Wake Forest came into Stanford Stadium and left with a victory in a 27-24 thriller. The Demon Deacons cast the Cardinal season into an all too familiar lake of fire.
Stanford has not won a home game against an FBS opponent in more than two calendar years. Head coach Troy Taylor knows they let this one slip away.
“We make one more play on any side of the ball and we probably come away with it,” said Taylor.
Stanford took over with 1:48 on the clock, down 3 points on their own 25. Four consecutive completions to Elic Ayomanor quickly moved the ball into Wake Forest territory. With 28 seconds and a pair of timeouts remaining, Stanford had the ball on the Demon Deacon 36 yard line, the outskirts of kicker Emmet Kenney’s range. But Ashton Daniels wanted more.
Daniels once again looked in the direction of Ayomanor, pump faked, and let the ball sail to where the double move ought to take his receiver. Elic was not on the same page nor in the same zip code, and the Wake safety came over to make the uncontested interception to seal the game.
“I felt like they clouded it so the corner just stayed over the top and so he didn't bite on the first move because he's in cloud,” said Ayomanor.
One more play.
Aidan Flintoft punted the ball from his own 45 yard line, looking to pin Wake Forest deep in their own territory with the game tied and scarcely more than 5 minutes to go. Senior wideout Taylor Morin fielded the punt at his own 14, made a couple guys miss, and sprinted down the left sideline all the way to the midfield stripe. The Cardinal netted just 5 yards on the play. Per ESPN, the long return was worth 12 percentage points of win probability for Wake Forest. The subsequent drive earned them the winning field goal.
Just one more play.
The game stood at 14 apiece, mid second quarter. But the Cardinal held all of the momentum. Tevarua Tafiti had moments earlier brought the meager crowd to their feet when he stripped quarterback Hank Bachmeier, scooped up the ball, and sprinted 44 yards to paydirt. Now the Demon Deacons were on the brink of a three-and-out and the Stanford faithful could feel the 14 point Cardinal run about to balloon.
Bachmeier’s third down pass failed to reach the sticks, as Scotty Edwards promptly brought down the receiver. The reverie was short-lived, as a flag was on the field.
Roughing the passer, on the defense, fifteen yard penalty, automatic first down.
“Second week in a row we've had hands to the face on a quarterback after we stopped them on third down that resulted in points,” said Taylor. “That kind of stuff has to improve.”
Nine plays, another personal foul, and two Stanford injuries later, Wake Forest tacked on three points to reclaim the lead and stomp out any residual Stanford momentum.
The miscues mounted. Altogether the Cardinal threw three interceptions and lost a fumble. They missed a field goal. They committed only 6 penalties, but they were at particularly inopportune moments. The team shows improvement, but they still have not learned how to win.
Nevertheless, it was a day of individual plays and performances to celebrate.
Ashton Daniels came on early in relief of freshman Elijah Brown, who drew the start at quarterback but proved ineffective. The junior signal caller immediately injected life into the Stanford offense, completing his first 10 pass attempts and getting the Cardinal on the board in a drive finished by a Justin Lamson one-yard touchdown. For much of the game, Ashton looked as good as he ever has in a Stanford uniform.
Tafiti’s strip sack scoop and score was a monumental individual play.
Tight end Sam Roush had his second consecutive strong week in the passing game, finishing with 6 catches and 56 yards, and a spectacular fourth quarter touchdown.
“The touchdown was one of the best efforts I've ever seen as a player or coach,” said Taylor. “Was an unbelievable play and effort.”
Freshman corner Brandon Nicholson made one of the most impressive interceptions I have seen in the fourth quarter to preserve the tie.
Stanford’s defense made a number of other critical plays in the second half, including a goal line stand and some timely sacks.
And of course, Elic Ayomanor was steady as always and finished with 11 receptions on 13 targets for 96 yards.
Stanford football took a step in the right direction this week. They needed just one more play.