NCAAF 2023 - Week 1 || FCS - FBS Matchup || Elon Phoenix vs Wake Forest || 8/31/23

1st Quarter [Music] we welcome you to ACC Network football presented by Dr Pepper and we welcome you back to another season of football in the ACC Wake Forest the first team in the Atlantic coast to kick things off here in 20123 we've got a tussle in the Triad as the Demon Deacons play host to the Phoenix of Elon what's happening everybody Welcome to Winston Salem and welcome to the 2023 college football season alongside the former Ohio State quarterback former NFL quarterback and National Champion Dustin Fox we're doing that every week this year foxy I'm Drew Carter and Dustin it's the first game of the season it's a Thursday night we're expecting a sellout crowd what are these players experiencing right now they're probably a little bit nervous maybe some pregame Jitters I remember when I played I was always nervous up until kickoff once you get that first hit it all goes away all right I'm going to hit you once we go off camera here so the Jitters go away now one guy you wouldn't blame for being nervous is the new qb1 here in Winston Salem that's Mitch griffi but he does have experience in this system he does he's been here for goodness four years as a backup to basically one of the best quarterbacks to ever play in the ACC and Sam Harman moves on to Notre Dame of course but Mitch is uh he's got a little bit of game experience did start one game last year against VMI maybe not the toughest competition but he put up some tremendous numbers in this offense and I I again I don't think the UT at all this season they're still going to run the slow mesh at times they're going to be Up Tempo at times as well and they certainly have a talented running back and and a really good offensive line as well and the coaching staff is Uber confident in Mitch griffi they said look we could have gone out and found a transfer quarterback when Sam Hartman left for Notre Dame they didn't they feel good about this fourth year quarterback first year starter on the other side for Elon foxy it's a little bit of a different story griffi has been here Matthew Downing has not this is his fourth different school it's crazy college football in 2023 how how guys can go to so many different universities and the path that has led him to Elon has been kind of wild right was that George as a walk- on played a few games there then goes on to TCU and then most recently was at Louisiana Tech in fact last season had a very devastating knee injury in the final game of the year was able to rehab that and get himself back here at Elon he does very similar to Mitch griffi at Wake Forest he replaces uh a tremendous quarterback at Elon and Matthew McCay who's the starter a season ago yeah for Elon it's three years three different starting quarterbacks it's an FCS playoff team from a year ago and this year they take on Dave Clawson and Wake Forest in their first game of the season hard to believe it's been a decade now for Dave Clawson at the helm of Wake Forest one of the most successful coaches in program history he has led the deakes to a bowl game in seven consecutive Seasons with more investment in the facilities and more players in the pros this feels like a program even still that's on the rise on the other sideline it's Tony tishani he's a guy who led Elon to back-to-back FCS playoff appearances in his last two years as defensive coordinator back in 2017 and 2018 Kurt cetti was the head coach he goes to take over James Madison steps up and he led the Phoenix back to the playoffs last season you know a lot of times people will look at a power five team playing an FCS opponent week one or week two and think it's always just going to be a pushover well this is a very talented team that comes from one of the top conferences in the entire FCS the CA and you mentioned they were a playoff team last year and they they've got some talented players in a really good offensive line the 2023 ACC football season is under Way Chandler broy lets it roll through the back of the end zone and the Elon Phoenix will start with the football at the 25 and it's an offense led by offensive coordinator Drew Fulmer that we expect to run the ball try to get that wake for secondary to come close to the line of scrimmage and then pop it over the top which Downing is more than capable of he's got an arm there's no question about that the guy played a ton of football he's 24 years old I he's played probably more football than than most people in their entire lives at 24 years old of course but this offense is is going to be interesting to watch especially because their running back Jaylen Hampton we didn't get a chance to talk about there in the open but a transfer from uh Virginia Tech who's very talented probably the best player on their offense he gets the call here on the first play of the season and he twists forward for one yard on first down it's an Elon offensive line that their five starters are all 300 lbs or above and they're blocking for a running back in Jaylen Hampton who started his career at Virginia Tech it kind of feels like an CC Run game it does and you know it was interesting this week we found out that the Jaylen Hampton's nickname is Bam not Bam Bam but bam just just one bam just bam and I think we'll see why he has that nickname as we go throughout this game the coaching staff referred to him as a knee Bender only gained one yard on the first play from scrimmage and that pass from Downing is dropped by Jordan Bonner it's an Elon group that lost their top two receivers from last year expect Bonner to have a big Seas season the first pass goes right through his hands yeah B one of the most experienced receivers on this squad transfers in from Purdue a few years ago but uh I'll tell you what this uh that ball should have been caught maybe a little too much mustard on the throw from from Matthew Downing I can imagine he's probably got some nerves in his first start on third down and nine Downing spins away from pressure throws on the Run toward the boundary and it's incomplete and the Wake Forest Defense Forces a three and out yeah really good job on that play by J jasheen Davis excuse me the defensive end forces the uh quarterback Matthew Downing outside the pocket nowhere to go with the football just has to pretty much throw it away you see 30 coming in there forcing the pressure that's one of the best defensive ends on the [Music] [Applause] ACC the goal for Elon and coach Tony triani was to put the pressure on a little bit maybe get the nerves on the Wake Forest side and 45 seconds in they go three and out Kyle romanic out to kick it away for the Phoenix Taylor Moren one of the best punt returners in the country will get a crack here pass his own 40 right on top of that big WF logo he's near Midfield Wake Forest has good starting field position for Mitch griffus in the Demon Deacons [Music] offense very excited to see Mitch Griffins come out here and run this offense the coaches just R about his ability and practice to kind of create angles with his throws with his arm angles and things like that but also maybe one of the steadiest most efficient quarterbacks uh the coach clawson's ever been around was his second career start and he starting the season opener for back-to-back Seasons Justice Ellison is the running back griffus fakes it to him completes to kesan Williams and he'll pick up about five yards on Wake Forest first play of the Season Williams a dangerous receiver out of the slot one of four returning Wake Forest wide receivers to go for 500 plus yards last year only team in FBS that can say that on second down griffi throws quickly there's Taylor morren after his 13 yd return he picks up about the same here on his first reception first down deakes inside the 40 this quick decision by Mitch Griffith to get rid of the football finds one of his go-to guys Moren sits right down at the sticks and picks up the yards after the catch and here's that pace and space offense Wake Forest wasting no time they move about as quickly as any team in college football and griffith picks up a solid gain on first down dropped by Marco pno I mean really what they're trying to do is is try to create a little bit of confusion with the defense they get up to the line as fast as they they can but then they may go Tempo they may slow it down a bit there's the mesh there's Ellison around that left side tries to stiff arm past his Defender Dylan Tucker who Elon expects to play a big role this year in that spur position and brings up third [Music] down well you said the magic word there foxy which is mesh and the magic phrase for Wake Forest has been slow mat that's what everyone across the country refers to their offense as they don't really like it though they're rebranding this year pace and space yeah they they kind of feel like that's that's been a take that a lot of people I almost say It's a lazy take but if you watch this offense it's much different on third down and three griffus completes they'll move the sticks again say hello to Cameron height his first here as the te1 here in Winston Salem he's got his first catch of the [Music] [Applause] Season another fresh set starting just outside the Red Zone griffus swings it out there's he can do this out of the back field and gets tripped up we'll pick up a short gain on first down Bose Sanders the leader of the Elon Defense number seven comes down from his safety position to make the tackle but pace and space if you're a big NBA fan that sounds familiar that's really been the trend with small ball in the last 10 years which is when Dave Clawson and Warren riro the offensive coordinator took over here that's what they like they spread you out and they move quickly and they've got a wide open man Griffith finds him for a touchdown Wesley gries scores the first six of the season for the Demon [Music] Deacons he had a lot of pace and space a lot of pace and space there that was just an easy throw and catch you see the corner coming in here on the blitz that's Jen Dennis number eight and then just no one covers over top wide open the safety's got to be there to help the the the corner who's blitzing and a great job of recognition by Mitch Griff is to see the blitz coming and sees the wide open wide receiver in the end zone richro sophomore Matthew Dennis tacks on the extra point more the same from Wake Forest on the first drive griffi goes five for five 46 yds and a touchdown pitch and catch way you want it if you're a demon Deacon fan 7 nothing from Winston Salem it's a new era here in W Winston Salem with Wake Forest Football no more Sam Hartman and Mitch Griffith look kind of nervous on his first drive as the official qb1 he just goes five for five and throws a touchdown to Wesley Grimes seven plays 53 yards 229 and even the 229 is somewhat misleading because they don't stop the clock anymore a first down that's a new rule here in college football and even still Wake Forest like a hot knife through butter goes right through Elon and scores the first touchdown of a season Caleb Carlson on a Touchback again and Dustin Fox let's go back to that W Forest touchdown yeah let's take a look at what happened there was a miscommunication had to be the corner comes on a blitz and then the safety comes on a blitz as well they clearly did not communicate you've got to have a safety over top both of them come it leaves Grimes wide open and a great job of recognition by griffi to find Grimes for the pitch and catch Dustin as a former cornerback yourself if that happened to you what would you be say on the sideline of the safety well again I don't know whose fault it was what was the was the safety supposed to come or was it the corner either way they've got to get that communicated so Matthew down if it wasn't if it wasn't on me I'd be upset yes yes watch the film Matthew Downing back to work the quarterback for Elon gives it to Jaylen Hampton who's going nowhere Malik must was the first guy in there from his safety position it'll go down as a loss of four they describe Mustafa as a missile not only is he a missile he looks like what God would make a football player look like almost like those mannequins and they kind of explain that to us like the guys that are all musly wearing the uniforms that they show off that's what Malik looks like what a great player he is they'll put him all over the field number three for Wake Forest that brings up a second and third [Music] team Downing looks to throw completes along the sideline Cody Hardy the tight end's got it pass the original spot but it's another third down and long coming up for [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Elon tough spot to be in for Elon to start this game behind the sticks against the defense that is really trying to to revamp some of the things that they didn't do well a season ago which was give up a lot of big plays they've got a lot of players back that are healthy one of which by the way is kin car Carson their top Corner who gives them a lot of [Applause] flexibility Blitz coming for wake and they get him Downing goes down in a heap and it's Jacob Roberts welcome to Winston North Carolina A&T transfer brings down Downing for a loss of 12 now Roberts is going to get credit with the sack but really it was justen Davis who sets this up he comes in on the twist 30 comes inside and that allows 40 Jacob Roberts to come around for the sack and a big stop by the Demon Deacons they love this guy FCS transfer they said we're going to see him a lot so it's two offensive possessions for Elon -6 total yards