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Online at: www.wfuogb.com twitter: @sports_ogb editOrs: Essex Thayer, thayse20@wfu.edu Christina DeNovio, denoca20@wfu.edu
Duke: Reflecting on 8-0 record, Top-10 rank
Continued from Page 1
On the next play, Hartman found freshman wide receiver Ke'Shawn Williams streaking down the field for 37 yards. Once inside Duke territory, Hartman took over. After completing two passes for 16 yards, he drifted to the left side of the pocket, looking for a receiver. With none open, he sprinted into the open field, going 26 yards for the touchdown.
For the first time in the game, the following Duke drive tested the Wake Forest defense. Over the course of five and a half minutes, Holmberg and the Blue Devils marched 71 yards down the field to the Wake Forest 13-yard line.
On fourth down, the Wake Forest defense locked down the receivers and forced an incompletion, causing their second turnover on downs of the game.
Leading by 14, Hartman starred again on the ensuing drive. On two consecutive completions, the offense gained 22 yards. Then, Hartman sprinted down the field for a 42-yard gain to the Duke six-yard line.
Inside the red zone, Wake Forest took to the ground in an attempt to punch the ball into the end zone. On the first two efforts, the Demon Deacons only gained two yards. On third down, Hartman called his own number, gaining the final four yards for the score.
Trailing by three touchdowns, Duke's following drive began promisingly when Holmberg found receiver Eli Pancol for a 23-yard reception. Then, Durant took off on the run. For much of the play, it looked as if he might score, but at the Wake Forest 45-yard line, defensive back Gavin Holmes wrestled the ball free. Traveon Redd scooped up the loose ball and returned possession to the Demon Deacons.
The third turnover of the game was indicative of a complete and total dominating performance from a Wake Forest defense that was looking to redefine themselves after a poor performance against Army. Against Duke, the defense only allowed 315 total yards.
After the game, Wake Forest head coach Dave Clawson was satisfied with his team's performance. "That [game] breaks a two or three week streak in which [our defense] didn't play up to their capabilities," Clawson said. "I thought they played hard today. They played with a lot of energy. They had a lot of pride."
Looking to go up by four touchdowns, Hartman began the ensuing drive by completing three straight passes for 50 yards to move into the red zone. After a five-yard gain from freshman running back Justice Ellison, Hartman found Williams on a pick-route for the threeyard touchdown.
Following Duke's three-and-out, Wake Forest got the ball right back. Hartman once again gained a chunk play on a 39-yard completion to freshman wide receiver Jahmal Banks.
From there, the drive stalled, bringing kicker Nick Sciba onto the field for his first field goal attempt of the game. In the midst of a 24-kick conversion streak, Sciba faltered, missing wide left of the goalposts from 26 yards out.
Following the Sciba miss, both teams went three-and-out, leading into the end of the half. At halftime, Wake Forest looked well on their way to a blowout victory, leading by 28.
To begin the second half, the Wake Forest defense picked right back up where they left off, forcing another three-and-out for the Duke offense. A misfire from Duke punter Porter Wilson saw the Wake Forest offense take over at their 45-yard line.
From there, Hartman reignited his connection with redshirt junior wide receiver A.T. Perry, completing two consecutive passes to him for a total of 45 yards. After the two completions, BealSmith handled the rest.
After running through the line of scrimmage, Beal-Smith bumped to the right side of the field and hustled into the end zone. Before scoring, Beal-Smith turned to the student section on his right and pumped his arms, igniting the packed stands into a frenzy.
After securing one first down, Duke was again denied by the Demon Deacon defense on three straight downs. In a sign of surrender, Duke punted on fourth down.
On first down of the ensuing drive, redshirt sophomore running back Christian Turner kick-started the Wake Forest offense by rushing for 48 yards. Inside Duke territory, Hartman completed two passes to Williams and Banks for 27 yards.
Following the completions, the offense was unable to get into the end zone, bringing Sciba out for his second field goal attempt of the game. This time, he was successful, giving the Demon Deacons a 38-0 lead.
After another Duke three-and-out, Wake Forest registered the final blow. On third down, Hartman found Perry over the middle for a 37-yard completion. After the completion, Hartman threw one final pass, a touchdown to redshirt freshman Taylor Morin.
Leading 45-0 early in the fourth quarter, Wake Forest pulled their starters. Midway through the final quarter, backup quarterback Riley Leonard led the Blue Devils on their lone scoring drive of the game. After a 39-yard completion to Calhoun, Leonard rushed into the end zone for the two-yard score.
After Duke's first score of the game, backup quarterback Michael Kern and backup running backs Quinton Cooley and Ahmani Marshall ran out the remaining seven minutes on the clock, securing the 45-7 victory for the Demon Deacons.
In his opening message to the media after the game, Clawson expressed grati-
Photo courtesy of Wake Forest Athletics
Redshirt sophomore quarterback Sam Hartman led Wake Forest with 402 passing yards, three passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns.
tude for a student section later recognized as the largest in Wake Forest history. In total, 4,233 students — dressed in all black — attended the game. They represented nearly 80% of the student body. "I really want to thank our students," Clawson said. "That's the biggest student crowd in the history of Wake Forest football. And boy, they made a difference." "When we took the field, we saw that student crowd, and they were active, and they were loud," Clawson continued. "I can't tell you how much that means to our football team. Our players felt it, our coaches and our staff, too. It makes a difference."
The students who attended the game were also excited by the success of the team and all the support they have garnered. "It's insane," freshman Sean Kennedy said. "I was able to see photos of our student section on Twitter and it looked enormous. [We went] all the way into the top deck. It's really great to see the amount of support that the team has."
