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topicnews · August 29, 2024

A&T Football returns to Wake Forest after 20-year absence

A&T Football returns to Wake Forest after 20-year absence



football


The last game between the two teams took place on September 18, 2004.




Radio: A&T Sports Radio Network presented by Marcus T. Johnson (1400 AM, 103.5 FM The Light; Tobacco Road Sports Radio; XM Sirius)

Move by move: Donald Ware; Analyst: Al Swann

TV: ACC Network Extra

Move by move: Matt Schick; Analyst: Charles Arbuckle

STORIES OF THE A&T AGGIES IN NORTH CAROLINA

  • Twenty years ago, a North Carolina A&T football team that had just won a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) championship traveled to Winston-Salem, North Carolina, to face the Wake Forest Demon Deacons.

  • It was the first time in program history that the Aggies faced an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) school and a Power Five. The Demon Deacons defeated the Aggies 42-3 on September 18, 2004.

  • Since that day, times have definitely changed in the world of A&T football. The Aggies have since played 10 Division I FBS schools, including the ACC’s Duke Blue Devils three times and the ACC’s University of North Carolina once.

  • A&T has won three FBS contests, including at Kent State in 2016, Charlotte in 2017 and East Carolina in 2018. The Aggies are scheduled to play NC State in 2027. A&T has never defeated a Power Four school.

  • Even though the Aggies will be playing at a higher level, all eyes will be on their offense. A&T’s offense ranked 115th out of 122 schools in Division I FCS football in 2023. Their passing offense ranked 122nd out of 122 schools rated.

  • David Marsh was hired in January to revitalize the Aggies’ offense, which has earned a reputation as Running Back U over the years due to its ability to move the football on the ground.

  • Running Back U offers leading returnees this season Kenji Christianexperienced running back Wesley Gravesand speedsters Shimique Blizzard. A&T also has talented pass catchers in Ameen Jones And Ger-Cari Caldwell.

  • The big question for the Aggies’ offense, however, is the situation of their quarterback. Justin Fomby has the most experience as he enters his fourth season of college football. He spent the last two seasons at Houston Christian University and threw for 2,297 yards in 2022.

  • Kevin White played seven games as a freshman with the Aggies last season and led A&T to its only win of the season, rushing for 115 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries. The Aggies could also play as a freshman Braxton Thomas from Sarasota, Florida.

  • The A&T defense lost its two best tacklers from last season. BJ Turner And Avarion Cole. But A&T’s next three top tacklers return, led by Freshman All-American Joshua Isaiah. Kade Moledorwho also played many snaps as a freshman, also returns, along with graduate LB Malich Jacobs.

  • Meanwhile, the Aggies may have one of the most experienced secondaries in Division I-FCS, led by Karon PruntyPrunty is on two lists of nominees, including the Aeneas Williams Award, which recognizes the nation’s best HBCU defensive back. Williams is a former walk-on at Southern University who eventually became a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

  • Prunty is also on the Urban Edge Network HBCU + FCS National Player of the Year Watch List, which recognizes the best HBCU defensive back in the country at the end of the season.

  • senior Aaron Harris will accompany Prunty at the other cornerback position. Meanwhile, Safety Ty Williams, Jr. is entering his third season as a starter, and his colleague Safety David Laney begins his second season as a starter.

Exploring the Wake Forest Demon Deacon

  • Wake Forest is coming off a 4-8 season that saw them go 1-7 in the ACC. The Demon Deacons are projected to finish 16th in the tough 17-team ACC.

  • The Demon Deacons begin the season with a five-game losing streak and are also looking for a solution at the quarterback position. Michael Kern returns with the most experience on offense, having thrown 647 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions on 57 of 92 passes.

  • Kern competed against Hank Bachmeier. Bachmeier is attending his third university after Boise State and Louisiana Tech. Last season, he threw for 2,058 yards, 10 touchdowns and five interceptions on 182 of 269 passes for La Tech.

  • Taylor Morin is the top returning receiver after catching 41 passes for 617 yards and two touchdowns. Morin has also returned 15 punts for 148 yards.

  • The Deacs also have a dynamic weapon on kick return in Desmond Claiborne. Claiborne rushed for 586 yards and five touchdowns on 137 carries as a running back. Claiborne, an honorable mention All-ACC kick returner in 2023, returned 10 kicks for 284 yards and a touchdown.

  • Wake had six All-ACC players in 2023, four of whom returned, including Claiborne, defensive end Jasheen Davis, offensive tackle DeVonte Gordon and defensive tackle Kelvin Pointer.

  • Linebacker Dylan Hazen led the team with 86 tackles last season. He also had 8 ½ tackles for loss, one sack and three quarterback hurries. Pointer had 37 tackles, nine for loss, 1 ½ sacks and four QB hurries.

  • A&T graduate Jacob Roberts played for the Demon Deacons last season and finished as their second-leading tackler after earning numerous accolades as an A&T Aggie from 2019-2022, recording 218 total tackles, 29 ½ yards for loss and 9 ½ sacks.


THE SERIES

  • Wake Forest leads the series 1-0 since the two teams first played each other on September 18, 2004.

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