Wake Forest @ Stanford preview
Stanford Stadium
Last Meeting ( Sep 12, 2009 ) Stanford 17, Wake Forest 24
Unbeatens Stanford and visiting Wake Forest will bring plenty of momentum into Saturday’s non-conference clash.
No. 19 Stanford (2-0) steamrolled UCLA last week and Wake Forest has erupted for 107 points in its two opening victories.
The Cardinal is tied for 10th in the nation in scoring defense, allowing 8.5 points a game, and is seventh in total defense (200.0 yards a game). It's going against a Wake Forest offense that is averaging 53.5 points, third in the nation.
Stanford has its highest ranking at this point in the season since 1997. In a 35-0 win at UCLA, junior safety Michael Thomas had five tackles and forced two fumbles, including one he returned 21 yards for a touchdown, and was named Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Week.
The win was Stanford's first shutout of UCLA since 1941 and first road shutout since 1974.
Stanford's Andrew Luck completed 11-of-24 passes for 151 yards at UCLA after throwing for 316 against Sacramento State. He has 467 yards and six touchdowns without an interception in two games.
Last year against Wake Forest, Luck was 23 of 34 with two touchdowns and an interception, but the Cardinal lost 24-17, going scoreless in the second half. This year's Stanford team has a decided edge in experience over the young Demon Deacons.
Wake Forest (2-0) opened its season with two record-breaking games. The Demon Deacons beat Presbyterian 53-13 and Duke 54-48, the first time in school history they topped 50 points in consecutive games. But their defense has been vulnerable to the big play, yielding three touchdowns to Duke of more than 50 yards.
The win against Duke saw a balanced offensive attack directed by freshman Tanner Price, who replaced injured starter Ted Stachitas and completed 12 of 19 for 190 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran for 56 yards and a touchdown, earning ACC Rookie of the Week honors.
Price's prime target was senior Marshall Williams, the ACC Offensive Player of the Week who caught two passes for 51 yards and two touchdowns and threw to Chris Givens for an 81-yard touchdown on a reverse play.
Wake split its yardage against Duke - 271 by air and 229 on the ground. Though Price is scheduled to start, Stachitas, the team's leading rusher with 153 yards on 19 carries, will likely be available.
Wake Forest's first away game this year will be the longest road trip in school history and its first game in California.