After the win, there is still much ahead for Wake Forest. On Saturday, the Demon Deacons will face North Carolina in Chapel Hill.
Despite being the No. 9 team in the nation according to the College Football Playoff rankings, Wake Forest are two-and-a-half-point underdogs in the matchup.
At 8-0 and in the top 10, both for the first time ever, Wake Forest controls their own destiny. Winning the rest of their games would clinch an ACC Championship appearance for their first time since 2006. From there, anything is possible, including a College Football Playoff berth.
For now, the week ahead is all that matters. Hartman's mantra: "1-0 every week."
Add those ones up, and they might just equal a championship.
Sports | Old Gold & Black
Thursday, November 4, 2021 | Page 11
Alumnus gives $20 million to football program
A new football complex is set to be built courtesy of Bob McCreary’s generosity
BY CHRISTINA DENOVIO
Sports Editor denoca20@wfu.edu
The Wake Forest athletic program just scored a major win. One of the university’s most generous donors (in fact the largest donor in Wake Forest athletics history), Bob McCreary, has donated $20 million.
The money will go towards the McCreary Football Complex, which is set to feature updated locker rooms, training rooms and common spaces. The 60,000-square-foot structure will connect to the McCreary Field House and the Sutton Sports Performance Center. Thanks to McCreary, the complex will establish Wake Forest’s on-campus football facility infrastructure as one of the best in the country.
The complex will serve as more than just a building — its purpose is to foster camaraderie and team chemistry.
Bob McCreary arrived at Wake Forest in 1957 after earning a football scholarship, which he credits as changing his life’s trajectory. From rural Caldwell Country, McCreary thanks Wake Forest professors, coaches and athletic trainer “Doc” Martin for much of his success in college and beyond.
“Bob McCreary’s personal story, generous spirit and passion for excellence continue to inspire the Wake Forest community,” Wake Forest President Susan R. Wente said.
The 6’5” Wake Forest alum played professional football for the Dallas Cowboys before entering the furniture industry. In the 1980s, McCreary and his wife Michele founded McCreary Modern, a North Carolina-based manufacturer of premier upholstered furniture.
McCreary has kept his alma mater in mind through his career successes. The McCreary Football Complex will replace the Mark C. Pruitt Football Center’s Peahead Walker Football Locker Room, which was finished in 1988.
McCreary was honored at the annual Homecoming football game on Oct. 30, in which the Demon Deacons notched a resounding 45-7 victory over ACC opponent Duke. The team now holds a historic 8-0 record.
Plans for the new facility include a player lounge with a nutrition station, locker space for 130 student-athletes, a recovery area, an entertainment area, football athletic training/treatment space, an equipment center and a loading dock.
Alongside this list, the complex will offer a multipurpose space which can seat up to 200 individuals for team gatherings, meals and other activities for all programs.
“Bob McCreary is the ultimate champion for Wake Forest Athletics,” Wake Forest Director of Athletics John Currie said. “While we are extraordinarily grateful for his financial support, Bob’s leadership role throughout the broader university community continues to inspire generations of Demon Deacons. In line with our vision of being a model intercollegiate athletics program, Bob himself models the limitless aspirations of our students and university community.”
In 2008, McCreary received the Gene Hooks Lifetime Achievement Award, which honors former athletes for their integrity, charity and leadership. Five years later, he was inducted into the Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame. McCreary received the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2016, and in 2019, he was honored as an ACC football legend.
“Throughout my eight years at Wake Forest, Bob McCreary’s transformational leadership and generosity has helped build the foundation for our program to compete at the highest level,” Head Coach Dave Clawson said.
Clawson continued: “From McCreary Field House, Sutton Sports Performance Center and the Christian McCreary Nutrition Zone, the commitment to provide the best facilities to help our student-athletes on and off the field have allowed us the ability to recruit young men that make our university community proud Overall, Bob’s generous support of our football program has been unparalleled.”
With the development of this complex, Wake Forest begins the 4th Quarter drive that will complete the Athletics quadrant of Wake Forest’s Reynolda campus.
Women’s soccer upsets No. 2 Blue Devils
The Demon Deacons triumph over Duke to move on to tournament semifinals
BY CHARLES HORN
Staff Writer horncs18@wfu.edu
It’s rare for a team to not hang their heads after conceding a late goal, to cheer on and encourage each other, to immediately return to the fray. It is even rarer to beat the No. 2 team in the country on their home turf — where they have lost just once all season — in the quarterfinals of the NCAA’s most difficult soccer tournament. Yet, on Sunday, under the lights of Duke’s Koskinen Stadium, in weather that reminded you that the season had changed from summer to fall, the Wake Forest women’s soccer team did all that and more, toppling the Blue Devils 2-1. Tenacity and grit are the buzzwords that fill coach’s speeches across every sport, but this season they have rung true for the Deacs. Both at home and away, the team has fought until the last minute, going to overtime on multiple occasions and only losing by more than a goal once, a 2-0 loss at home to Duke.
Grad-transfer Jennifer Mehta, a former Big East Offensive Player of the Year at Georgetown, has exemplified this competitive drive. Even so, nothing she had done this season to date could compare to the long sprint down the right-hand side she made Sunday that proved decisive for the Deacs.
Mehta had opened the scoring in the first half, as elegant link-up play led to freshman Nikayla Small — recently returned from the Canadian National Team’s training camp — finding space in the box. Her left-footed cross whizzed through the crisp fall air, meeting an onrushing Mehta who gave the Deacs the lead. Even this early goal was an impressive feat, as Duke had not conceded in five matches, including an earlier win over Wake Forest
The Demon Deacon’s pressed relentlessly, taking the game to Duke and recording eight shots to the Blue Devils’ five in the first half. Such a style was a clear departure from the two teams’ previous meeting, where Wake Forest’s press was disjointed at times and nonexistent at others. Head Coach Tony da Luz, in his 25th season at the helm, made tough lineup choices. He chose to bring Small off the bench and deploy her on the flanks rather than through the center.
