On This Date: 2006 (15)Clemson- 27 Wake Forest- 17

Oct 7, 2024, 2:59 PM

10/7/2006
Winston-Salem, NC

NO. 15 CLEMSON RALLIES FOR 27-17 WIN AT WAKE FOREST
(ESPN)

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) -C.J. Spiller ran 72 yards for the go-ahead touchdown and defensive lineman Gaines Adams returned a fumble for a score to spark No. 15 Clemson’s rally from 14 points down in the fourth quarter of a 27-17 victory over Wake Forest on Saturday.

Adams started Clemson’s comeback when he returned a fumble 66 yards for the momentum-changing score on the first play of the fourth quarter.

Spiller finished with 104 yards and James Davis added 95 for the Tigers (5-1, 3-1 Atlantic Coast Conference), who denied the Demon Deacons (5-1, 1-1) their first 6-0 start since 1944.

Will Proctor was 20-of-30 passing for 214 yards and a touchdown, and Clemson overcame his fumble and three interceptions by scoring 24 points in the fourth quarter and making all the plays that mattered.

Wake Forest led 17-3 entering the final 15 minutes and looked to extend its lead to 17 when Sam Swank lined up for a 42-yard field goal.

But holder Jon Temple had trouble with the snap and Adams drilled him at the 34. The ball came loose and Adams returned it 66 yards for a touchdown to pull Clemson to 17-10.

The Tigers forced Riley Skinner to fumble on the Deacons’ next possession. Five plays later, Proctor tied it at 17-all with a 20-yard touchdown pass to Aaron Kelly.

Spiller then all but sealed it when he took a handoff at the 28, ran through Chip Vaughn’s tackle and sprinted down the right sideline into the end zone.

Skinner was 18-of-23 passing for 169 yards, and he threw for one touchdown and caught another on a trick play.

But Clemson wouldn’t be denied in its bid to end a two-game losing streak at Groves Stadium.

The Tigers were embarrassed in losses at Wake Forest in 2003 and last season, and vowed in their latest trip to Winston-Salem that they had something to prove.

But for the first three quarters, the Demon Deacons – who entered as nearly 17-point underdogs – mostly were in control.

Skinner put Wake Forest ahead 7-3 with a 6-yard touchdown pass to Willie Idlette, then pushed the lead to 11 early in the second quarter when he caught a 19-yard score from quarterback-turned-receiver Nate Morton.

Swank pushed the Demon Deacons’ lead to 17-3 with a 22-yard field goal

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Best Is The Standard

RIP Gaines Adams***

On This Date: 2006 (15)Clemson- 27 Wake Forest- 17

RIP Gaines Adams***

Momentum shifted as quickly as any game I've ever seen

Indeed. Was there and it was cold and wet. We had nothing to cheer about

You got that right. We were dead and buried before Gaines made that play.

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