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Boston College - Wake Forest Matchup
The Eagles will welcome the ACC Champion Wake Forest Demon Deacons to Alumni Stadium for
Saturday's 2007 season opener. Wake Forest has beaten BC three times in the last four seasons,
including last year's 21-14 heartbreaker which cost BC the Atlantic Division title. This game
will feature the ACC's top two quarterbacks according to many experts. I am of course talking
about BC's Matt Ryan and Wake's Riley Skinner. BC is currently a six point favorite.
The Quarterbacks |
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Matt Ryan -- 62% comp, 2,942 yards, 16 TD, 10 INT |
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Riley Skinner -- 66% comp, 2,051 yards, 9 TD, 5 INT |
Top Rushers |
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L.V. Whitworth -- 791 yards, 4.5 ypc, 4 TD |
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Andre Callender -- 633 yards, 4.3 ypc, 3 TD |
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Kevin Harris -- 393 yards, 5.0 ypc, 6 TD |
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Rich Belton -- 227 yards, 4.5 ypc, 3 TD |
Top Receivers |
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Kevin Challenger (WR) -- 47 catches, 543 yards, 5 TD |
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Brandon Robinson (WR) -- 36 catches, 490 yards, 1 TD |
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Kenneth Moore (WR) -- 32 catches, 314 yards, 1 TD |
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Kevin Marion (WR) -- 10 catches, 117 yards, 0 TD |
Top Defenders |
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Jolonn Dunbar (LB) -- 92 tackles, 2 sacks |
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Jamie Silva (FS) -- 57 tackles, 4 INT |
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DeJuan Tribble (CB) -- 49 tackles, 7 INT |
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Aaron Curry (LB) -- 83 tackles, 3 sacks |
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Stanley Arnoux (LB) -- 69 tackles, 7 Tackles for Loss |
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Alphonso Smith (CB) -- 48 tackles, 3 INT |
The Kickers |
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Steve Aponavicius -- 8/11 FG, 24/25 PAT |
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Sam Swank -- 23/31 FG, 33/33 PAT |
The Punters |
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Johnny Ayers -- 42.1 yards per punt |
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Sam Swank -- 41.2 yards per punt |
The Kick Returners |
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Jeff Smith -- 28.0 per KO return DeJuan Tribble -- 8.7 per punt return |
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Kevin Marion -- 22.3 yards per KO ret Kenneth Moore -- 13.0 yards per punt return |
Final Analysis
For some strange reason, Wake Forest has been BC's toughest foe the past four years. During
that time, BC has lost three times and needed a miraculous comeback to win two years ago in
Chestnut Hill. You have to figure that the season opener will be another tough game.
Wake Forest returns most of a mediocre offensive team led by sophomore quarterback Riley Skinner.
BC, of course, is returning most of a solid defensive unit that held Wake Forest to 280 yards of
offense (127 of that on two plays) last season. Wake Forest has plenty of speed on the offensive
side of the ball and stopping the big play will again be the key for the BC defense.
On the other side of the ball, BC returns their starting quarterback, both running backs and
their #1 wide receiver. Wake Forest, on the other hand, lost a several key starters on defense
including Jon Abbate and Josh Gattis, both All ACC first-teamers. BC should have a big advantage
in this matchup, especially with the unveiling of a Jagodzinski/Logan offense that no opponent has
seen before.
Wake Forest has the advantage at kicker (Sam Swank nailed 23 field goals in 31 tries last season)
but BC's kick/punt return tandem of Jeff Smith and DeJuan Tribble is more dangerous than Wake
Forest's return team.
BC is more experienced and more talented than Wake Forest and they will have the home field
advantage. This is a game that BC should win by a touchdown or two but like every other ACC foe,
Wake Forest is a dangerous team that can hurt you in many different ways. It will come down to
big plays, turnovers and penalties. Of course, you will probably be able to say that about every
conference game this season.
Prediction: Boston College 24 Wake Forest 16
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Wake by the Numbers
Wake Forest is 6-6-2 against BC.
Wake Center Steve Justice was named a preseason
All-American by The Sporting News and Athlon.
Last season was Wake's first ACC title since 1970.
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Statistic |
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Offense - Run |
92 |
44 |
Offense - Pass |
25 |
104 |
Offense - Total |
50 |
96 |
Defense - Run |
26 |
21 |
Defense - Pass |
59 |
82 |
Defense - Tot |
34 |
45 |
Offensive Lines |
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Avg Height |
6'6" |
6'4" |
Avg Weight |
292 |
311 |
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