Throughout the match, a mesmerizing battle unfolded between freshman Zara Chavoshi and Duke’s freshman star Michelle Cooper. Cooper’s speed and skill makes her one of the most difficult players to defend in the country. Yet, Chavoshi’s performance was near perfect. The freshman defender was everywhere, stepping into midfield to win 50-50 balls and denying Cooper the space she needed to attack the Demon Deacons’ goal.
Cooper’s skill did prove too much for the Deacs in the 84th minute when she turned past Chavoshi and executed a move that culminated in Olivia Migli slotting the ball past sophomore keeper Kaitlyn Parks.
To concede late against a top-ranked team — in a match in which you have lead for nearly fifty minutes — could understandably cause shoulders to sink with fatigue. Yet, when the Deacs kicked off, they had one objective: retaking the lead as fast as possible.
The Deacs charged forward, with Mehta driving towards the end line and firing a cross into a dangerous position in hopes of finding the foot of a teammate. It was not a teammate that Mehta found, but rather Duke’s Emily Royson who inadvertently directed the ball into her own net. Within just seconds, Wake Forest had re-taken the lead, beginning a mad scramble to finish out the game, one which exemplified the defensive resilience exhibited by the Deacs throughout the season to date.
As the final whistle blew, the traveling Wake Forest fans erupted as the team stormed the field, embracing in an ecstatic celebration befitting of the Herculean task they had just completed.
Of course, in the ACC Tournament, the tests just keep coming. Next up is a trip to Cary N.C., where No. 3 Florida State awaits in the semifinals. Unlike Wake Forest, Florida State enjoyed a first-round bye. On on the other side of the bracket, Clemson will face Virginia in the other semifinal match.
Previewing the top half of ACC basketball
Duke, North Carolina and Florida State all seem primed for a shot at the ACC Title
BY CHRISTIAN ODJAKJIAN
Staff Writer odjact18@wfu.edu
1. Duke
Duke missed the NCAA Tournament last year. That definitely will not happen again in Coach K’s final season.
Smooth forwards Matthew Hurt and Jalen Johnson are the two big names that departed in the offseason, but the group still includes guards Jordan Goldwire and DJ Steward.
Moreover, the Blue Devils are locked and loaded with an impressive recruiting class. Expectations are sky high for Paolo Banchero, the No. 4 overall player in the class. The 6’9” athletic beast could be a top-pick in next year’s draft.
Two more five-star recruits, AJ Griffin and Trevor Keels, round out the core of incoming freshman. Jeremy Roach and Wendell Moore are back and will be important pieces in the backcourt, and center Mark Williams will look to build on his strong finish to last season. Theo John transferred in from Marquette and will provide depth on the interior.
Duke is stacked with talent, and if Coach K can mesh the pieces, they should be the ACC’s cream of the crop.
2. North Carolina
New Head Coach Hubert Davis has big shoes to fill following Roy Williams’ departure. The Tar Heels should be a lot better than they were last year — there are certainly some key losses, but there is a lot to love about the freshmen newcomers.
The talented frontcourt of Garrison Brooks, Walker Kessler and Day’Ron Sharpe are all gone from last year. Armando Bacot is back, though, and will continue to be a dominant force down low.
The backcourt duo of Caleb Love and R.J. Davis returns, and both players are expected to take big steps forward. Sharpshooter Kerwin Walton is back, too, along with slashing wing Leaky Black.
Two key transfer additions come in finesse forwards Dawson Garcia from Marquette and Brady Manek from Oklahoma.
This team should be a legitimate threat come March, so the pressure is on Hubert Davis to find success.
3. Florida State
Leonard Hamilton has turned this program into an ACC powerhouse in recent years. The losses of lottery pick Scottie Barnes, RaiQuan Gray, Balsa Koprivica and MJ Walker definitely hurt, but Hamilton continues to replenish his team with talent.
Anthony Polite and Malik Osborne are the key returnees who will provide scoring on the wing. Two five-star freshman guards will likely start right away: Jalen Warley and Matthew Cleveland.
Another key backcourt addition is Caleb Mills, a transfer from Houston and absolute bucket getter. The Seminoles also boast three seven-footers (as they always seem to do) in returner Tanor Ngom, JUCO transfer Naheem McLeod and top-50 freshman John Butler.
Don’t expect this team to fall off much from where they finished last year.
4. Virginia Tech
Mike Young’s Hokies have surprised in back-to-back seasons, and this is the best team he’s had yet.
Bouncy wing Tyrece Radford and defensive menace Wabissa Bede are the only key losses. However, Tech brings back skilled post man Keve Aluma, scoring guards Nahiem Alleyne and Hunter Cattoor, as well as stretch forward Justyn Mutts.
The big addition is Storm Murphy, a veteran point guard who reunites with Aluma and Coach Young (they were all together at Wofford).
Murphy could be the necessary piece to elevate this returning core into a season long top-25 team.
5. Virginia
It would be foolish to rank UVA any lower than this with the way Tony Bennett has his teams defend and play smart basketball.
The Cavaliers lost Trey Murphy to the NBA Draft, and all-conference players Sam Hauser and Jay Huff graduated. However, some under-the-radar transfer additions ensure that this roster still has top-tier talent.
Jayden Gardner is an undersized but very tough forward who joins the Cavaliers from East Carolina, and he is my dark horse pick for ACC Player of the Year. Armaan Franklin is a solid and experienced wing who transferred in from Indiana. Floor general Kihei Clark — who seems like he has been there forever — will be an important veteran presence.
