Wake Forest hangs on for 3-0 win over BC

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BOSTON (AP) -- Wake Forest's defensive players knew to take their time if they got one stop because it could run out on Boston College.

They were right.

Mike Weaver kicked a 25-yard field goal after Wake Forest forced a turnover deep in Boston College's territory in the third quarter, and the Demon Deacons held on for a 3-0 victory Saturday as the clock expired on the Eagles.

BC had first-and-goal at the 1 with 29 seconds left shortly after Wake Forest quarterback John Wolford fumbled the ball with 56 seconds to play. Boston College's Tyler Rouse ran for no gain, and Jeff Smith spiked the ball as the clock hit :00.

After a replay review, the referee confirmed the game was over.

"That's Football 101. It comes with experience," Demon Deacons linebacker Brandon Chubb said. "We said that before the play: `Don't get up. They have no timeouts. Slowly get up. Don't get up until someone pulls you up.'"

The win snapped a two-game losing streak for Wake Forest (3-3, 1-2 ACC). The Eagles (3-3, 0-3) have lost three straight.

"I think going into the game that everybody thought this was going to be a shootout, whoever had the ball last was going to win the game," Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson said, joking before praising the defenses. "Really a great, great defensive game. Both teams did everything they could to give the other team the game."

The Eagles also had a third-and-1 at the Wake Forest 8 with under two minutes left, but Troy Flutie fumbled on a sneak, the ball squirted out of the pile and defensive back Zach Dancel recovered.

Boston College's Colton Lichtenberg missed two field-goal attempts - from 26 and 31 yards.

Weaver missed on a 43-yard attempt in the opening half.

The Eagles, who piled up easy wins over a pair of FCS schools in their first two games, came in ranked No. 1 among FBS schools with the fewest yards allowed. The Demon Deacons entered the game ranked 20th.

The Demon Deacons collected just 142 total yards. Boston College had 270.

Wake Forest's defense came into the game without collecting a turnover.

"Once you get that first turnover, there's something about it, maybe it's an icebreaker," Chubb said. "They just start coming."

BC fumbled four times, losing three, and had an interception.

Eagles coach Steve Addazio wanted to take one run before changing kickers.

"Could we have thrown the ball? Absolutely, but, you know, with our outfit right now, that was the right logic, the right judgement and that I stand by completely," he said. "It didn't pan out. It didn't work out, so it's on me. That's life. I'm a big boy, got to handle it and we'll move forward."

Early in the third, Chubb recovered Jordan Gowins' fumble at the Eagles 5. After losing two yards, the Demon Deacons settled for Weaver's decisive field goal.

Boston College drove deep into Wake Forest territory, helped by two unsportsmanlike penalties. But Lichtenberg was wide left on his 26-yard attempt and Addazio looked to the sky in disbelief.

Lichtenberg missed his 31-yarder in the final minute of the opening quarter, nailing the right upright.

It was only fitting that Wake Forest's punter Alex Kinal set a conference record for most career yards during a scoreless opening half.

The Eagles had consecutive false start penalties before getting whistled for delay of game after their first two offensive plays.

Weaver was wide right on his 43-yard try midway into the second. He was 8 of 10 on the season before the miss.

The teams traded interceptions about a minute apart near midfield early in the second, but both sides failed to get into field-goal range.

Wake Forest is at North Carolina next week. The Eagles travel to No. 6 Clemson.

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