Demon Deacons score early, often

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Sophomore Greg Dortch caught 11 passes for 163 yards and four touchdowns as Wake Forest cruised to a 56-24 victory over Rice on Saturday.

The Demon Deacons (3-2) punted on their opening drive, but that was their lone blemish in what was otherwise a nearly perfectly played game. Excluding a kneel-down to conclude the second quarter, the offense scored touchdowns on six of its subsequent seven possessions. Wake Forest’s maligned defense also chipped in, forcing a trio of turnovers and converting two into scores.

The Owls (1-4) trailed 21-0 before earning a first down, and the Demon Deacons led 42-3 at the half.

“It was not part of our plan for the scoreboard to look like this coming into the game,” Rice first-year coach Mike Bloomgren said. “But if you don't execute in a road game against an ACC team with talent on their sideline, it is tough.”

Dortch accounted for 134 of Wake Forest's 162 yards passing in the first half. His 54-yard reception opened the scoring, and a 4-yard grab midway through the third quarter was Dortch's fourth touchdown reception, tying his school record for a single game, set last October in a victory over Louisville.

The Demon Deacons didn’t appear to miss defensive coordinator Jay Sawvel, who was fired by head coach Dave Clawson less than a week after a 5627 loss to Notre Dame.

Wake Forest cornerback Essang Bassey tipped a pass to teammate Luke Masterson (who returned the interception 43 yards to set up a subsequent score) before finding the end zone himself with a 51yard return of a recovered fumble. Demon Deacons safety Chuck Wade Jr. added a 60-yard interception return for a score in the third quarter. It was the Demon Deacons' first game with two defensive touchdowns since a 2008 loss to Boston College.

The Rice offense was led by running back Austin Walter, who accounted for 198 total yards and two touchdowns, but those scores came after halftime when the outcome already had been decided.