The defense will be there, but there are some variables relating to the offensive ceiling of this team.
6. Notre Dame
The Fighting Irish have had a few down seasons and haven’t reached the big dance since 2017. The team excels in its continuity, something not many teams in college basketball can boast.
Interior presence Juwan Durham is gone, but that’s about it. Starters Prentiss Hubb, Dane Goodwin, Cormac Ryan and Nate Laszewski are all back. Hubb was third-team all-conference last season and should be one of the best guards in the ACC this year.
Trey Wertz, who broke Wake Forest fans’ hearts with his buzzer beater in last year’s ACC tournament, is back, too, and will be a key bench piece. Paul Atkinson is a big addition from Yale who averaged 17.6 PPG back in 2019-20. This is an NCAA Tournament-bound team.
7. Louisville
Losing the backcourt of Carlik Jones and David Johnson is a tough blow for Chris Mack’s Cardinals, but new talent and some key returnees will keep this team very competitive in the ACC.
Jae’lyn Withers, Samuel Williamson and Dre Davis all have starting experience, and Malik Williams is finally healthy again. The big additions for this team come via the transfer portal; Noah Locke enters from Florida where he established himself as a deadeye shooter.
The backcourt will also be strengthened by Mason Faulkner, who put up big numbers at Western Carolina, and Jarrod West, an all conference player at Marshall. Junior college All-Americans, El Ellis and Sydney Curry, also join the squad. There are a lot of moving pieces here, so this is an intriguing team.
8. NC State
Coach Kevin Keatts has done a good job with NC State, but the Pack usually struggle to get over the hump and join the top-half of the conference.
They lose their leading scorer from last year in Devon Daniels, along with forward DJ Funderburk and guards Braxton Beverly and Shakeel Moore. Cam Hayes and Dereon Seabron are intriguing players who are looking to build off of their solid freshman campaigns.
Center Manny Bates is a defensive anchor in the middle of the floor, and forward Jericole Hellems will push for all-conference honors. Wings Gregg Gant and Casey Morsell transfer in from Providence and Virginia, respectively and will add additional depth. This team has a low ceiling once again, but they will be very competitive nonetheless.
Wake Forest showcases basketball teams
Both the mens’s and women’s basketball teams showed off their skills at “Deacon Jam”
BY CHRISTINA DENOVIO
Sports Editor denoca20@wfu.edu
Winter is coming. As the weather cools off and fall sports come to a close, Wake Forest sports fanatics have a special time of the year to look forward to: basketball season.
On Oct. 29, fans got a sneak peak at the men’s and women’sbasketball teams in a special preseason event, Deacon Jam. Held in the Varsity Arena at Reynolds Gymnasium, the event took the place of the annual President’s Ball, which had been previously scheduled for the same date. The President’s Ball has been moved to the spring semester to ensure health, safety and protection for the community.
Deacon Jam marked the official beginning of the 2021-22 basketball season. The event allowed for students to get acquainted with coaches of the men’s and women’s teams — Steve Forbes and Jen Hoover — and meet the players.
Alongside getting to know the teams and staff, those who attended had the opportunity to watch a dunk contest, a three-point shooting contest and other activities.
Cheerleader Amanda Berrios described her experience at the event: “Deacon Jam was honestly a really electric atmosphere, mostly because both teams haven’t been able to perform in front of people since before the pandemic.”
Berrios continued: “You could tell how energetic and excited the players are for this season simply by how much they were hyping up the crowd and each other. I’m really looking forward to basketball season after watching both the team’s during Deacon Jam.”
Men’s basketball player Robert McCray, a 6’4” freshman from Columbia, S.C. took home the title in the dunk contest with an epic in between the legs slam.
McCray has proven he is a player to watch out for. He has shown incredible athleticism at the mock NBA Combine, where he recorded a 42-inch max vertical leap. Apart from winning the dunk contest, the freshman was ranked the No. 11 combo guard nationally by 247Sports.
Deacon Jam was just one of many events to occur over Homecoming Weekend. The field hockey team lost a close game to Boston College on Oct. 29 by a score of 2-1.
Men’s soccer recorded a 2-0 win over Syracuse that same night, with goals coming from freshman Babcar Niang and senior Kyle Holcomb. Perhaps most impressively, women’s soccer upset No. 2 Duke by a score of 2-1 in the quarterfinal of the ACC Championship.
Fall sports teams have had a strong run thus far, setting the standards high for the winter teams. For the first game of the season, the women’s basketball team is set to face Mercer on the road on Nov. 9.
The men play an exhibition game against Winston-Salem State on Nov. 5 at home in the LJVM Coliseum. Their first official contest of the season will occur at home on Nov. 10 against William & Mary.
College football intensifies in Week 9
Michigan vs. MSU turned into a nail-biter, but MSU held on with a 4-point lead
BY ADAM BARROW
Staff Writer barrae21@wfu.edu
College football’s extremely chaotic season continued on Saturday. Week 9’s marquee matchups delivered on the hype, and multiple teams in the top 25 fell to unranked opponents.
The week’s biggest game was a rivalry matchup between No. 6 Michigan and No. 8 Michigan State. Michigan got up to a 30-14 lead in the third quarter, but the Spartans were able to ride a phenomenal performance from running back Kenneth Walker III to a comeback win. Walker III rushed for 197 yards and five touchdowns, the last of which gave Michigan State a 37-33 lead and secured the win. Michigan played a great game, generating 552 yards on offense. However, they had to settle for field goals on four different trips to the red zone and turned the ball over twice in the fourth quarter, all of which helped MSU complete their comeback.