and Taylor moren's got the fair catch at his own for they've got some speed on this defense you know Jacob Roberts who you mentioned there Drew transferred in from North Carolina A&T this a guy who in high school was a 10600 met guy right at his size 61 235 lb he can flat out [Music] fly Mitch griffi couldn't have been a whole lot better on his first drive as the full-time starter here for Wake Forest it ended with an 18 yard touchdown to Wesley Grimes he'll start with a pass on the first play of a new drive griffi with plenty of time behind that experienced offensive line and he Dives forward for a gain of one now when you look back at the quarterbacks who have been here under Dave Clawson and Warren riro think about John Walford think about Jamie Newman Sam Hartman Clawson says griffi is probably closest to Walford in terms of size arm angle ability and also speed moving around the pocket on second down to nine he throws kind of a sidearm it's complete to the tight end again Cameron height his second catch early to set up third and short he you talked about some of those previous quarterbacks under Dave Clawson here at Wake Forest really really good players in Wolford who is in the NFL Sam Hartman there's no question he'll be in the NFL very very soon he looked pretty good last weekend Jamie Newman still playing in Canada yeah absolutely good point on third down griffi fading and he gets dumped Marvin Pearson will get credit for the sack the quiet leader of this defense with a big play to set up fourth down yeah if there's one player on this Elon defense that's getting looks at by the NFL it's probably Marvin Pearson you know they came into this uh season last year I should say they led the ca I mean they had almost three sacks a game so it brings out Ivan MOA for the first time this season Bo Sanders back to receive for Elon he brings in the fair catch just inside his own 25 a little juice from Elon defensively they get a sack and they get the ball back trailing by 7 Midway through the [Music] first ACC Network Thursday night college football is presented by Dr Pepper the one fans deserve and in part by the Honey Baked Ham Company game day is honey bake [Music] day oh there might be some Honey Baked Ham in this new Locker Room Lounge set up for Wake Forest Football it seems like they've got everything Hydro therapy section beautiful training room and one of the coolest locker rooms you're going to see in college football this is the mccre football complex it's brand new $38 million investment just over the past couple years is part of a bigger $150 million investment over the past decade in football here in Winston Salem foxy we got a chance to get a tour yesterday oh my goodness absolutely amazing one of the coolest things I thought Drew they had they've got these little pods for the players to take naps in I think we woke somebody up I think we did Matthew down and gets sacked again clearly wake is well rested and that's Nick Anderson Well Nick Anderson just woke up Matthew Downing yes wow Anderson is such a fun player I mean this guy just does it all for this defense and you know he doesn't get a lot of notoriety former walk- on but the guy just is a player just a football player Anderson burst out of the seen three years ago in the co year 2020 had those three interceptions against Virginia Tech and Men that's when he was a walk-on now he's a scholarship player and he looks like it so it's back-to-back offensive snaps with a sack for the Wake Force defense Wayne Dixie II gets the call for Elon it's going to be another third down and a mile for the [Music] Phoenix so far for Elon they have not found much SU success on the ground especially where they're at a minus 16 rushing yards but Dustin this is an offensive line that should do really well once conference play starts yeah there's no doubt I mean these guys are good players uh it's it's a little bit different you're playing up to a power five program but jabrell Williams and Kevin burkat they're on the right side in the center those are the two guys that are probably the alphas on that offensive line probably two of the better offensive lineman in the entire FCS they'll have to protect here on on third down and 15 Downing under toess quickly again has no time to get the pass out to Christian dilva and it's three drives three three and outs for the Phoenix [Music] offense you mentioned last year the weakness for Wake Forest defensively was giving up a lot of big plays yeah they haven't been tested at all so far well you look at the stats I mean Elon has negative 11 yards of total offense to start this game that's that's a pretty impressive performance so far by the uh demon Deacon defense led by defensive coordinator Brad Lambert it's another punt for romanic another return opportunity for Taylor moring with a flag down on the near side away from Moren who spins out of a tackle at his own 30 puts the shoulder down and we start Wake Forest right there Tim hedgepath is our referee tonight let's get the first call of the game personal foul face mask receiving team number one 15 yd penalty first down wa for it it's kayin Carson one of their starting cornerbacks playing on special teams hit with the face mask and Dave clawson's team moves back to start this new drive we get another look at that Demon Deacons pace and space hang and bang offense when we [Music] return our college football game tomorrow night the confusion Bowl Miami of Ohio takes on Miami at Hard Rock stadium the Red Hawks led by reder Jr Brett gabard who's quite confident and the canes by their quarterback Tyler van DIY these teams haven't met since the 1980s coverage begins at 7 Eastern right here on acc Network in the ESPN F demon Deacon Batman is fired up for that matchup and Foxy there have been some some words exchanged between those two teams as Wake Forest starts with a short give to Dean Clayborn well the Red Hawks certainly don't lack confidence they're a well- coached football team with Chuck Martin and uh Brett gabard said this week that they were going to show him what what he say they're to show him who the real Miami is or something along those lines he was asked where's the real Miami and he said Oxford Ohio we'll show him it's fighting words yeah griffi throws complete over the middle it's Grimes who's got a touchdown already tonight showing off the wheels around the Left End and he's dragged out just before the 30 by Antonio White that was a hang and bang partner not a slow mesh new name that was a a beautiful play design by Wake Forest he hangs he hangs and then he bangs right down the middle as Antonio White was in coverage and really no help in the middle of the field either so that was a beautiful throw and catch on the ground again with Clayborn the rb2 who will get a lot of run this year for Wake Forest a punishing run to pick up eight or nine on first down uh I hope William Hung from American idolist watching this because he's going to love this broadcast if you say he bangs again oh boy there's Clayborn who slithers through the offensive line and moves Wake Forest right to the edge of the Red Zone but you know we you you were very excited about all these these terms this week the pace and space space the hanging bang well we we we joke about it because they don't want to talk slow mesh they don't want the slow mesh anymore they feel like it's a lazy way to describe their offense that's exactly the word Dave Clawson used with us they say run slow mesh maybe 5 to 10% of the time here's a straight drop for griffi and he throws a missile incomplete Bose Sanders on the coverage as he tried to get it to Wesley Grimes again you know it is interesting I was sort of surprised when he said they only run it 5% less than 10% most games because it feels like that's like what we see like it seems like most of their big plays the highlight plays come off of that uh that formation and that in that play uh play design I should say but so far today we only seen it about three times on the sweep it's kesan Williams who's got lots of speed and he is tripped up just in front of the sticks inside the 15 yd line Williams a great athlete who was a starting point guard for his high school team in Philadelphia yeah he averaged 18 points a game way back when at Chestnut Hill he's yet another guy in that long line of slot receivers to come through Wake Forest [Applause] Williams the motion man again third down and three it's Clayborn Hot Pursuit by Pearson what a first quarter for the senior out of Asheville North Carolina a tackle for loss moves wake back and you'll watch number six here come off the left side he's unblocked absolutely unblocked and and you see 13 kesan Williams kind of right there and he I think he took one look at Pearson said okay I'm not having anything to do with that as Pearson makes his second big play in the back field today you're seeing why Scouts have inquired about him he's 265 and explosive so it brings out Matthew Dennis for his first attempt of the season from 34 yards took over for Nick sko last year and he was Rock Solid Dennis's first kick is good [Music] so with under three minutes to play in this first quarter wakes lead extended to 10 nothing Drive wraps up at eight plays for 68 yards in 3 minutes and 10 seconds and now for Elon we'll see if they can get anything going the Phoenix last year back in the FCS playoffs for the first time in 5 years trying to build as they an experienced group coming into this season yeah and listen they've got a very tough schedule ahead this season you look back to last year winning three games over ranked FCS teams that was tremendous obviously the the loss to Ferman was a tough one there in the postseason 31-6 but they feel like they can build off of last season they got good players back the question is how good's their quarterback going to be Tony trani's team you described them as a developmental program kind of similar to what you hear about Wake Forest right yeah they Lev both schools don't really take a lot of transfers um you know you talked about it with with Elon and I think they they only brought in three or four transfers they said we're okay we like to kind of build our culture we'll take a brother-in-law once in a while couple of Step Brothers [Music] yeah KB Carlson boots it away for Wake we'll get our first look at Chandler brayboy as a return man he's got lots of speed their most dangerous weapon on the outside brings it just past the 25 yd line it has been a struggle for the Phoenix so far tonight three drives three three and outs what do you want to see from them foxy as they try to establish some footing offensively well listen I thought you know coming into the game they'd maybe be able to have a chance to to get something going on the ground that has not just that hasn't happened at all uh their offensive line has not been able to get a push and and I thought because of the maybe some inexperience at the defensive tackle position for for Wake Forest they may have some opportunities up the middle they just have not been there and more of the same Kevin pointer Kevin poin comes flying in for a big tackle for loss big old 91 just absolutely Blows By the center here and and there's just no one there I mean it's just keep tacking up the negative plays for for Elon jabril Williams the center we talked about is a good player but didn't even get a get a body didn't get a hand on Kevin pointer Elon now up to or down toga - 20 rushing yards for the night here in the first quarter this time they fake it to Hampton throw from Downing is complete to Jamari and Dalton and Dalton taken down by AJ Williams the red shirt Junior safety to bring up another third down and long and this this is the thing Dustin they don't have a chance to take any shots because they're behind the sticks every time well at least that play was was a positive yardage play right I mean you were behind the six because of the loss on second down or on first down I should say but I I do think you got to get the football out of Matthew downing's hands as quickly as possible and try to get something going on the perimeter and make Wake Forest run these plays down third down and seven the daks rush forward Downing throws across the field and another form tackle for Wake Forest Jamari Glaser the red shirt freshman out of Temple Hills Maryland stops Dalton in his tracks to set up fourth down what's crazy is that they you know they're still two yards short of the the first down but that was their best Drive they had a couple throws out there on the perimeter that that puts him in position here but obviously still going to have to punt the ball at your own 34 ydd [Music] line Brad Lambert looks on the defensive [Applause] coordinator with under a minute left in this first quarter that ball skips Out of Bounds at the 20 yd line so baby steps for the Elon offense but Wake Forest will take back over after the 46 yd kick from Kyle romanic are you too young for What About Bob huh you too young for What About Bob not sure what you're talking about okay yeah do it do enlighten me f baby steps our audience knows there was a flag down Tim hbth what you got personal foul face mask kicking team number 27 that 15 yard penalty is added to the end of the play first down wait Forest it's elon's first penalty tonight Chaz Harley guilty of a face [Applause] mask so the Wake Forest offense goes back to work it's a team that's been prolific under Dave Clawson averaging 30 plus points per game six years in a row there's the hanging bang Griffith completes and it's Jamal Banks who caught nine touchdowns