only 139 total yards.
6) Did Wake Forest's defense pressure G-W quarterback Chandler Browning?
Though it was a highlight-reel type play, Kyle Wilber's sack for a 13-yard loss was the Deacs only one, and just second in three games.
Regardless of how many steps a quarterback's drop-back is Wake Forest has to do a better job of bringing the heat.
7) Did Danny Dembry make it two in a row?
After pulling in six receptions for 96 yards and a touchdown, and running for a 10-yard touchdown against N.C. State the big question going into the Gardner-Webb game was can Dembry continue his stellar play?
The redshirt senior answered with a resounding yes, catching eight balls for a career high 126 yards.
8) Was there any room for Little?
Wake's defense held Gardner-Webb running back Kenny Little to just 19 yards on 15 carries. The Runnin' Bulldogs only accumulated a total of 22 yards on the ground.
9) Was Wake nice and neat?
No one wants unnecessary mistakes, but the Deacs can live to see another day after committing five penalties for 50 yards, and losing one fumble against G-W.
The fumble was Wake's third turnover in three games, and it is much easier for Grobe and his staff to swallow five penalties for 50 yards than the 10 for 94 suffered in the season opener.
10)Was the Price right?
Price continued to impress with his performance in the 48-5 win over Gardner-Webb. The sophomore quarterback completed 21-32 passes for 281 yards and two touchdowns. The Texas native also scored on the ground with a quarterback sneak.
In three games Price has completed 61-98 passes for 867 yards, six touchdowns and an interception.