No. 18 Auburn beat No. 10 Ole Miss 31-20, securing their second straight win against a ranked SEC West opponent. Quarterback Bo Nix had one of his best games as a Tiger, throwing for 276 yards and a touchdown. He added two more scores on the ground. On the other hand, Ole Miss quarterback and Heisman hopeful Matt Corrall had a rare game with no passing touchdowns and what was only his second interception of the year. Additionally, he threw an incompletion on fourth down on three different red zone possessions in the second half, spoiling any chances of an Ole Miss comeback.
No. 5 Ohio State faced their first real challenge since their loss to Oregon in No. 20 Penn State and pulled out a 3324 victory. Penn State bounced back from their inept performance against Illinois and kept it close against the Buckeyes, but kicker Noah Ruggles drilled two field goals in the fourth quarter to help Ohio State come away with the victory.
Upsets abounded on Saturday, with six ranked teams being taken down by unranked opponents. No. 9 Iowa lost 27-7 to Wisconsin, whose defense forced three turnovers, held Iowa scoreless in the first half and limited the Hawkeyes to 24 rushing yards on the day. This was the second loss in a row to an unranked opponent for Iowa, who prior to this game had climbed all the way to No. 2 in the polls.
No. 12 Kentucky also suffered its second loss in a row, this time to Mississippi State. Bulldogs quarterback Will Rogers had an extraordinarily accurate day, completing 36 of his 39 passes. Their defense picked off Kentucky quarterback Will Levis three times while also recovering a fumble. Kentucky now falls to 6-2 after a promising undefeated start.
In the ACC, Miami defeated No. 17 Pitt in an epic quarterback duel. Heisman candidate Kenny Pickett threw for a school record 519 yards for Pitt, but also tossed two interceptions. For Miami, redshirt freshman and former backup Tyler Van Dyke threw for 426 yards and three touchdowns. It was enough for the Hurricanes to come away with a 38-34 win.
Houston upset No. 19 SMU 44-37 on a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown with 17 seconds left, immediately following a game-tying field goal by SMU. Houston quarterback Clayton Tune threw for a personal record 412 yards, and the Cougars were able to ruin SMU’s dreams of an undefeated season.
No. 21 San Diego State also left the ranks of the undefeated when they were upset 30-20 by Fresno State, who got their second win against a ranked team on the year. Fresno State jumped out to a 20-0 lead and forced three turnovers over the course of the game, and quarterback Jake Haener continued his dominance with his sixth 300-yard passing game of the year.
West Virginia’s offense came alive against No. 22 Iowa State, resulting in a 38-31 victory.
Quarterback Jarrett Doege threw for three touchdowns, and running back Leddie Brown added two on the ground for WVU. Iowa State got 167 rushing yards out of star back Breece Hall. A last second pass from Cyclones quarterback Brock Purdy was batted down in the end zone, allowing West Virginia to secure the win.
For the most part, the rest of the nation’s top teams took care of business. No. 1 Georgia rolled to a 34-7 win against rival Florida and ended up clinching the SEC East title once Kentucky lost. The Bulldogs are now guranteed a spot in the SEC Championship Game.
Additionally, No. 4 Oklahoma finally had the complete performance they had been waiting for in their 52-21 rout of Texas Tech. True freshman quarterback Caleb Williams threw for 402 yards and six touchdowns.
Season-opening starter Spencer Rattler did play exceptionally in garbage time, too, receiving a standing ovation from Oklahoma’s home crowd.
Unexpected results continue in NFL Week 8
Saints defeat NFC South rivals Buccaneers, but Tampa Bay still leads the division
BY CONOR ROBBINS
Staff Writer robbcm19@wfu.edu
If Week 8 of the 2021 NFL season taught us anything, it is to expect the unexpected, as football fans were treated to a series of gritty underdog victories that came down to the wire. If you didn’t have the privilege of being glued to a television screen throughout your Halloween Sunday, however, I’ve got you covered. Here, we’ll recap the biggest games, players and moments, which encapsulated another thrilling slate of football.
Green Bay def. Arizona 24-21
In a game in which the Packers were missing three of their starting receivers, Aaron Rodgers proved once again that as long as he is the one taking snaps under center, his Green Bay Packers can win on any given day. Rodgers (184 yds, 2 TDs) controlled the game through all four quarters, linking up with seven different receivers, while leaning on a heavy dose of Aaron Jones (15 carries for 59 yds) and A.J. Dillon (16 carries for 78 yards) rushes.
The game’s biggest moment came with 15 seconds left in the fourth quarter when a potential go-ahead Kyler Murray touchdown sailed into the hands of Packers cornerback Rasual Douglas to seal the game. Douglas, who was on the Cardinals practice squad mere months ago, proved a deserving game ball candidate as his clutch play spurred the Packers to their seventh straight victory.
Tennessee def. Indianapolis 31-28
In a game with significant implications in the AFC South divisional race, the Titans asserted themselves as both divisional and AFC frontrunners following a comeback victory in overtime. The afternoon started off perfectly for Carson Wentz and company when the first-year Colts quarterback found Michael Pittman Jr. twice in the end zone for the game’s first two touchdowns. The Titans would then go on to score 17 unanswered points, thanks to the chemistry between Ryan Tannehill and player of the game A.J. Brown. (10 REC, 155 yds, 1 TD).
With the game at a 24-24 deadlock and a little over a minute and a half remaining in the fourth quarter, Wentz threw a head-scratching pick-six from his own end zone. After receiving some good luck to help force overtime, Wentz went on to throw another interception in the third series of the extra period to seal the Colts’ fate.