last season moves the sticks a gain of 17 it's amazing how long griffi holds that football in the belly of the running back before he pulls it out and from a defensive standpoint it creates so much confusion in in terms of eye discipline it's very difficult to defend could be the last snap of the first quarter griffus hangs out on to it and he's got Wheels Mitch griffi steps out of bounds with under 10 seconds to play in the first he's got another first down deakes and that clock will Ru that new rule emphasizing the tempo of the game and the Demon Deacons will take a 10 nothing lead to the second quarter just what we expected from Wake Forest there is a new man at the Helm of the offense but it's still humming 10 nothing wake after [Music] 2nd Quarter one welcome back to ACC Network football presented by Dr Pepper and welcome back to a Legacy Stadium here in Winston Salem wake for his first game of the season they lead Elon 10- nothing after 15 minutes back alongside Dustin Fox I'm Drew Carter great to have you with us on this beautiful Thursday night here in the Triad deck's offense back to work led by Mitch griffi he hands it to Justice Ellison an all ACC performer last year and he cuts up field for three or four yards now we talk a lot about Dave Clawson when we reference the Wake Forest offense and rightfully so but Warren Roo's been with him from day one and this is year 10 for them together and you see riro coaching against his old team he was the offensive coordinator at Elon for two years in the mid 2000s he's got some great memories from his time with the Phoenix griffi under duress just got rid of it pressure applied by Nick Vos but that clawen riro offense is known for its Tempo you see since they took over in 2014 this is by seconds per play been the fastest offense in the country you know it was interesting I I asked coach Clawson if there's a certain number of plays they're trying to get in per game he said no there really isn't there's no goal uh I also wonder how much that will be affected by this new clock Change sure how many plays they're probably going to get about six or seven less plays offensively per game but nonetheless they absolutely do play Tempo third and seven griffi cuts it toward the end zone Jamal banks are you kidding touchdown daks 33 yd score to the contested catch kick [Music] K 64 200 lb this is Offman coverage and he's just going to go up right over top of Antonio White what tremendous concentration to come back the ball thrown a little bit behind I think that might have been by Design but a just a great great catch by Jamal Banks who picks right up where he left off a season ago with those nine touchdowns Antonio White is not small he's 61 187 he just got mossed by the guy who led the ACC and contested catch rate last year yes what 63% yes sir best in the league which is a big part of those nine touchdowns Matthew Dennis adds the extra point 17 nothing Wake Forest well new quarterback same wide receivers same result touchdown for the decks 17 nothing ACC football is officially underway and what a lineup we have that starts with BC hosting Northern Illinois at noon Eastern then Pittsburg host wford and then it's Colgate in Syracuse in a central New York Showdown on acc Network extra at 4 Eastern we C the day with Old Dominion going into a soldout lane Stadium Enter Sandman to take on Virginia Tech and blackburg at 8 Easter every game also available on the ESPN app so you can watch anywhere that game's got some juice now Revenge game for the h you never would have thought that but it is absolutely a Revenge game with the the monarchs right the monarchs there we go Old Dominion came here for the season opener a couple years ago and got their doors blown off that was when they were still an FCS team by the way when you said that game has some juice were you talking about Colgate in Syracuse I mean I can only imagine oh you're you're an Upstate New York guy you excited about that fired up pumped I know where I'll be Saturday Caleb Carlson kicks it away for Wake Forest leading 17 nothing early second quarter Here Comes Chandler Bray boy and he loses his foot in the turf monster takes him down inside his own 20 are you going to the loud house Saturday no sir okay no sir hopefully at some point this season though there you go all right so those numbers are not a typo folks negative 20 rushing yards for Elon only 17 passing yards so they're in the red in total offense what can they do to get the wheels moving well the last two plays of the previous drive I I thought they were were positive yardage plays where they got the ball in the perimeter to a couple of their wide receivers they just they got to make somebody Miss Right make make a guy miss a tackle and see if you can create a big [Applause] play sl's going to Blitz off the edge here from the nickel spot so now wake brings the heat Downing stands in there throws Chandler broy can't bring it in oh he had him on the back shoulder look kin Carson was in coverage and I was just about to say Dustin maybe they can get four involved we've seen him returning kicks there's a reason for that he's got great speed yeah probably the fastest guy on the entire Elon football team just kind like a bit of a double move and right as Carson does that speed turn the football is thrown to the outside oh game of inches right so close and they could have used that big play second down and 10 for Matthew Downing and Company bam Hampton right up the middle and again it'll be third down and pretty long for Elon as Hampton you see why they call him that will not go down Hampton outstanding last year A Thousand Years in his first year with this program spent two years at Virginia Tech never saw any action but Russ hughman who's the head coach at Richmond said I'm not sure why he didn't play at Tech he's an all ACC type back he looks like an ACC back and we saw him down there on the field before the game very physical got great speed good balance one thing that they they did talk about this week when we talked with Coach Trish was they need him to get the 10 yd runs first before he can get the 50 yard runs those 10 yard runs are vital Downing again Under Pressure can't get out of it Elon moves to 0 for five on third down down tonight kendron Wayman credit for the sack the third tonight for Wake Forest and this again Jen Davis 30 just absolutely walk watch him come inside on Zan Gilbert 76 he just pushes the pocket and really just puts Gilbert in the lap of Downing and allows the sack to be made by Wayman Davis makes a lot of plays that don't go in the stat sheet but allows his teammates to make some some plays around [Applause] them another punt for Kyle romanic wake applying the pressure but there's a flag looks like a false start against the Phoenix false start offense number nine fivey penalty it's still fourth down so Tony trani's team Retreats further into its own territory [Music] omic gets it away a spiraling kick a low one to Moren gives him some space and Moren is into Elon territory past the 45 sets up Wake Forest in Prime position the last thing elon's defense wants to see right now is a short field for a Wake Forest offense that's been Dynamite led by the new qb1 yeah he's been absolutely phenomenal to start this ball game couple of touchdown throws that one was too easy with the blitz coming off the edge there's the uh the old hanging bang as we've said multiple times they want to refer to their offense as that now and then this beautiful throw in probably even even more of a Dynam catch by banks in the corner of the end zone with his size and his ability to go up and make a play griffi has as many touchdowns as incompletions is that good it's the same thing Sam Hartman did last week in his first game with Notre Dame griffi throws Oh I thought he caught oh I thought he is too he was working on Bo Sanders the safety and the ball was thrown kind of to the back side of of Moren and it felt like for moment drew that he was going to come up with this football nearly had it with one hand so I I jinxed griffus that's his third incompletion now 9 for 12 and now he gets sacked brought down by Caleb curtain the safety playing that Bandit position comes down to make it third down in Forever this is kind of an interesting Blitz by by Caleb CT he comes in he he jumps and it kind of throws off Mitch griffi for a moment and then he gets back down on the ground and Sprints griffus to make the sack Elon second sack tonight last year they led the CAA with almost three per game third down and 18 griffi will throw stands in lots of time now he goes down Chaz Harley with backto back tfls for Elon that's three sacks now for the Phoenix just in the first half they're picking up right where they left off a year ago and this is against a much better opponent in Wake Forest you know Griffith has all day to throw at some point that that clock's got to go off in Griffith's head either step up or get rid of the ball Ivan MOA sends it high into the night sky here in Winston Salem on a beautiful evening for football and a fair catch is made by Bo Sanders just outside his own 10 so that's two three and outs forced by the Elon defense can their offense help them they take the field [Music] next tomorrow night here on acc Network where's the real Miami Oxford Ohio or South Florida got the Red Hawks and the Hurricanes that's at 700 p.m. Eastern tomorrow first meeting between these teams since 1987 and in case you didn't see it Brett Gabbert the red shirt jior quarterback for Miami said the real Miami is in Ohio we'll show them okay we'll find out tomorrow right here on accm Drew Carter Dustin Fox back with you here in Winston Salem season opener for any ACC team was tonight with Wake Forest kicking off at seven local you see the Demon Deacons projected to finish ninth in the ACC preseason poll of course a couple years ago they won 11 games played in the ACC Championship and then last year started hot finished 8 and5 new quarterback is in there for the Phoenix it's Justin Allen who hands to Chandler Bray boy on the end round and so far so good they moved the sticks on his first play interesting that they bring Allen here maybe just to try and get something going offensively nice job with the end around well they got it to one of their best Playmakers in broy Allan's a guy with experience in this program it's his fifth year including a red Shir and not entirely surprising maybe this early it's surprising but they told us that three quarterbacks could take snaps tonight it's Bray Boy again who makes the catch here matched up with kayin Carson and another solid gain on first down oh it's the opening week it's the opening game like why not take an opportunity to get somebody in there and just try to shake something up I mean you got seven yards of total offense it can't hurt to to try something else just to see if you can get something going you see coach Tony trani your five at the Helm of the Phoenix Allen the red shirt JR out of leeburg Virginia throws keeps rather and gets brought down after a short gain to set up third down Allen had a a terrific High School career 68 touchdown passes there in lesburg you saw Matthew Downing on the sideline there he started tonight his first game with the Phoenix on his fourth different School a guy with much more experience in this program he'll try to convert the first third down of the night for [Applause] [Music] [Music] Elon they go under Center here on third down and two Play Clocks at three and you got Dixie in it running back maybe a little miscommunication on the handoff they almost ran into each other and Dixie is going to be short justen Davis in there first for the Demon Deacons yeah they don't go under Center very often Drew and right there it almost appeared as Allen turned the wrong direction to hand the ball off to to Dixie there was definitely some some confusion there on that [Music] play you need about an inch or two right fourth and less than one what do you what do you have to [Applause] lose well they have negative six rush yards tonight I I would just quarterback sneak back under Center that's what they do Allen pushed forward it's the Jaylen Herz play and I think he's got enough for a first down and he does I know a lot of people are you know conservative in these situations I I like that call you only got to get a yard and and frankly this this is my favorite play in all of football and teams don't use it it works like 99% of the time on less than a yard and yet teams still get in the shotgun at times it kind of feels Unstoppable right I mean Tom Brady was the best to ever do it right quarterback sneak that is and also play quarterback yeah not too bad at that at a lot of stuff yeah when it comes to playing that position kind of good at everything so a fresh set for Elon they've got two first downs on this drive and make it three that's that's a dart it's Bray Boy again on the throw from Allen gain of 13 hey maybe the spark that the Phoenix needed here was just to to get Allen in and he's thrown a couple of really nice throws on the outside you see Bray boy working against Carson cuts off that route comes back to the football football thrown well on time by far the best Drive of the game picking up a couple first downs here going have a single first down in the first quarter and they've got three on this possession alone Cody Hardy the tight end in motion and a timeout called by the Phoenix before the snap timeout offense first of the half media timeout Tony trani's team moving the football trailing by 17 midc quarter well the ACCC huddle is back