Oct 7, 2008 - 11:02 AM
0 shoutsClemson (3-2) at (21) Wake Forest (3-1), 7:30 pm EDT
WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina (Ticker) -- Clemson rates as one of the most disappointing teams in all of the Football Bowl Subdivision. Picked as the preseason favorites in the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Tigers already have two losses and have dropped out of the top 25.
The underachieving Tigers can still stay in the thick of the ACC Atlantic Division race Thursday night with a victory at No. 21 Wake Forest in a battle of teams coming off losses.
Another loss, however, and Clemson's conference title hopes are probably doomed, meaning life could get miserable for Tigers coach Tommy Bowden, who already has watched his team get manhandled by Alabama (34-10) and lose at home to Maryland (20-17) two weeks ago.
The Tigers (3-2, 1-1 ACC Atlantic) need a victory to regain some confidence and stature in the ACC.
In the loss to Maryland, which preceded last week's bye, Clemson squandered a 17-6 halftime lead. Cullen Harper had a lackluster game for the Tigers, completing 15-of-22 passes for 151 yards and a touchdown.
Harper clearly is not the same player he was last season, when he threw a school-record 27 touchdown passes and just six interceptions. This year, he always has five picks and only three TDs.
"Coming into the bye week with a loss is always tough, but we've got to use it as motivation," Harper said. "We've got to get better this next week in practice and prepare for a good Wake Forest team."
Wake Forest (3-1, 1-0 ACC Atlantic) also has been struggling. After being held without a touchdown in a 12-3 win over Florida State, the Demon Deacons were surprised by Navy, 20-17, in their last game on September 24. Like Clemson, Wake Forest is coming off a bye week.
Against Navy, the Demon Deacons committed six turnovers with the usually reliable Riley Skinner throwing a career-high four interceptions in possibly his worst game at Wake Forest. The loss denied the Demon Deacons a school record-tying seventh straight victory, a mark that was established in 1943.
However, Clemson will be facing a Wake Forest team primed for revenge.
The Demon Deacons suffered a 44-10 loss at Clemson last season, ending their hopes for a second straight ACC title. Harper threw three touchdowns in the rout.
From the Bleachers
-
CLEMSON: 7
WAKE FOREST: 12
Final
Oct 9 10:56 PM -
Clemson 7, Wake Forest(25) 12 4th Quarter - 2:02
RUWTbot
Added 20 roots (Close Finish)
Oct 9 10:52 PM -
Clemson 7, Wake Forest(25) 12 4th Quarter - 3:37
RUWTbot
Added 17 roots (Close Finish)
Oct 9 10:49 PM -
NCAAF
TD WAKE FOREST
D.J. BOLDIN 7 YD PASS FROM RILEY SKINNER
(TWO-POINT PASS CONVERSION FAILED)
CLEMSON 7
WAKE FOREST (21) 12 5:28 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Oct 9 10:37 PM -
Clemson 7, Wake Forest(25) 12 4th Quarter - 5:28
RUWTbot
Took away 33 roots (Close Finish)
Oct 9 10:37 PM -
Clemson 7, Wake Forest(25) 6 4th Quarter - 5:34
RUWTbot
Added 27 roots (Close Finish, Upset)
Oct 9 10:35 PM -
Clemson 7, Wake Forest(25) 6 4th Quarter - 7:46
RUWTbot
Added 17 roots (Close Finish, Upset)
Oct 9 10:32 PM -
NCAAF
FG WAKE FOREST
SHANE POPHAM 32 YD
CLEMSON 7
WAKE FOREST (21) 6 12:57 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Oct 9 10:20 PM -
CLEMSON: 7
WAKE FOREST: 3
End of 3rd
Oct 9 10:02 PM -
NCAAF
TD CLEMSON
JACOBY FORD 10 YD PASS FROM CULLEN HARPER
(MARK BUCHHOLZ KICK)
CLEMSON 7
WAKE FOREST (21) 3 0:07 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Oct 9 10:00 PM -
CLEMSON: 0
WAKE FOREST: 3
Halftime
Oct 9 8:59 PM -
CLEMSON: 0
WAKE FOREST: 3
End of 1st
Oct 9 8:15 PM -
NCAAF
FG WAKE FOREST
SHANE POPHAM 22 YD
CLEMSON 0
WAKE FOREST (21) 3 1:23 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Oct 9 8:10 PM