New York Jets def. Cincinnati 34-31
Following a 41-point loss to the Patriots in Week 7, the Mike White-led Jets showed a great deal of resurgence in a closely-fought home contest. Playing in only the second game of his career, White was magnificent, completing 37 of his whopping 45 attempts, to go along with three touchdowns and two interceptions. The backup signal-caller was also aided by a standout performance from rookie running back Michael Carter, who logged 172 all-purpose yards, including 77 on the ground and a touchdown.
Meanwhile, the Bengals failed to look like a team that came into Week 8 with the best record in the AFC. Red flags for the visitors began on the ground, where Joe Mixon tallied 33 yards on an abysmal 2.4 yards per carry.
The inconsistent running game meant that Joe Burrow had his work cut out for him, leading to season lows in terms of yards (259) and QB rating (34.9). All things considered, the second-year quarterback kept his team in the game with three touchdown passes, and a 31-20 lead with 7:52 left in the fourth quarter.
And then Mike White happened.
New England def. Los Angeles 27-24
Quarterbacks Mac Jones and Justin Herbert were an identical 18/35 on the afternoon, posting 218 and 223 yards, respectively. Both teams matched each other stride for stride until a momentumshifting pick-six by Patriot’s safety Adrian Phillips with 10:15 left in the fourth quarter gave the visitors a 24-17 lead.
New England Kicker Nick Folk would proceed to make his fourth field goal of the game on the ensuing Patriots position to make it a two-score game and put things out of reach once and for all.
New Orleans def. Tampa Bay 36-27
Saints quarterback Jameis Winston may have the left the game early, but the New Orleans defense stood tall until the final whistle, recovering a fumble and intercepting quarterback Tom Brady twice. The most notable of these three turnovers was a game winning pick-six from Saints cornerback P.J. Williams to seal the game and rob the G.O.A.T. of his latest comefrom-behind victory out of the two-minute drill.
Backup Trevor Siemian did just enough in relief of Winston, accounting for 159 yards and a touchdown on 16/29 passing. The Saints marched on to a 5-2 record.
Brady got it done through the air, as per usual, going 28/40 for 375 yards and four touchdowns. A weak running game, in combination with three turnovers, simply wasn’t enough to get the job done for a Bucaneers squad that no longer controls its own destiny in the NFC South.
LIFE
OLD GOLD & BLACK
Art | Watercolor
O nline at : www.wfuogb.com edit O r : Selinna Tran, transn19@wfu.edu ASST. LIFE EDITOR: Adam Coil, coilat21@wfu.edu
Reminiscing on my relationship with art
Art can be an expression of creativity but also an approach to life and emotions
BY SELINNA TRAN
Life Editor transn19@wfu.edu
From the young age of three, toddler Selinna was scribbling and doodling on anything she could get her hands on. From old newspapers to junk mail, my means of fun was to create. And that's not to say that these were illustrious or thought-provoking creations, but rather adolescent depictions of what my brain saw and translated to paper.
Now, as a 20-year-old, I still find myself filling up all of the blank space in my class notebooks and papers with random doodles and drawing. Art has always provided solace and comfort for me.
My favorite medium — which I discovered through my years of experimentation with various art forms — has to be watercolor. The simple strokes that result from a combination of concentrated pigment and water result in a relaxing and beautiful art medium. Many people with childhood memories of the chalky, messy and muddled pans of watercolor that were given to us in grade school probably preemptively shy away from the medium. For me, I figured out the perfect combination of water and paint to create a smooth finish that fueled my love for the medium.
Many different artists that I watched on YouTube (Kasey Golden, Danica Sills, ashiyaart) were inspirations for me throughout high school as I learned different techniques from each of them.
I recall being pushed to explore and develop my passion for art in my own time, as a hobby. For me, art was never a means for ascendancy or success in life, only an avocation when I had free time. Still, I continued to pursue my love for art and tried to incorporate it into different aspects of my life. Even if it was not to become my career, I still pushed to further develop my artistic endeavors.
Another important aspect of art, for me, is being able to share and bring happiness to others with my art. My love language is showing people I care through dedicating time and energy toward creating and giving. As a result, I have always tried to use my love for creating to give to those around me, whether that be handwriting and drawing letters for the ZSR staff to thank them for their efforts, or illustrating portraits for friends.
Ultimately, though, art has been a way for me to reflect and grow as a person. My art has allowed me to explore the intricacies of my life and my experiences. From filling up sketchbook pages during times of emotional mutability to spending countless hours on a single piece that has helped me through tough times, art has been a place of amenity and peace for me. Art has also been a bridge for my relationship between nature and humanity — fostering the way I understand myself and the world around me.
As I develop and further my academic and professional career, I still want to hold onto my steadfast love to create and give, to further these notions of growth and life.
Photo courtesy of Selinna Tran
A watercolor piece of a four piece set, illustrating the steps of healing.
Photo courtesy of Selinna Tran
A digital piece, illustrated on a whim, of a royal octopus on a turtle.
Humor | Immortal Snail The immortal snail is coming for you ... slowly
Your life is only a matter of days — sooner or later, the immortal snail is coming
BY EMILY BEBENEK
Staff Writer bebeek20@wfu.edu
I know he’s coming for me. It’s been too long. First I lost count of the days, then the months, then the years, and finally the centuries. I don’t know how much more I can take. He’s coming for me, and there will be no way to escape the moment when he finally catches up.
I have taken every precaution. The salt blocks to replace the bricks, the remote location, even the mice and squirrels I keep as pets. Yet, still, the fear persists.
Am I right to be afraid? Or should I be welcoming my inevitable end? I do not know.