and don't miss it Saturday in blackburg with Kelsey rigs Eric mclan EJ Manuel mark and Eddie Royal coverage begins at 11:00 a.m. eastern right here on acc Network in the ESPN app with pregame postgame and halftime shows throughout the day uh Kelsey she's a Swifty a noted Swifty and Taylor Swift is blaring here at a Legacy Stadium as they get ready they'll have you covered at halftime don't miss of course the wrap-up show after Old Dominion and Virginia Tech that Saturday right here on acc Network just found out you're a Swifty I think you're also a Swifty there Dustin as Justin Allen throws incomplete trying to get it to Chandler broy now they have been very successful ever since Justin Allen took over at quarterback you see the numbers at the bottom of your screen they had nothing going in the first quarter yeah absolutely this drive has been a game changer and I I don't know what it is about you know putting Allen in the game but he's completed a couple of really nice throws and they got a little little something going on the ground as you mentioned three first downs in this drive by far the best Drive of the game [Applause] after the incompletion on first down they throw again on second and again it's Bray boy who emerges from the pack and picks up another first down for the Phoenix who appear to be rising in this second quarter what a great job by Bray boy both Jaylen Garnes and and Caitlin Carson coming to make the tackle they kind of knock each other off and he breaks through for about an extra eight yards and now they're feeling it jayen h puts the shoulder down through three Demon Deacons brings up second down and short Elon is moving the pill after they had no first downs in the first [Music] quarter again they're just getting things going getting a little bit of momentum here and I think they're kind of catching wake off guard a little bit wake wakes had such an easy go of things defensively the first you about quarter and a half and all of a sudden now elon's get getting a little momentum it's almost like in the first quarter they were in the ashes Dustin and now they have risen like the Phoenix you might say again it's bam Hampton first down Elon inside the 25 now Drew for the folks who are maybe seeing Elon for the first time and I say that for the first time because this is their first ever nationally televised game on a linear Network and uh what's a phoenix well I'm glad you asked partner yeah of course a phoenix enlighten me an old mythological creature which Rises From the Ashes you know it it dies and is reborn every 500 years Elon changed their athletic program's names in 2000 to the Phoenix in honor of a a fire that happened in 1923 100 years ago this year Allen throws incomplete good coverage on the back end Malik Mustafa all over it but to finish the story the campus was rebuilt almost reborn rising from the ashes after a fire and so to honor that 100 years ago Elon became the Phoenix in 200 well right now Justin Allen is rising this offense From the Ashes [Music] incredible approaching five minutes to play in this first half [Applause] Allen on the give and this time Wake Forest is all over it and guess who big number 30 Jen Davis blows it up in a [Music] hurry Davis is is nearly in on every play I my my goodness he's unblockable whether he's making a sack or a tfl or just creating Havoc to allow one of his teammates to make a make a play he's just just a special special player remember he broke out last year really had a a tremendous season a year ago led the team in sacks and tfls and looks like he's off to a really good start to this season watch 30 in black and gold at the top of your screen on the line third down and 10 the 13th play of the Drive Allen throws lots of contact and that leads to some laundry two flags come in yeah definitely was contact I I I don't think the football was going to be catchable they're going to get rank in number 22 for the pi pass inter appearance Defense number 22 15yd penalty automatic first down and you you'll see the receiver here DK comes is trying to get the ball and yeah there's just too much contact there that that's that's the right call so it's another first down for Eli this will be the 14th play of the drive they've picked up five first downs on their own plus one with the help of the penalty and remember they they went for it on on Fourth and inches a good call at their own 34 yd line Allen a little trickeration flips it and Bray boy going nowhere Wake Forest read it all the way yeah that was a little bit of a misdirection play from frankly I I feel like Allen could have just took off to to the left side cuz the defense I think saw the receiver coming across in that Jet Sweep kind of motion behind the line of scrimmage but if you're Elon you got to get TouchDown here already picked up a fourth down once this drive with five on the timer they snap it Allen spins it out tight end catches it but gets chopped up by Mustafa right away it was Cody Hardy who looked like he might have had some daylight but the man they call a missile Malik Mustafa brought him down just look at this guy I mean he he looks like he's built to play in the NFL right now Al gustafa is again he's one of those guys that makes the Bruce Feldman freak list and you can see it right there that's a showed the pipes off there a little bit bigger than you drew that is not an insult my friend I'll take it third and goal Allen throws Corner The End Zone Demarcus Rankin got it interception in the end zone Rankin huls it in for w forest and snuffs out the best Drive of the night for Elon well ranking who just got called for the pass interference that set him up inside the 15 yd line comes right back and totally redeems himself wakes ball we come [Music] back oh coming up at the half the ACC huddle crew as first half analysis of Wake Forest and Elon plus highlights of n State and [Music] Yukon we're approaching the end of the second quarter here at a Legacy Stadium in Winston Salem a gorgeous Thursday night thanks for spending some of it with us alongside Dustin Fox some Drew Carter look out Mitch griffi got it away and completed it to Wesley Grimes he's out of bounds near the first down marker and griffith got blown up he got absolutely hammered in the back field somehow he's able to stand in the pocket and deliver and fortunate up for for griffi he's okay takes a big time hit that was a different kind of hanging bang foxy that was he was hanging in the pocket and then he got crushed second down and one Ellison on the carry tripped up but he should have enough to move the chains now the clock you see it's moving it will will stop on a first down under 2 minutes again that's a new rule this year as college football not necessarily tries to Speed the game up in terms of total time it takes but looks to reduce the plays by a few per game and also increase the tempo playto playay on first down griffi floats it up the seam Heights got it and look at the big tight end go hits the Jets touchdown wake 60 n y to the [Applause] [Music] [Applause] house talk about a change in events what looked like Elon was going to go in and score a touchdown they get the interception to come right back down the field and score so quickly height was matched up against TJ young the middle linebacker number zero and just beats him right down the seam and what a throw by Mitch griffi and the thing the thing you love here is how about the time that griffi has to throw this football as we go back and take another look from the all 22 vantage point you can see Heights in the back field he's going to run right down the scam zero is TJ young the Mike backer he's playing man coverage he's running with him but just doesn't have quite the speed and griffith sees it delivers it on the money and hey with a little little extra burst there at the end are we sure he's a tight end goodness I mean he was the number two tight end last year and now this year has been really asked to kind of Step Up and they want to use him a lot more in a variety of ways you saw right there is kind of the HB in in the back field they'll put him in line they'll put him away from the core at times as well well and again for for a guy that last season only had two receptions one of which was a touchdown nice start to the season for Cameron [Music] height and another touchdown pass for Mitch griffi it's it's third of the night he's 11 of 14 for those 230 yards and three scores pass for efficiency of 27.3 I don't know the formula but I'm pretty sure that's good I have no idea what that formula is I know 287 is a high number yeah between all all the uh the ratings they have out there from the analytics folks you QB rating qbr you've got the uh the ESPN qbr you've got passing [Applause] efficiency I need to go to MIT just to know these stats Ohio State didn't teach you that stuff I'll let that go I'm sorry I didn't go to Syracuse like all of you like everybody else all of you guys that work for this company you see Cameron height I'm I'm sure Wake Forest fans are fired up to see him contributing early because they Lose a Guy in Blake whiteart who was super effective for them last year at tight end he actually just made the Cardinals 53-man roster at almost 300 yards and three touchdowns last year looks like height is going to be able to slide in with under two minutes to play in the second quarter Elon back to work and they got a hustle Julian bumper gets the carry on the first play Phoenix with two timeouts [Music] Justin Allen still in there at quarterback throws up the sideline dangerous territory Jamari Glaser had a look at it Demarcus Rankin had an interception on the last drive for Elon and Glaser looked like he was going to come up with an interception he he almost became the wide receiver on this play again luckily for the Phoenix that ball was overthrown [Music] I got to tell you drew I I really like this secondary for for Wake Forest I think they've got some players between some of their safeties including Mustafa who's one of the better safeties in the entire country and then your two corners are really talented and then you add in your nickel and then Nick Anderson who's just a baller Elon is 0 for seven on third down tonight nice move from Allen but he goes down a couple yards short Brendan Harris will get for the tackle as W Forest calls timeout defense their first of the half 30 seconds now you might be wondering Wake Forest is up 24 to nothing why are they doing this well Dave Clawson has talked about the two-minute drill and really just High leverage situations because they lost a lot of close games last year especially down the stretch which is really the difference between 2021 11 wins and 2022 eight wins I I don't know that Dave fwon this early in the game's looking at the scoreboard thinking anything other than I I want to put my guys in a situation where they can have that opportunity it's a good point by you you you don't get these chances in practice to simulate a real two-minute Drive situation where you got to call the timeout you got to force them to punt the football and then see if Mitch Griffith can lead the offense down maybe maybe not a touchdown but at least get get yourself an opportunity at a at a at a field goal attempt [Music] maybe it starts with a good return from Taylor Moren one of the best in the ACC awaits the kick from Kyle romanic calls for the fair catch at his own 30 runs into his own man that was dangerous for the Demon Deacons as the ball goes out of bounds inside their own 20 I think that was Jamari Glaser who contacted morren it was interesting I I think the Gunner no I thought Brave boy for a second maybe pushed glasker into the return man but he kind of laid off at the last second that was just kind of kind of a unique play see that very often a first game of the season shake off the rust Shake It Off shake shake it off I hope Kelsey Rees is listening she appreciate that it's all for for all the swifties out there all right so 44 seconds for Wake Forest they've got two timeouts deont claybour next to griffi and he gets the call and a massive Humanity it'll be a one or two yard gain and Dave Clawson looks like he's taking the headset off and will be content to take a 24 nothing lead to the locker room we will speak with head coach Dave Clawson in just a moment as his team looks Rock Solid in their first game of the season they've won 17 in a row over FCS opponents and they're halfway to [Applause] another Dustin you impressed by the new qb1 very impressed I I expected this offense to be as explosive as it was a season ago and then in comes Mitch griffi and he's done a great job all right now joined by Wake Forest head coach Dave Clawson hey coach your new quarterback three incompletions three touchdowns in the first half what you think of Mitch I thought overall he played well uh I just don't like the sacks we took you know we had a ball near Midfield and we took two sacks and uh you know you got to have that internal clock and know when to get rid of it but other than that he's played very efficiently uh we got to not turn the ball over he's been accurate uh he's thrown three nice touchdown passes we just can't take negative yardage plays offensively you guys have putting up big numbers anything else you want to see in the second half from your guys maybe like to see us run the football better uh you know we haven't been consistent running it and uh you know one of our big goals this season was to be a better running football team and so far I mean we have 255 uh two yards of offense but only 22 on the ground so uh I certainly