Opponent Outlook: Wake Forest

APP STATE GAME NOTES

BOONE, N.C. – For the first time, an Appalachian State-Wake Forest football game will be held at Kidd Brewer Stadium.
 
The matchup between the Mountaineers (2-1) and Demon Deacons (3-0) at 3:30 p.m. on Black Saturday in Boone will be the 23rd meeting in series history. App State won seven of the 22 games played in Winston-Salem from 1975-2001.

Here's a closer look at the Demon Deacons:
 
Wake Forest capped a 7-6 season in 2016 with a 34-26 bowl victory against AAC champion Temple, which allowed 31 first-half points to the Deacons. With an improved offense, they have opened 2017 by winning 51-7 against Presbyterian, 34-10 at Boston College and 46-10 against Utah State.
 
Wake Forest is similar to App State in that both teams have a four-year starting quarterback who has thrown six touchdown passes and no interceptions this season.
 
John Wolford has started 38 career games, tied for third among active FBS quarterbacks behind App State's Taylor Lamb (41) and Ohio State's J.T. Barrett (39). After winning the starting job following a third straight preseason competition with Kendall Hinton, Wolford has tossed four touchdown passes to receiver Greg Dortch while completing 36 of his 56 throws for 500 yards.
 
Preseason All-ACC tight end Cam Serigne has three receiving touchdowns for the Deacons, who have eight total TD passes thanks to Hinton's two in a backup role.
 
Wake Forest has three running backs with between 26 and 29 carries, led by redshirt freshman Arkeem Byrd's 199 yards on 29 attempts. Wolford has scored three rushing touchdowns and averaged 5.6 yards on his 34 attempts, while starting running back Cade Carney (99 yards) and 2016 leading rusher Matt Colburn II (113 yards) also have contributed regularly.
 
The return of nine starters has helped Wake Forest's offense take another step forward in coach Dave Clawson's fourth season.
 
"Coach Clawson has done a great job revitalizing the program and getting them turned back in the right direction," App State coach Scott Satterfield said. "You've seen it over the last two years, defensively they've been really, really good. This year, it looks like the offense has caught up with the defense. They're really hitting on all cylinders."
 
Wake Forest's defense ranks ninth nationally by allowing 9.0 points per game, 17^th nationally by giving up 143.0 passing yards a game and 21^st nationally by allowing 273.3 total yards per game.
 
Free safety Cameron Glenn leads the Deacons with 18 tackles and two of the team's five interceptions, while senior defensive end Duke Ejiofor has two sacks among his six tackles for loss. Defensive tackle Zeek Rodney (6-1, 305 pounds) has also posted three tackles for loss and three quarterback hurries in his first year back with the program.