The doorbell rings and I shoot out of my seat, grabbing the glass Tupperware that I always keep beside me, something to buy me a few minutes should my adversary appear. I slowly approach the salt door, peering hesitantly through the peephole. It is the delivery man, wearing his usual confused look. I never bothered to explain my situation anymore - I’ve escaped far too many insane asylums because of it.
I unlock the door as quickly as I can, but the 17th lock catches and I spend a few minutes trying to unstick it.
I can almost see the delivery man roll his eyes. After the last lock clicks back I peer around the door. “Delivery for Smith,” he says. I give a furtive nod, snatching the clipboard and scribbling my signature as fast as I can. Every moment exposed is a moment my death could finally catch up to me.
I waste no time snatching the package and slamming the door behind me. Sighing in relief, I set the package down on the table and watch through the peephole to make sure the delivery man leaves. As soon as his truck is out of sight, I turn back to the table. Safe again. But that’s when I notice the rip in the side, a rip that wasn’t there a few moments ago.
My hand clutches the bottle of repellent that never leaves my pocket. He’s here.
My eyes drift slowly over the living room, looking for anything out of place. Where could he be hiding?
After I clear the living room, I search the kitchen, the bathroom, the bedroom. Nothing.
Reluctantly, I descend to the basement, pushing open the door. It squeals on rusted hinges, swinging open to reveal a dark room of cobwebs. I flip the light switch and there he is, staring at me from the middle of the room. He makes no move to approach me, and so I let my eyes rove over the walls around him. Covering every inch of them are photos of the ones I’ve lost, precious memories spanning millennia. By the time I turn my gaze back to him, a single tear has slipped down my cheek.
Suddenly, miraculously, he speaks. “Are you ready to meet your end, human?”
I stare at the snail in awe. He sounds exactly like Morgan Freeman. “Are you ... God?” I ask him.
He looks back at me impassively. I cannot tell if he’s nodding or if his head is simply bowing under the weight of his eyestalks.
I take one step forward, then another. Is this it? Am I finally ready to go?
When my foot finally taps him on his shell, the world disappears into a dazzling array of golden sparks. I smile, ready to see everyone I ever loved in the afterlife, but suddenly, I feel myself squished and compressed. This doesn’t feel like heaven. When the dizzying motion stops, I sway a bit. Something feels wrong. Everything looks huge. Is heaven a realm of giants?
“This is the price of your immortality,” the disembodied voice of the Morgan Freeman-snail says. “Thank you for releasing me. I shall see you soon. Or not.” He laughs before a gust of wind blows past.
I blink as it dawns on me. I am the snail. And I am trapped here until I catch my replacement. My eyestalks quiver in horror. This is going to be a long millennium.
Film |"Dune"
Packed with an A-list cast, the release of "Dune" was highly anticipated
BY BEN WILCOX
Staff Writer wilcbr19@wfu.edu
"Dune", by Frank Herbert, is a book that many considered unadaptable. Several attempts have been made — the most notable adaptation to this point (mostly for its troubled production) was David Lynch’s "Dune", released in 1984. However, I can say with a fairly high degree of confidence, that this version of "Dune", directed by Denis Villeneuve, will be the definitive film version of the acclaimed novel. This is only part one of the adaptation, as is explicitly shown in the opening title. It was incredibly enjoyable as part one of a series, but I believe it should have been better advertised to set proper expectations.
Denis Villeneuve has been one of the greatest working directors of the last decade. From "Prisoners" and "Enemy"
— two personal favorites of mine — to "Arrival" and "Blade Runner 2049", Villeneuve has demonstrated an extraordinary ability to give gravity and scale to both small personal dramas and broad science-fiction epics.
When it was announced that he would be directing "Dune", expectations were high. I would say that those lofty expectations were met in the first installment of the "Dune" film series.
The film has a unique aesthetic that allows the viewer to feel immersed in this futuristic world. "Dune" accurately captures both the scale and gravity laid out in Frank Herbert’s novel. A personal critique of many movies and series set in outer space is that whole planets are often condensed into just one town or city. This film makes the planet of Arrakis feel like the all-encompassing desert that it is. "Dune" is a truly beautiful film to watch on the big screen. From here on out, the plot of the movie will be discussed so I would highly recommend going out and reading the book or watching this movie first. "Dune" sets the background of the complex politics of an intergalactic empire. The film opens with the House Atreides being assigned as caretakers of the planet Arrakis, the only planet with spice, an extremely valuable resource. From this sentence alone, it quickly becomes evident why many considered this sprawling epic to be unadaptable.
Paul Atreides — the heir to House Atreides — has been shown to have certain abilities such as “the voice” that his mother taught him.
She has been slowly bringing him along, teaching him the ways of her people. However, her people — the Bene Gesserit — have an ulterior motive to establish this messianic figure as a son of one of these powerful houses. In the transfer of power on Arrakis, the House Harkonnen (the former rulers) lay waste to House Atreides, leaving Paul and his mother to die in the desert.
This movie ends on a fairly incomplete note, promising a more intricate analysis of the idea of a "white savior", family politics and more. However, this movie really spends most of its runtime laying the groundwork for what’s to come. I would wholeheartedly recommend going out to see this film.
Campus Life|Campus Condomz Covering sex week with Bevin Burns
Campus Condomz provides resources like condoms around campus
BY TAYLOR SCHUTT
Staff Writer schutl20@wfu.edu
After two years without a Wake Forest homecoming, more alumni are coming back to campus than usual. To Bevin Burns’ (‘21) advantage, this is perfect timing to promote her business and new partnership to all of the Wake Forest community.
Burns’ startup promotes safer and consensual sex on Wake Forest's campus … by using condoms.
The business, Campus Condomz, provides free and accessible condoms and sexual health resources around campus.
