RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Demond Claiborne ran 3 yards with 1:01 remaining for his third touchdown and Wake Forest overcome a 10-point, fourth-quarter deficit to defeat NC State 34-30 on Saturday.
Claiborne ran for 136 yards on 20 carries with two rushing TDs and one scoring catch. Hank Bachmeier threw two touchdown passes as Wake Forest (2-3, 1-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) snapped a three-game losing streak. “Just kind of savor this one,” Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson said.
“I’m tired, I’m shot and I’m really, really proud of our football team. That was special.” The Demon Deacons converted two fourth-down plays on a 13-play, 65-yard winning drive.
Branson Combs intercepted a pass on NC State’s next possession to seal the outcome. “Gutsy call by them,” NC State coach Dave Doeren said of the Demon Deacons' final-possession gamble. “They made plays and we didn’t.
” CJ Bailey threw two touchdown passes in relief, but NC State (3-3, 0-2) remained without back-to-back wins this year. The Wolfpack lost starting quarterback Grayson McCall when he absorbed a vicious hit in the first quarter and was carted off the field. It was the second time this year that Bailey replaced McCall, but this time he couldn’t steer the Wolfpack to a comeback victory like he did Sept.
14 against Louisiana Tech. Bachmeier's numbers were modest, as he completed 16 of 32 passes for 154 yards, but he came up clutch. “It wasn’t his best statistically game, but he’s the winning .