want to see us establish the running game in the second half all right coach Clawson thanks for doing this best of luck rest of the way all right thanks guys it's a 24 nothing Wake Forest lead at halftime of the first ACC football game of the season and what that means we got the Huddle Crew live here in Winston Salem at a Legacy Stadium let's catch you at Kelsey rigs to kick off the halftime coverage [Music] you're watching ACC Network football 3rd Quarter presented by Dr Pepper it's Thursday night in Winston Salem and the Wake Forest Demon Deacons are back for another season of college football under the red moon here at a Legacy Stadium welcome back everybody thanks for sticking with us here on this Thursday Drew and Dustin back with you up in the booth and Foxy it's a Wake Forest team that's averaged 30 plus 6 years in a row which is one of the longest streaks in ACC history still the same offense huh it appears to be the same I mean four wide receivers come back in this offense Sam Hartman leaves in comes Mitch griffi not a thing changed and very impressive first half Mitch griffi making his second career start tonight and he looks like a Wy veteran it is his fourth year in the program this dude could barely Miss in the first half yeah very very few incompletions three touch in fact three incompletions he threw three touchdown passes in that first half his wide outs are just phenomenal Banks goes up to makes that play in The End Zone we talked about it the first half that that hanging bang it creates so much confusion from a secondary standpoint but it wasn't just the offense to start this game Drew their defense stifled the Phoenix they had so many negative yardage plays seven tfls three sacks in the first half alone and outside of that one drive at the uh the end of the first first half it was all three and outs for the the Demon Deacons defense yeah Elon did not have a first down in the first quarter you're right they had one long extended Drive which ended in a turnover Demarcus rankins first interception as a demon Deacon after transferring in from Notre Dame college and it's pretty much what you'd expect from one of the best ACC programs in the last couple years against an FCS opponent Wake Forest won the toss and deferred to start the game so they will start with the football here in the third quarter and kesan Williams finds some space hits the seam and twist past the 30 Wake Forest will start again with good field positioning we see number 12 putting the lid back on Mitch griffi will lead his Demon Deacons offense back out onto the field you the one thing that coach Clawson mentioned to us Drew right before halftime right um as we went to halftime break I should say is that offensively they need to get the ground game going they only had 22 yards on the ground in that first half yeah the the offense was high flying and all that that good stuff but to be competitive in this conference you'd have to be a balanced offense and they got to try and get that ground game going here in the third quarter and they start on the ground bouncing it toward the outside Justice Ellison who broke out in a big way for them last season and first half Dustin sort of more the same from what we saw last year when Wake Forest was ninth in the country in passing offense game and 92 in rushing well I mean part of that has to do with the fact your offense is is led by tremendous quarterback play and really the skill positions on the outside are tremendous as well but again in games where you got to grind it out against really good opponents in the ACC they're going to have to be able to run the ball at times and Ellison's going to be the main guy doing that makes a third down and short Justice Ellis in the rb1 and now Griff will do it himself did he get enough try second effort might have got it Drew and it is a first down and look at griffi helping his teammates up and they're going to get that ball spotted and go the pace and space offense we saw it on full [Music] display there's the hanging bang griffi on the keeper there he goes a flag is down near the line of scrimmage now two of them as griffi goes down at the 30 yd line Caleb curtain finally brought him down that's a gain of 28 for now offense number 20 10 yd penalty repeat first down that's the tight end Cameron height yeah height is uh the HB back here on the right side you'll see 20 and as griffi goes to to the mesh Point you're going to see him just absolutely tackle Marvin Pearson in the back field that's an easy call also a very difficult task if you're if you're Cameron white or Cameron height I should say or anybody frankly to try and block number six Marvin Pearson had his fingerprints all over the first half probably the best pro prospect on this Elon defense North Carolina native from Asheville first down and 20 Griffith look throws there's Taylor Moren he is Shifty morren across Midfield he's got the first down sometimes you just want to get it to number two and watch him work and he's just so consistent at the way he runs his routes and then his ability to to make guys miss watch number 10 Nick vo's come in there and just he has no chance at Taylor morren there's the mesh Point again griffi looks throws Williams is there he got oh that was very close I no flag I thought B Sanders got there early and there is not going to be a [Music] [Applause] call oh how is that not pass [Applause] interference and I usually side with the DBS cuz I'm a former defensive back myself but that was way early now foxy do you think any Miami fans said that same thing in a National Championship about 20 years ago they'd like to look at my ring they sure can they they could kiss it if they want it was Ellison again on second down griffi his quarterback called him the most underrated player in the ACC multiple times this off season you're right Dustin when we talk about the numbers with rushing it's a little misleading because their quarterback play is so good A lot of the time they don't need to rely on the ground game by the way every time I see George Sedano he he tries to remind me about that cuz he's a big Miami guy of course new to AC SE Network this year as well by the way welcome George on third down and nine Griff is going deep and it's Banks again if he's in the vicinity there's a good chance he'll bring it down 33 yd gain to the 11 you brought that stat about the contested catches this guy has such a a wide radius and just the ability to back that ball it's like a center fielder being able to kind of turn around and catch that ball in coverage that 63% contested rate last year was number one the accs you mentioned what was the average like 37% yeah 38% that's crazy and the wide receiver room is probably the deepest on the wig Forest roster you know they're missing Donovan Green who went down on the first day of fall camp with a knee injury initial timetable 3 to 5 months so they're hopeful yeah that that he comes back at some point this season but that's probably the the position where they're best equipped to deal with an injury griffi looking and he gets dumped it's Nick Vos a loss of one back to the original line of scrimmage brings up third down and 10 so Wake Forest is the only team in FBS bringing back four 500 plus yard receivers from last season now green goes down he's their top returner but they've got a lot of depth and the guy you see now Taylor morren playing a little more outside to help them deal with the loss of green and you see him there now bottom of your screen well not only just the production in terms of yardage but between Moren and Banks both of those wide receivers had nine touchdowns a season ago so they're getting it done griffi on the Move throws End Zone looking for more and incomplete Antonio White in the coverage and it sets up fourth down that's pretty good coverage there by Antonio White the the field corner I I do like how how griffi on the move is able to to put that pace on the ball roll it out to his right side would have been a tough catch but but a really good job by griffus on the [Music] run a 29 yd attempt for Matthew Dennis who's one for one tonight [Music] and that kick is another Beauty he was 12 for 14 last year in his first year as the starter he's up to a good start here in 2023 three more for the daks early [Music] third well aside from Wake Forest Elon which is of course the highest profile matchup of week one check out some other not notable week one games for ACC teams of course college game day is in Charlotte for North Carolina versus South Carolina LSU fsu's a top 10 matchup a rematch you got maybe the two most experienced starting quarterbacks in the country I think Clemson Duke is one of the biggest games in Duke football history that's Monday over on ESPN the beauty of it is you've got Sunday your Saturday Sunday or Monday if you love ACC football you've got a great game in each one of those Dustin Fox which one jumps out to you well you and I are going to be in uh in Clemson next weekend so I'm obviously interested in that that match up and that may be the biggest home game for Duke like in a long time right they're going to pack the heck out of that Stadium Wallace Wade Stadium is going to be Juiced up after one of Duke's best seasons in recent history Chandler Bray boy on the return for Elon turns the corner at the 20 and steps out of bounds well speaking of of of Duke uh I've got one of their quarterbacks in my top five I like it I think Bradley Leonard's going to be one of the best quarterbacks in the entire country this year this is in order left to right right yeah listen I think Drake may could be the top quarterback in the draft Jordan Travis at at FSU had a really strong season last year I think they're going to be a really tough team to to beat here in the ACC Brennan Armstrong the transfer from Virginia and then Phil jovic from uh from pit you might remember him at BC he's back with his old offensive coordinator at pit with coach Nardi and Company I I think he he's going to have a chance to have a really good year too is it weird seeing intoner transfers playing the next year there's nothing weird about college football anymore nothing surprises me does it surprise you it just feels a little weird right yes everything about college football feels a little little different these days well that was a different type of pass from Justin Allen on the Run Jordan boner brings it in for a gain of 18 hard not to think about if Justin Allen would have you know played the first quarter where they they went three and out every single possession and then he came in let him right down the field nearly had a touchdown drive but thus far I mean he he is looked theart thrown some good balls on the outside they've got a couple of talented wide receivers let's see if they can get something positive here on this drive's Jaylen Hampton right up the gut gain of five on first down Jacob Roberts makes the tackle he's been busy tonight his first game at Wake Forest after transferring in from North Carolina &t this is an Elon team that expects to compete in the CAA picked fifth in the preseason poll coming off an FCS playoff appearance and an eight- win season they've been in the FCS since 1999 and they're perennially in the hunt for those postseason bits they've got some tough road games they got to go to Villanova Delaware at Richmond late in the season that is a very very good conference on second and five they get it in the hands of brayboy who's got speed around the edge and he's dropped in Wake Forest territory to bring up third down in short six minutes into this third [Music] quarter but just going back to the ACC quarterbacks quickly Dustin Brennan Armstrong you mentioned paired with Robert and I again last time those two guys were together at Virginia in 20 21 Armstrong threw for almost 4500 yards whoa look at this lots of space for Jaylen Hampton Elon is on the board bam for 49 [Applause] yds that's their first third down conversion of the night and it leads to a touchdown for Jaylen [Music] Hampton Well Hampton had 10 touchdowns this season to go over a, yards and you know Drew you mentioned he's a former ACC running back watch the block by Jean Carlos Miller 82 seals off the edge blocks two Defenders and allows Hampton to run scot-free to the end zone and maybe that's something that that gets the the Phoenix going here in the second half first look at Jack burkowitz the true freshman kicker who won the starting job he knocks it through 277 well for a team that couldn't do much in the first half offensively very positive drive to end the first half and now to open the second half Jaylen Hampton puts the Phoenix on the [Music] board well don't miss our ACC Network college football game tomorrow night it's the confusion bow Miami of Ohio against Miami Florida at Hard Rock Stadium Red Hawks led by red shirt Jr Brett Gabbert and the canes we think by Tyler van djk these teams haven't met since 1987 that changes tomorrow coverage begins at 7 Eastern right here on acc Network in the ESPN app good buddy reenie and goalie and Jay alter on the call for that one they're excited saw reenie running Miami Beach this morning yeah that guy works out yeah you think yes was Jay with him was he running I just saw reenie we'll have to ask Jay about that I don't think Jay's a big Runner is he a runner you're a runner stair stepper not a good tennis player though tennis player I'll run around out there Wake Forest back to work on offense is kesan Williams on the return now for those at home wondering as a flag flies in why are they talking about tennis we will