WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — Demond Claiborne scored on three touchdown runs, including an 83-yarder untouched in the third quarter, as Wake Forest beat Western Carolina 42-10 in a weather-hampered game Saturday.
Claiborne, who suffered an injury in the opener and didn’t play in the second half eight days earlier, finished with 193 yards on 10 carries. He had two first-quarter touchdown runs.
Quarterback Robby Ashford was 13 for 22 for 227 yards with a 64-yard strike to Sterling Berkhalter in the third quarter for the Demon Deacons (2-0).
Western Carolina (0-2) scored on Christian Lowery’s 23-yard second-quarter field goal. The Catamounts got into the end zone with less than seven minutes left on Markel Townsend’s 1-yard run.
There was a 2-hour, 18-minute weather-related delay about three minutes into the game. With Wake Forest ahead 21-3 at halftime, another weather delay kicked in before the second half began following an additional 42-minute pause. The fourth quarter was reduced to 10 minutes.
The Demon Deacons scored first on Ashford’s 41-yard keeper. Claiborne’s first two touchdowns came in a 12-second span, with an interception in between those plays.
The Takeaway
Western Carolina: The Catamounts had difficulty containing pressure from Wake Forest’s defensive front and that tended to put their offense out of sync.
Wake Forest: With three first-quarter touchdowns and a safety for a 21-0 lead, the Demon Deacons more than doubled their point total from their 10-9 opening victory against Kennesaw State.
Up Next
Western Carolina: Home Saturday vs. Elon
Wake Forest: Home Thursday vs. North Carolina State
Bob Sutton, The Associated Press
