To avoid going winless for September, Florida State will need to pick up a road win on Saturday against 4-0 Wake Forest. The Seminoles have won five straight in the series, but the last two have been competitive.
For more than a decade, Wake Forest has managed to be a thorn in the side of the Seminoles. Even when the Demon Deacons were defeated, they have been competitive more often than not.
In our latest installment of what we call, “Good Times, Bad Times”, we look back on the history between the two schools. For FSU, that history includes some good and some bad.
All-Time Series: FSU leads 28-6-1.
Good Times: The only neutral site meeting between Florida State and Wake Forest took place in Orlando on Nov. 9, 1996. That would also be the only career start at quarterback for FSU’s Dan Kendra. Kendra would pass for 281 yards and three touchdowns in the contest as FSU blew out the Demon Deacons, 44-7. Warrick Dunn scored a pair of touchdowns for the Seminoles while Scott Bentley kicked three second half field goals in the blowout. Peter Boulware recorded two sacks for an FSU defense that allowed just 186 total yards. Wake’s only touchdown came on an 80-yard touchdown catch from Morgan Kane.
Marcus Outzen also made his first career start for Florida State against Wake Forest in Winston-Salem on Nov. 14, 1998. Outzen got FSU on the board with a short touchdown run and Travis Minor added two more before finishing the night with 102 yards rushing. It however, was the FSU defense that stole the show as Mario Edwards recorded a school-record four interceptions in the victory. Jamal Reynolds added three sacks as the Seminoles held Wake to just 179 yards of offense.
Jimbo Fisher’s first ACC win and first shutout as Florida State head coach came against Wake Forest on Sept. 25, 2010. The Seminoles, in front of their home crowd, handled the Demon Deacons, 31-0. The defense, led by Brandon Jenkins’ two sacks and Jacobbi McDaniel’s interception, held the Demon Deacons to just 185 yards of offense. For the FSU offense, quarterback Christian Ponder passed for 243 yards and two touchdowns to Willie Haulstead. Taiwan Easterling finished with 112 yards receiving and Kenny Shaw scored his first career touchdown.
Bad Times: One of the embarrassing losses in FSU history came at home to Wake Forest on Nov. 11, 2006. What had been a disastrous season for Florida State got worse as the 18th-ranked Demon Deacons handed FSU its first shutout home loss in more than three decades, 30-0. FSU quarterbacks Xavier Lee and Drew Weatherford each threw two interceptions as FSU mustered just 170 yards of offense for the night. Kevin Patterson returned a Weatherford pick 48 yards for a score. John Tereshinski and Rich Belton each scored Wake touchdowns, also.
The 2008 installment of Florida State and Wake Forest again watched the Seminoles go without a touchdown at home on Sept. 21. Four Sam Swank field goals would be all that the Demon Deacons would need in a 12-3 victory where FSU was depleted by suspension, thanks to an academic cheating scandal. FSU quarterback D’Vontrey Richardson and Christian Ponder combined for five interceptions in the loss as the Seminoles were held to just 222 yards. Riley Skinner passed for 217 yards for Wake Forest in the win.
The last Wake Forest victory in the series came in Winston-Salem on Oct. 8, 2011. FSU was its own worst enemy as the Seminoles committed 13 penalties for 109 yards and turned the ball over five times. Quarterback E.J. Manuel, who was nursing an injury, had to replace an ineffective Clint Trickett, but never could pull FSU ahead. Manuel passed for 286 yards and two scores with most of that going to Rashad Green, who caught 12 passes for 163 yards and a score. On the Wake side, Tanner Price was efficient with three touchdown passes and Josh Harris rushed for 136 yards on just 13 carries. Chris Givens finished with 101 yards receiving and a touchdown for Wake Forest. Four different Wake defenders recorded an interception.
Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson
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