explain in just a moment after further discussion there is no foul for an illegal Block in the back first down so Wake Forest has a really good tennis program men's and women both both in the tournament every year if you're a big professional tennis fan like my partner Dustin Fox is here you know that the last event before the US Open so the event last week was held here in Winston Salem not far from where we are right now right right behind the stadium right there and so Dustin was watching the tennis event said you know who could play on those courts we got on the indoor facility and thank you to Tamar higazi who runs the facility over there for helping us out we got to hooked us up with some uh some rackets and uh some Court time we got to hit around a little bit yeah it was a lot of fun it was fun for you I was not very good deont Clayborn shows the speed around the edge and picks up the first down for Wake Forest Bo Sanders makes the T for [Applause] Elon there's some real real powerhouses here at Wake Forest you think about the golf teams always in contention for National Championships Steve Forbes has it rolling now with the basketball program on the men's side he got this football program at the top Mitch Griffith pumps looks to escape and can't do it he'll pick up about a one yard gain as Marvin Pearson brings him down that's incredible what this this program has done under Dave floss in the last decade you know the seven straight bull appearances second most in the conference you know they're they're growing the brand they're getting the fans to come out it's uh it's going to be an interesting season for for the Demon Deacons I I really do like this program and I like the direction that that Dave Clawson has the program going and their facilities oh my goodness you and I we talked about it a little bit we toured them yesterday some of the nicest facilities I've ever seen it's Clayborn again on second down they've got they've got the barber shop they've got Ivan MOA cutting is keesan Williams the hair the barber keesan Williams and Ivan MOA they're cutting hairs at the Dapper Deacon Barber Shop Ivan Moore was the first Barber and then keesan Williams kind of learned from him if you watch the ACC Network road trip you got to see them cutting some hair with the Louis Vuitton I like that and we just saw Griffith try to complete to kesan Williams saying thank you for the haircut but B Sanders was in there applying the pressure so it's incomplete fourth down but and listen that's a good stop for this this Elon defense maybe some positive momentum here you got the touchdown Drive you're on the board you're only down 20 there's plenty of time left in this ball game and you're probably going to end up with decent field position here after they forc the uh the punt [Music] here is the barber Ivan Mo the original out for his third punt tonight the flat comes in at the line of scrimmage on the near sideline Bray booy calls for the fair catch inside is 20 and we'll check the penalty check that Bo Sanders on the fair catch for the Phoenix [Music] as of now it's a 49 yd punt offside receiving team number three that penalty is declined first down little momentum here for Elon a touchdown drive a stop on defense Phoenix trying to work their way back in well check out this week one ACC football lineup starting with Boston College Northern Illinois at no Eastern kind of a sneaky good one the huskys are a good program out of the Mac then Pittsburgh hosting wford with Colgate and Syracuse on acc Network extra at for Eastern we C the day with Old Dominion in Virginia Tech and blackburg that is a Revenge game for the hokes who lost to the monarchs last year starts at 8 Eastern every game also available on the ESPN apps so you can watch anywhere and one update NC State leading 107 against Yukon to start the second half as Justin Allen throws incomplete it was tipped at the line of scrimmage second down coming up for Elon this Phoenix team just got on the board with a quick strike Drive capped off by a 49 yd touchdown from Jaylen Hampton they come back they get a stop Dustin things feel a little bit different now it really does and if they can get something positive on this drive I mean goodness even if he got three out of this drive you put yourself in a position to make it close maybe in the fourth quarter that's the always the goal when you come in as an underdog like like Elon is an FCS opponent playing a power five School Allen looking left that's where Bray booy is the sideline almost had it desan Jones in coverage for the Demon Deacons well there was a lot of contact there and a little bit of extracurricular activities after the play there the refs let that go as you see the hand fighting down the field I think it's both players trying to kind of make a play for the football obviously some frustration I think it's a good coverage there I think it's some really good coverage on the outside by Deshawn Jones good throw too from alen it was a well thrown [Applause] football third down and 10 elon's only converted once tonight Allen stands in pumps looks flushed to the sideline it's caught and Nick Anderson with a nice form tackle on Jordan Bonner to stop him three yard short Nick Anderson it's like a linebacker in a safety body I mean guy just makes every tackle comes in here and as you say form fits the tackle grabs cloth grabs the leg spins him down on the ground and forces the uh the three and out he's a heck of a player it's easy to forget he started as a walk up that's incredible and was what third Team all ACC yeah back in 2020 when he started as a walk on that's the seventh hit four picks that year three in one game Roman xck punt fielded by Taylor morren out to about the 45 yd line a flat is on the field on the other side of the 50 by the way was the seven three and out forced by the Wake Forest defense today during the return illegal Block in the back proceeding team number nine the 10 yard penalty will be en forced at the end of the return first down W for well they wanted to call the Block in the back on the kick return now they got him is Jaylen gares a starting defensive back for Wake Forest you like when teams have their starters on special teams I think it depends you know it depends on on the player and also you know the coaching philosophy um you know all four years when I was at Ohio State even when I was a starter I played on the punt team I was on the punt return team and ran down on kickoffs I tried to get out of run down on some of those kickoffs when I was winded but uh you know the other thing too Drew is is that a lot of these guys you may be a starter in college but if you have aspirations to play at the next level one of the the big things these coaches in the NFL look at in in GMS is that can you play special teams and they want to see some tape of you in college so I I don't have a problem with that it's a great point I mean only 53 roster spots for these NFL teams a bunch of which are now filled by former Wake Forest players yeah well they have 13 guys in the league Jesse bites is is the richest one now yeah he got he got some bread going to Atlanta fouryear $64 million contract biggest ever for a Wake Forest Alum and it'll be a first down for the deakes as Justice Ellison moves the pile ahead also an undrafted guy with the Rams Kobe Turner is apparently slated to start next to Aaron Donald on the defensive line I think that'll help his [Music] career not a bad teammate to have there's the mesh Point picked griffi throws intercepted and it's coming back the other way Caleb curon pick six we might have ourselves a game [Music] wow you know I was just thinking as long as griffi is holding that football in that mesh point it felt like a Gamble and he just did not see Caleb curtain at all he looks off to his left comes back and curtain's right there in the middle just kind of hides behind the the offensive line jumps up and then boom right there gets it and takes it to the house 47 yd return for a touchdown and it's a two-core game here in Winston Salem and remember Caleb curtain he came to to Elon as a wide receiver so I think the young man knows what to do with the football in his [Applause] hands that sort of silenced the crowd a little bit and here's who we're looking at Devonte Edwards the Elon defensive coordinator we're talking about the NFL thus you guys were rookies together in Minnesota Edwards goes on to have a pick six against Brett Favre on Monday Night Football in his first season so he knows a thing or two about a PIX I'll never forget that game we were I was actually on IR that year but uh we played the same position both played corner and picked off Brett F ran down the sideline I think he did a flip into the end zone too yes that's his only piece of advice for Caleb curtain there is you got to have more style as right right right I'll tell you this much if you ever intercept Brett fa on Monday Night Football and take it to the house I think your career is made yes that's pretty cool you see his group really improves as the game goes on that's what the numbers bore out last year as Elon won eight games so a little more tense here at a Legacy Stadium now it's back-to-back touchdowns for Elon Jake Maran comes out to kick it away Will kesan Williams have a chance oh yes he will starting at the five Williams makes a move there goes kesan Williams pass the 50 and a big time return to inject some juice back into the house here in [Music] Winston you can just see the the speed and burst of kesan Williams once he gets the football may have got away with a little Block in the the back there but nonetheless gets it out near Midfield and gives wake excellent field position here when it felt like Elon had a little momentum there you know on the ACC Network football road trip where they went to all the preseason camps Eddie Royal did a drill with kesan Williams right where kesan said yeah and the kick return they don't really kick it to me anymore he got a chance there and he took advantage Griffith looking to redeem himself after the interception throws complete it's Jamal Banks again who's had a big night first down daks well Eddie was trying to show him kind of the little tricks of the trade because there the little loophole is if you got a foot on the white out of bounds line as you field the ball if they're trying to kick it away from you you automatically get the ball to the 35 yard line illegal procedure so it's a a nice little trick of the trade and nice of Eddie Royal to share his tricks there goes griffi around the right Edge you start to see some similarities with John Walford with the undersized quarterback sort of looking for angles where he can throw the ball to that's why you see him change his arm ankle and then of course the speed maybe some more designed runs on the offense and you also want to see if he bounces back I mean the guy seems to be super resilient they said he's steady Edy always positive that's a big lesson you learned from Sam Hartman too right I mean you're going to throw interceptions from time to time it's part of playing the position it's how you respond uh to those plays and can't let it make you go in the tank and right here back out there marching right down the field deont Clayborn brings him inside the 30 fresh set of downs for griffi and the deakes under three minutes left in the third griffi pulls it and the pass I think was deflected before it made it to Jamal Banks oh it was Caleb curton again kind of gets himself in in the mix there from his Bandit position did a similar thing that he did on the interception kind of jumps up in the air I think it sort of throws off Mitch griffi you see number one come into your screen and kind of jumps up and maybe blocks a little bit of the vision of Griffith and probably led to the airon throw that was going to be a hanging bang for a touchdown now Griffith on the straight drop there's Banks this time they connect his fifth catch of the night he's above 80 yards brought down inside the 25 by Antonio White Here Comes third down those two guys have been a common connection this evening of course Wake Forest missing Donovan Green for we think 3 to 5 months they hope to get him back at some point this season well they've got depth returning at white [Applause] [Music] out on third down and three Elon brings the house griffi feels it throws it completes it guess who Jamal Banks first down Wake [Applause] [Music] Forest and you'll see a terrific Blitz pick up here by the running back Clayborn 23 in the back field you see the linebacker come right in that a gap he doesn't make that Blitz pick up that's going to be a [Applause] sack under two minutes left in the third griffi looking for his contested catch Superstar and he cannot connect with banks this time Antonio White in the coverage on banks who's over a 100 yards tonight just his second career 100 plus yard game along with Clemson last year this was excellent defense by Antonio White number three the corner press coverage does a good job getting his hands on the wide receiver it's a big physical guy and is somehow able to play the football through the the end of the down that's that's good coverage that's what you're supposed to be uh that's what you're that's what you're taught um I don't know the I ever looked that good [Applause] no flag on that one foxy I got caught for pi every time dude and it's a Clayborn finds a little bit of a seam and gets driven backward at the 10 both Sanders and Brandon Tyson combin to make the tackle I do like the body language of of Elon right now defensively they're