The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Gator Bowl
ready to face one of the nation’s best offenses.
Wake Forest averaged a program-best 41.9 points coming into the game, which ranked second in the ACC and fifth in the nation.
The Demon Deacons finished with 450 yards. They converted eight of 14 third downs and their lone fourthdown try.
The turning point came in the second quarter, when cornerback Gavin Holmes stepped in front of Noah Vedral’s pass to Joshua Youngblood at the goal line and intercepted it. Wake led 17-10 at the time and ended up driving for a field goal and a 10-point lead at the break.
Vedral was one of five players who threw passes for Rutgers. He completed eight of 13 passes for 87 yards and the interception.
A.T. Perry caught 10 passes for 127 yards and a score for Wake Forest.
Wake Forest linebacker Ryan Smenda, a junior who grew up in nearby Orange Park, was ejected for the third time this season for targeting. Smenda barely made contact, if at all, this time. He was penalized for intent because he led with his helmet while chasing Rutgers quarterback Gavin Wimsatt. Wimsatt slid late, and Smenda flew over the top of him.
Smenda also was ejected in regular-season games against Army (Oct. 23) and North Carolina State (Nov. 13). All three ejections came in the second half, meaning he had to sit out the first half of the ensuing game. He will have to sit out the first half of Wake’s 2022 season opener against Virginia Military Institute on Sept. 1.
Wake Forest punter Ivan Mora was carted off the field in the fourth quarter with an air cast on his right ankle/ foot. Mora got caught at the bottom of a pileup after kicking off.