Inside a small cardstock trifold with sexual health and safety resources, a gold-packaged condom is tucked in that screams Old Gold. The trifold features a Demon Deacon holding a Campus Condom and wearing a shirt saying “Yes” inside a red heart.
While talking with Burns about Campus Condomz, she stated, “Our goal is quite simple … to provide education and to create conversation about safe sex practices, consent and condom usage on college campuses through humor and non-traditional means.”
Let’s face it … sex is natural, but many find it uncomfortable to discuss — especially when they’re not properly educated.
To change this, Burns explained, “I want to be able to deliver this typically stigmatized information to college students who may have never learned about safe sex in a way that is not intimidating and in a way that the info would actually stick.”
Burns founded Campus Condomz two years ago in a Wake Forest entrepreneurship class when she was tasked with creating a product, service or business to share as a final project.
“I had a list of about 100 ideas and we had to pitch our favorite … I had no idea what I was going to pitch, so I went up to the least intimidating looking guy and told him my idea about humorous college condoms,” Burns said. "He immediately handed me his card and told me to call him tomorrow since he thought it was the best idea of the night."
After that, Burns worked with the entrepreneurship department, Deacon Springboard, StartUp Lab and numerous mentors to turn her idea into reality.
Then, in Spring 2020, just as things were heating up, COVID-19 interrupted her plans.
Photo courtesy of Marco Verch
The condom is a great tool for practicing safe, consensual sex.
Regarding this pause, Burns said, “I was in contact with several other schools … then COVID hit. [The] school's main goals were to keep people apart, not bring them together safely, which is one of the most important parts of Campus Condomz.”
More eager than ever, Campus Condomz promoted their pilot with Trojan this past Saturday at Truist Field. But, this wasn't just any promo. Burns promoted her business in the best way Deacs know — tailgate style.
“Saturday. Tailgate. Trojan X Campus Condomz Tent. We will have t-shirts, condoms, giveaways, sunglasses, chances to get on the Trojan Tiktok — you name it, we probably have it,” Burns said.
Burns will be joined by a team of nine other student influencers who have helped her promote Campus Condomz around campus and through social media.
Ahead of the event, Burns said, “I have been working for the past three months for this Trojan X Campus Condomz football tailgate and am so excited about it this weekend … I mean, we have so many people talking about sex and consent for the homecoming game, and who would ever expect to get free condoms, Trojan sunglasses and Trojan bags at a football game? It is all about putting this conversation into places where it wouldn't normally be had.”
Burns — now a senior — plans on continuing Campus Condomz after her graduation in May 2022.
When asked about the future of her business, Burns enthusiastically stated, “Campus Condomz is less about the product and more about the messaging. It really doesn't matter what we are selling, giving out, etc. as long as it gets people to talk about safe sex and consent. We are all about creating the conversation."
THE HOT LIST
TOP TEN ORGANIZATIONS MORE LEGITIMATE THAN PIKAPP
By Adam Coil
1 . Two guys in a room
2 . 3 . 4. 5. 6 . 7. 8. 9. 10.
Three blind mice
The Will Zimmermen
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My French class
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NYU
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Christina DeNovio
ARTISAN MARKET A nonprofit art market for famine relief
CAMERON MICHLES
Knitted Art
Photo courtesy of Cameron Michles
CHRISTIAN ESTRADA
Clothing
Photo courtesy of Christian Estrada
ELIZABETH MOORMAN
Watercolor
Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Moorman
NICOLE NAMATH
Friendship Bracelets
BY ROXIE RAY
Contributing Writer rayro19@wfu.edu
The upcoming Artisan Market is a studentled nonprofit event in which student artists who have donated their works will raise money to be directed towards famine relief.
The event features twelve student artists and student art groups, including clubs like the World Tea Association and the Fiber Arts club — a glimpse into the various modes of talent and creativity present within the Wake Forest community.
The Artists Market is an excellent opportunity to see and buy student art, supporting the efforts of students. Beyond that, the proceeds of the event are going towards a meaningful cause! All proceeds from the event are donated to the World Food Programme.
I created the Artisan Market with the intent to utilize art in a way that gives back to humanity. I was originally motivated to dedicate the proceeds to famine relief by an article I had to read for a Contemporary Moral Problems philosophy class last year.
The article, “Famine Relief: The Duties We Have to Others” by Christopher Wellman, discussed the moral obligation we all have to donate to countries experiencing humanitarian crises as a downstream effect of our own consumeristic habits.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), for example, is facing one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world. The DRC has the highest rates of violence and sexual assault in any country since World War 2.
Because of this violence and instability, the DRC has become the country with the most food insecurity in the world. But, how is the United States connected to this?
There is a direct relationship between American consumer appetite and the devastating famine and violence in the DRC. The DRC has natural deposits of gold, tantalum, tin and tungsten that are controlled by armed militia groups. These groups use violence and rape as oppressive intimidation tactics to maintain control over the region.
These metals of conflict are smuggled into surrounding countries, shipped to China, and finally utilized in the production of our phones, laptops, gaming consoles and cars. The U.S. sustains this market and thus sustains the systems that perpetuate violence and food insecurity.
Our fundraiser is not an act of donation but rather one of payment. The payment of a debt — a payment of reparations.
Our market is an opportunity not just for student artists to showcase their work, but also for the Wake Forest community to learn about our responsibilities in a world system, how our actions have downstream effects and how we can potentially reduce or amend these effects.
ROXIE OZRA
Jewlery
Photo courtesy of Roxie Ray
KATHARINE COLLIE
Knitted Art
Photo courtesy of Katharine Collie
WORLD TEA ASSOCIATION
Tea
Photo courtesy of World Tea Association
SELINNA TRAN
Jewelry + Watercolor