playing with a little bit of confidence even though you know wakes driving they're inside the Red Zone I I I think that they've got a little bit of swagger to them you saw it with that last pass break up and then of course Brandon Tyson that guy's out there talking a little [Music] smack another North Carolina native on this Elon roster third down and eight griffi steps up throws End Zone morren got it but he lost it I think he lost his helmet too yeah ball came loose at the last second Dylan Tucker in coverage and Moren who had nine TD catches last year almost had his first of this season this was going to be a spectacular catch if he could go up he gets he gets the feet down and just can't Corral the ball and give Dylan Tucker a lot of credit Tucker does a good job playing through the down as Moren loses the helmet [Music] too Matthew Dennis back out there for another 29 yd attempt hit from this exact distance last time we saw him and the red shirt sophomore from Charlotte end over end and through still a two-score game though with under a minute to play in the [Music] third so Elon [Music] response making a stop there preventing a touchdown Matthew Den is still enjoying it with a little money Manzel celebration he's three for three tonight but how about the response from the Phoenix got to give him a lot of credit this is a great run by Jaylen Hampton to tailback who's kind of been coralled quite a bit tonight gets out there and then the pick six Caleb curtain taking this one to the house the former wide receiver turned defensive back makes it a much closer game I mean was what 27 nothing all of a sudden 304 doesn't look so bad [Music] Elon all time against the ACC is 1 and 28 and two their only win ever against the conference against Miami back in 1928 that's Miami Florida you got to specify that this weekend Chandler brayboy lets that one bounce through and with 58 seconds left in this third quarter Elon gets it at the 25 really a distinct feeling shift in this second half and remember they made a quarterback change in the second quarter they started with Matthew dowy the transfer from three different schools Georgia TCU Louisiana Tech they give the keys to the guy Justin Allen who's been in this program for 5 years and he has changed everything yeah he's done a great job comes in cold Off the Bench not like amazing numbers but when you think about how stifling the defense was in that opening quarter much much different offense and and has more Rhythm gives it to Jaylen Hampton here the flag comes in as Hampton goes down after a gain of three holding offense number 82 10 yard penalty first down John Carlos Miller the tight end yeah the big block to Spring Hampton on the 49y a touchdown run in the third Jaylen Hampton really changed the look of this offense last year they ran for over 150 yards per game as a team after they averaged just 90 the season before that Virginia Tech transfer to the right of Justin Allen on first down and 18 and they swing it out New Hampton man they call Bam puts a move on he just can't get away from Mustafa I mean Mustafa you see number three in space and Jaylen Hampton is a very talented running back the way he pursues the football the angle he takes on the running back just watch three come to your screen here inside out breaks down and that is is such a difficult play to make people have no idea how tough it is to make those plays in space that is tremendous by Malik Mustafa 4th Quarter one of the best athletes in the ACC and in the entire country and that'll be the final play of the third quar third qu so Elon hanging here applying a little pressure down by two scores fourth quarter is next back in Winston Salem joined Now by Wake Forest head coach Dave Clawson coach ties kind of changed in that third quarter what do you think was different Elon did a great job I mean they uh they hit this in a cover zero and a long run and then we threw a pick six and they're right back in the game so uh this is going to be a four quarter game and we're going to have to come up with the play on defense and you know we've got to finish a drive on offense we're kicking too many field goals tonight all right Dave thanks for doing this good luck in the four problem it was 27 nothing Wake Forest Elon scored back-to-back touchdowns followed by another Wake Forest field goal and so we got here 30 to 14 start in the fourth quarter Justin Allen back at the controls for Elon looks to throw on second and 15 and completes it's Jordan Bonner elon's second top returning receiver picks up about half the yardage necessary on second down I think coach Clawson is absolutely correct I mean if if Elon somehow is able to get another touchdown on the board things are going to get real interesting here we should also mention before we move on that's really cool that Dave Clawson did that no question yeah go ahead third and fourth quarter right that's a new thing in the ACC this year lots of access we really appreciate the coaches absolutely on third down and six Allen complete over the middle it's boner again but will he have enough that's the question well he's short but this is a great throw between two Defenders Jones and and Mustafa who come in there and make the Stop and and keep him just short somehow he he rifles this ball into double coverage and if I'm Elon you absolutely go for this very similar spot on the field as as they did last time going for it do they decide to go quarterback sneak under Center well they're under Center we'll find out if they quarterback sneak that's what they did last time and they'll try to push Allen across the line he needs the 35 the officials coming in right at the 35 see if they give him the the the call I think he is going to give him the first down Cody Hardy the tight end pushed him let's see that is a first down a first down how about that I I thought he was stuff for a moment and just had to get the football across the tip of the 35 yd line which is where they put it think a pretty uh favorable spot Little Road cook we're not too far from Elon North Carolina 55 minutes in the tri and they drove up today remember maybe that that led to the slow start possibly boner the motion man they fake it to him give it to Hampton instead and he stopped in a hurry it's Jacob Roberts again who's in there first 40 in black and gold has had an outstanding first game at wake yeah tremendous discipline by Robert staying at home he there's so many different things going on on this Play Between The Fakes and the misdirection but if you watch the eyes of 40 right here your linebacker he's going to keep his eyes in the back field watch the quarterback the entire way and stays right at home and just swallows up the running back two flags pre- snap illegal correction illegal substitution more than 11 players inflammation offense 5y penalty second down [Applause] [Music] if your head coach Tony trani no matter the final outcome here you got to be really proud of your team for the way they' bounced back for the way that they have Ren From the Ashes like the phoenix like the [Music] Phoenix Allen throws on second and 16 all the way across the field it's complete again to Jordan Bonner second and 16 he throws it 40 yards to gain two impressive but it was an impressive pass my my point in saying that is the coverage of wake is locking down everything from top down and really the only option that Justin Allen had was to take his check down there which is basically a 40- yard throw away a deep ball yeah when you think about the big plays Wake Forest allowed last year most of it was through the passing game they gave up 73 plays of 20 plus yards total which was the most in the ACC tonight they've given up two big plays but it was a run and a pick six so it has not been the passing defense that's been the problem [Music] Play Clocks at five phoenix one for 11 on third down tonight another long pass across the field Bonner makes a man miss and pushed out of bounds maybe with enough yardage to go for it on fourth down again oh I I think you absolutely go for it I mean it's Fourth and about [Music] three more like fourth and two here com comes the punt unit that's very [Music] surprising can we see something tricky here uh I think Wake Forest is going to go punt safe and and be very very aware and alert for something [Applause] tricky romanic does kick it it's a short punt that morren Sprints up to receive past his own 25 so the Wake Forest Defense Forces a pun up by 16 about 5 minutes into the [Music] fourth early fourth quarter here in Winston Salem Wake Forest 30 Elon 14 this was a blowout early it was 27 nothing Demon Deacons Mitch griffi had three incompletions in the entire first half in the third quarter he got seven plus a pick six and Elon has made this kind of a game here in the fourth they have I'm really surprised they punted there on that last possession they were out near Midfield on Fourth and two felt like an opportunity especially with with the the the clock changes if I could spit it out um not a lot of of time left and you're down 16 points so we'll see Justice Ellison catches the pass out of the back field a short gain on first down B Sanders makes the tackle it's interesting the defense of Elon has really played with a little bit more confidence and I frankly I think because their offense has been able to stay on the field a little bit longer their defense has been a little bit more rested it had opportunities to get off on on the sidelines and then obviously the pick six was huge rff uncs looking for kesan Williams lots of contact and no flag Dylan Tucker was back there for the Phoenix well that was very very close to being pass interference Ty Al you got to get your head turned around if you go into the body of the wide receiver and he does he does at the last moment I think the official probably saw that head turn around and try to make an attempt on the ball as he was very close to getting a flag dicks one for their last four on third down griffi looking that's a seed caught by Williams first down [Music] say the the way that Mitch is running this offense if you if you slapped a a Hartman Jersey on him I I think you'd think it was the same guy I mean the offense my point is the offense looks very very similar to what it did last year not right there though that play is going absolutely nowhere and no surprise it's Marvin Pearson he's been living in the back Field tonight [Music] [Applause] yeah the right tackle Gordon had a rough time with Marvin Pearson right there wake wasting no time Cameron height the tight ends got another catch he had a long touchdown earlier sets up third down well to your point about griffi I mean there's a reason Wake Forest doesn't really bring in transfer quarterbacks they have not done that under the clawen Warren riro regime well they haven't had to and it's not that they're totally against it or anti- transfer quar quarterback they really feel good oh boy under pressure griffi dropped kazim Moore makes the tackle that's a guy that're really excited about it Elon they think he's going to have a big year that's their fourth sack tonight yeah this is a guy that this offseason really sort of transformed his body from a freshman to a sophomore and you can see he just worked that angle around Zack vau the right tackle the second half has not looked like power five versus FCS it has not no I mean this is this has been a very competitive second half Ivan Moore out to kick it away for Wake under five on the play clock B Sanders awaits it for Eli he'll have a chance down just inside his own 30 so the Phoenix go back to work not a bad showing from the road team tonight ACC Network Thursday night college football is presented by Dr Pepper the one fans [Music] deserve a wake the demons has become a fun tradition here in Winston Salem getting the fans excited for another season of Wake Forest Football led by head coach Dave Clawson they looked awake and highly caffeinated in the first half it was dominance for the deakes against the Phoenix of Elon but maybe they fell asleep in the second half Elon outscored him 14 to6 with two big plays a pick six and a 49 yd touchdown run and now Elon takes over on offense at their own 29 Midway through this fourth quarter you wonder if if they just kind of took their foot off the gas felt so confident going in at halftime and you got a 27 point lead and and you can't do anything wrong you're stopping him on defense Justin Allen throws incomplete trying to find Christian D Silva AJ Williams in coverage for [Music] Wick I mean Dustin if if you're a WG Forest fan how do you feel walking away from this game uh I'll tell in 7 minutes and 35 seconds a lot could change because a lot could change I mean all of a sudden you what if Wake gets a pick six or or they go down and scoring 374 you feel heck of a lot better than you do right now definitely been a noticeable Vibe shift from the first half here's Jaylen Hampton Virginia Tech transfer who's had a nice night including that long touchdown Kevin pointer brings him down [Music] well Drew as the clock continues to run I I do think I mean I know they punted last time in this similar situation if you can just get you know three four yards here you've got to go for it on fourth down there's just not not enough time left because remember if you do score you still have to go for two twice s minutes left on third down and six Allen steps to his right throws dangerous picked off it's desan Jones who hauls it in for the daks their second int [Music] tonight D right I I I can cannot say enough about out Davis number 30 