California Look for First ACC Win Against Wake Forest
California Golden Bears Seek First ACC Win in Road Showdown with Wake Forest Demon Deacons
As the 2023 ACC season nears its final stretch, the California Golden Bears (4-4, 0-4 ACC) will try to end their winless conference streak when they visit Wake Forest (4-4, 2-2 ACC) on Friday night. This will be the first-ever meeting between these two programs, with California in its inaugural season in the ACC. Wake Forest comes into this matchup riding the momentum of two back-to-back road victories, while California looks to build off a dominant non-conference win over Oregon State. The game will kick off at 8:00 PM EST from Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
California Golden Bears: Struggling in the ACC, But Showing Promise
The Golden Bears have faced a tough start to their ACC journey, with California still searching for its first conference win. After four consecutive losses in conference play—including narrow defeats to ranked Miami and Pittsburgh—Cal is in dire need of a win to salvage their first season in the ACC. Despite the setbacks, the Golden Bears have remained competitive in every conference game, losing each of their ACC matchups by seven points or fewer.
In their most recent game, California secured a dominant 44-7 victory over Oregon State in a non-conference clash. Sophomore quarterback Fernando Mendoza was instrumental, passing for 364 yards and two touchdowns, guiding the offense to its most efficient performance of the season. Mendoza has been solid overall, averaging 261.9 passing yards per game with a 10-3 TD-to-INT ratio and completing 68.5% of his throws.
However, the Golden Bears’ offensive success has often been overshadowed by their struggles in conference play. Jaivian Thomas, California’s leading rusher, has put together a solid campaign with 470 yards and five touchdowns, but the Golden Bears’ rushing attack has not been explosive enough to carry the team against top-tier competition. Tight end Jack Endries, who has 421 receiving yards and two touchdowns this season, has been Mendoza’s most consistent target.
Defensively, California ranks 13th in the nation, allowing only 17.3 points per game. Their strong defense has kept them in games despite the offensive inconsistencies. Teddye Buchanan, the team’s leading tackler (77), anchors the defense alongside sack leader Xavier Carlton, who has seven sacks on the year. The standout of their defense, however, is Nohl Williams, who leads the country with six interceptions, contributing significantly to the team’s 14 total picks.
Wake Forest Demon Deacons: Road Warriors with a Strong Running Game
Wake Forest enters this contest with a 4-4 record and a 2-2 mark in ACC play, but they’ve been showing resilience, particularly on the road. After struggling early in the season, Wake Forest has turned things around, winning their last two games on the road. First, the Demon Deacons edged out UConn 27-24, and then followed that up with a 27-24 victory over Stanford. Those victories gave Wake Forest much-needed momentum heading into the final month of the regular season.
The Demon Deacons’ success in recent weeks has been driven by a solid performance from quarterback Hank Bachmeier’, who passed for 245 yards and three touchdowns in the win over Stanford. Bachmeier, a senior transfer from Louisiana Tech, has thrown for 1,958 yards this season with 12 touchdowns and six interceptions. His playmaking ability has kept Wake Forest competitive, especially in close games, as five of their eight games this season have been decided by one score.
On the ground, junior running back Demond Claiborne has been the star, rushing for 711 yards and eight touchdowns this season. In the win over Stanford, Claiborne tallied 127 rushing yards, continuing his strong campaign. Taylor Morin has been Bachmeier’s most reliable receiver, with 39 catches for 496 yards and one touchdown.
Despite the success of the offense, Wake Forest’s defense has been inconsistent, ranking 105th in the nation by allowing 31.0 points per game. The defense is led by safety Nick Anderson, who has 82 tackles, but the team’s pass rush and secondary have struggled to generate consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Kevin Pointer leads the defensive line with 3.5 sacks, and the Demon Deacons’ defense has only eight interceptions on the season, with no player recording more than one.
Conclusion
The Friday night showdown between California and Wake Forest promises to be an exciting contest as both teams try to finish the season strong. With Wake Forest coming off two close road wins, they have the momentum, but California’s defense could pose a challenge if they can contain the Demon Deacons’ offense. Stay tuned for a thrilling battle that could have significant implications in the ACC standings.
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