WOLFORD throws 4 TDs as Deacons top Aggies.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Wake Forest Coach Dave Clawson called it a fitting ending to senior quarterback John Wolford’s adversity-filled career — one where nothing seemed to come easy.
The four-year starter who battled through two difficult sack-filled 3-9 seasons to begin his career, threw for 400 yards and 4 touchdowns to help Wake Forest beat Texas A&M 55-52 in the Belk Bowl on Friday.
“If you write the movie script, as soon as he walks out that door there’s a girl that falls in love with him and he gets married and lives happily ever after,” Clawson said. “It’s a storybook ending. You can’t make this stuff up.”
Clawson said Wolford, who was named the game’s Most Valuable Player, deserves every accolade he receives given how he helped put the Wake Forest program back on the map with toughness and tenacity.
It was Wake Forest’s second consecutive bowl season with a bowl victory and its first eight-win season since 2008. The Demon Deacons won seven games last season.
For Texas A&M (7-6), the future now belongs to Jimbo Fisher, who will coach next season. Interim coach Jeff Banks coached the team Friday.
The teams combined for 1,260 yards and 107 points, tied for the fourth-highest scoring game in college bowl history. The all-time record is the 2011 GMAC Bowl where Marshall and East Carolina combined for 125 points.
Running back Matt Colburn ran for 150 yards and provided the go-ahead score with 2:18 left in the game.
Wake Forest’s defense stopped the Aggies on downs on their final drive to seal the victory, which was no easy task considering Texas A&M’s potent offense.
Aggies quarterback Nick Starkel threw for a Belk Bowl-record 499 yards and 4 touchdowns — 3 of those to NFL-ready wide receiver Christian Kirk, who caught 13 passes for 189 yards.
But Wolford got the victory.
Scotty Washington had 9 catches for 138 yards and 1 touchdown for the Demon Deacons, while tight end Cam Serigne had 9 catches for 112 yards and 1 score. Tabari Hines added 8 receptions for 58 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Wake Forest spotted Texas A&M (7-6) a 14-point first quarter lead following a pair of special teams miscues, but rattled off 31 consecutive points in a span of 11 minutes, 16 seconds to take a 31-14 lead in the second quarter.
Texas A&M battled back to take the lead late in the third quarter behind Starkel and Kirk.
Serigne wrapped up his career as the ACC’s leader in touchdown catches by a tight end. “He’s the best tight end in ACC history,” Wolford said.
Kirk stayed in the game after injuring his ankle in the third quarter. “I thought he broke it, but he kept playing through,” said Texas A&M running back Keith Ford. “That just shows the character he has.”