inside puts the pressure comes to the quarterback forces him out and then the great pick by desan Jones and WG Forest may have a a little bit better uh feeling here as they uh wrap up this [Music] one oh Sunday women sports take over the afternoon right here on acc Network some Top early season matchups in each sport number five pit host number 10 Kentucky in ball at noon Eastern and it's number 10 Arkansas number three North Carolina in soccer we cap the afternoon with field hockey he's Demon Deacons hosting the Dukes of James Madison Wake Forest offense back to work Dean Clayborn gets the call on the first play breaks a tackle and might have first down yardage down near the 30 and that will move the sticks Clayborn showing off some of that speed former state champion in the 100 meter dash in the state of Virginia I like his uh his burst there a nice nice running back room here between Ellison Clayborn I haven't seen Tate Carney yet younger brother of Kade Carney who is a thousand yard rusher here at wake great running back it's been all Ellison and Clayborn look in the play clock down to three Griffith hand hands back to Clayborn same side Clayborn burst through Twisted down at the 15 yd line Bose Sanders ushers him out of bounds see this is that new rule I mean first down the clock still runs that's the longest Wake Forest run today at 16 yds you mentioned the burst of Clayborn we saw that speed last year a 32 yd run against BC didn't see a whole lot of time behind Justice Ellison last season but he looks like he will contribute this year right back to Clayborn another nice move at the line of scrimmage down at the 10 Caleb curtain who had that pick six brings him down you know Drew when Dave Clawson head coach at Wake Forest mentioned to us at halftime they want to see the running game get going here in the second half official timeout certainly have gotten better injured Phoenix Nick Vos with under five minutes left in the fourth we'll step aside help people affected by Hurricane idalia donate at redcross.org ESPN to help the Red Cross respond and help people [Music] recover coming down the home stretch of this game Wake Forest and Elon the deakes by 16 with under five to play threatening again ball at the 10 a second down and six Mitch griffi their starting quarterback still out there this is his first year as the unquestioned qb1 Sam Hartman was here for five years majority he spent as the starter and now Griffith in his fourth year in the program he's the guy we talk about the pace in space and how this is one of the fastest offenses in the country in terms of how quickly they snap the ball in this situation letting it run they go back to deont Clayborn finds a seam stiff arm and [Applause] scores deont Clayborn is on the board with his first touchdown as [Music] AI just one watch the the right side of this offensive line and the hole that clayborn's able to run through just a phenomenal kickout block and there's nobody nobody there Nick Sharp did a great job kicking out the defensive tackle and Clayborn barely touched walking into the end zone first career touchdown keep that football absolutely they've got a $38 million facility I think they can afford another one Dennis's extra point is [Music] good take a look at at Nick Sharp number 70 just totally pushes Josh Johnson out of the screen as he then carries Caleb curtain into the end zone picked up an extra eight yards in the end zone but that's def arm it's pretty brutal I think clayborn's going to be a player for them I agree just had 14 carries a season ago and they've been really impressed with him throughout camp and they know what they've had what they have in Justice Ellison boy he had Clayborn in and you know all these talented wide receivers there is a plethora of skill position on this offense [Music] [Music] no return from brayboy and Elon with just over four minutes left here will go back to work on offense last Drive Mitch Griffith didn't have to do much just turn around and hand it to 23 it was four plays Four rushes 41 yds and score really aside from that one interception Griffith threw which resulted in a pick six it was about as good as it gets [Music] [Applause] Justin Allen the quarterback for Elon hands to Jaylen Hampton a short gain on first down what a night griffi has had in his I would call it kind of his debut right I mean he started last year against VMI in week one as Hartman was battling a little bit of an illness and he's just been phenomenal certainly in the first half I I think second half things got a little dicey with the pick six but nearly perfect in the first half let say anytime you throw for 329 yards that's a good night you talk to people around this program about Mitch griffi his personality is that of a QB right I mean he's a coach's son his dad was his coach at broadrun High School in in Virginia griffi has been around this program for a long time and Dave Clawson says is if you don't like him and enjoy being around him you probably have something wrong with you yeah in fact I had a chance to meet him this morning they were staying at the same hotel as us and I recognized uh the young man and went up and introduced myself to him very very polite looking forward to watching what he can do here for the decks this season [Music] keep in mind Mitch griffus even though this is his first year as a starter and his fourth year in the program was one of the higher rated recruits who's been brought here at the quarterback position now I think really the big takea away from the numbers we just showed you is that none of those guys were even what the top 600 and they were all some of the best quarterbacks in the ACC well I I think that speaks to just the the way that they've developed their talent here and kind of got into it earlier before there were some big plays that happened but they don't really want to go into the portal and get quarterbacks they really do want to kind of treat it like they're they're a farm system in baseball right you want to develop your talent you want those guys to to learn the culture and by the way Mitch griffi could have easily walked away transferred somewhere else he stayed he's he's going to be here for several more seasons and now he's got his opportunity red shirt sophomore Allen goes down that's Aiden Hall who makes the tackle the Freshman linebacker timeout Elon charge timeout Von their first of the half it will be 30 seconds so we've seen some fight from the Phoenix especially in that third third quarter when they outscored the Demon Deacons 14-6 you see the schedule coming up as they play in the CAA the 15 team FCS League one of the best conferences at the FCS level Gardner web is up next for them on Saturday I think that Justin Allen as he earned the right to start next week I would say so I think so yeah now get we're not there we don't know what's going on in practice but I I would say from what you saw him put on tape today how do you not give that kid another opportunity next [Music] week you know something else to maybe think about too is Matthew Downing last season had that that knee injury right in that final game at Louisiana Tech you you wonder is he fully 100% [Applause] John Carlos Miller the tight end brings it to the 35 now for dowy and there's a flag back at the opposite 45 we're doubting it's been a long journey it has been Georgia start as a walk on then TCU then Louisiana Tech now in his fourth school after further discussion there is no foul for holding the play result in a first out so Elon moving in here with under 90 seconds to play Allen looks incomplete there's another guy who might be in the mix for the Phoenix at least in the future and that's will lford a younger quarterback who they're really excited about number seven for the Phoenix he's a guy who was taking first team reps in Fall camp Allen throws on the Run incomplete again along that sideline looking for Landon [Music] backy with Wake Forest we've talked a lot about their offense tonight Dustin which is what typically happens and there's will Langford for Elon defensively pretty impressive you know they give up the 49 yard touchdown run which coach Clawson said they got caught in a cover zero aside from that especially in the first half they were Rock Solid I've been very impressed with with a lot of the players and remember when you're talking about these FCS players you know they're on scholarship too I mean they've got good players at a lot of these programs the problem is they don't have a lot of the depth right so you get into a game like this against the power five team it becomes a bit of an issue especially late in games and you almost have to play the perfect game to to beat a power five school but I'll say this and I I've done the FCS playoffs um darn near every season the last decade and some good football and Elon is going to be very competitive this year not only in their conference the CAA but trying to make a run back to the the FCS playoffs again West Durham's going to have a fun Year watching this team our friend here at ACC Network he'll be he'll be at Virginia TCH Saturday all in the Prime Time [Applause] game we met West's brother Taylor earlier today works for the Elon radio great guy runs in the family prior to the snap charge timeout Elon they're second of the half it will be 30 seconds so let's check out what's coming up for Wake Forest to get this win here against an FCS opponent tonight up next it's Vanderbilt week two for the second year in a row you can watch that game right here on acc Network it's next Saturday and it's at Old Dominion and the ACC play starts Georgia Tech Clemson in Virginia Tech in this new scheduling model in the ACC it's a modified format divisions are a thing of the past and Coach Clawson was saying earlier this off season you know we thought that maybe the schedule would be a little easier cuz the Atlantic at least recently has been stronger than the coastal not quite I mean it's still a pretty tough schedule that Clemson game is going to be very very interesting a classic when they played here last year double overtime that's right fourth down and two elon's going for it Allen completes and converts it's Christian D Silva inside the Red Zone with a minute to play here in the fourth now remember under two minutes the clock does stop on a first down for them to move the chains and now they wind [Applause] [Music] it good Allen orchestrating this drive that'll be complete it's to Silva again on the out the ruling on the field is a completed pass second [Applause] down that was close you make the call boxy he I think he had control of the ball the question is was the knee inbounds and you know the officials are not not trying to slow down the game in situations like this that where probably isn't going to decide the game Allen backpedals throws it away right off the new a Legacy Stadium [Music] logo you seem to be pretty excited about the new stadium name maybe I'm getting checks never know nope that's not happening pure early in just I don't know if you're more excited about the name change or the the pace in space or the hanging bang it's all about branding Jaylen Hampton gets the carry on Third and short and he will come up short of the sticks Elon has one timeout left and looks like the Phoenix will send out the field goal unit well it's a true freshman kicker you hope this moment is not overwhelming for him jack burkowitz comes out to attempt his first career field goal from 28 yds you [Applause] one second on the clock Tony trani saying I thought that might be a last second field goal and it's potentially significant to some certainly Jack burkowitz [Music] who's running that clock really must like kickoffs they just love being here at a Legacy Stadium good place to spend a Thursday night as the young man bangs it through the uprights a coaching opportunity for Dave Clauson everything is we got to chat with Coach Clawson yesterday and after our conversation we got a tour of the new facility yeah we went to the weit room guess who's there by himself wearing a weighted vest getting his uh his core in his Core workout 56 years old dude looks like he's 40 years old he's implemented Hot Yoga into his routine as of a couple years ago phenomenal shape he's in you should get him to pick up tennis yeah great program here 2018 national champ maybe if we get back here for another game we'll we'll invite him out to uh the indoor he did give us a good recommendation for dinner last night Ryan Steakhouse it was phenomenal shout out I still can't pronounce what I ate and you can't either aava aava and that's the game that is the end of the [Music] game so it ends as a 20po win for Dave Clawson in the Wake Forest Demon Deacons foxy what you think thought it was a good start to the season partner looking forward to it nice job by uh by Wake Forest and really giving Elon a lot of credit they did not give up in this game they could have easily laid down in at the second half and they fought right back in the game lot to learn for for Wake Forest and you know things obviously uh get a little uh interesting next week SEC play against Vanderbilt Wake Forest it's 18 wins in a row over FCS opponents the Mitch griffus era is off to a smashing start he goes for 329 and three touchdowns and the one interception so that'll do it for us from Winston Salem for our entire crew led by Kyle binder and Peter Lumis my partner Dustin Fox Rich Gainer Shan Salsbury here with us in the booth as well I'm Drew Carter saying so long from Winston let's get you to the Huddle crew Kelsey Rigs and Company take it away