news-record.com

WINSTON-SALEM -- The Internet will combust with complaints of an interference call that should have been, but the Wake Forest Demon Deacons won't contribute to the toxicity quotient. They know they poisoned their own chances Saturday afternoon.

Difficulty inside the Nebraska 10 -- exemplified by running difficulties and one unseen Cornhusker cornerback -- doomed the Deacs 20-17 and mitigated the considerable defensive improvement Wake showed from the opening-week loss at Boston College.

Blaming the guys in stripes is so convenient with DVR and TiVo and anonymous message boards, but coach Jim Grobe won't bother to complain to any higher authority over the final-drive, fourth-down play on which Kenneth Moore may have been held.

"Even if he was, that's not the situation we should have been in," Grobe said.

They had been in far better places before fourth and 10 from their own 44.

Like when linebacker John Russell grabbed a loose ball out of the sky at the Nebraska 10 midway through the fourth quarter with his team down 20-17.

The tying field goal seemed like a minimum; getting the go-ahead touchdown, they knew, would be far harder.

In the first half, the Huskers had tackled Wake for losses on three consecutive plays that turned a first-and-goal at the 2 into a field goal. And when they made another breakthrough that forced a third-and-goal from the 10 on the decisive drive, the Deacons knew they'd have to throw for it.

Wake has never won an overtime game, and nobody argued with the decision.

Brett Hodges, subbing for the injured Riley Skinner, was to fake a screen pass and -- he hoped -- have tight end John Tereshinski in the back of the end zone.

"We felt that was a good call," Grobe said. "We felt it was one of those throw-it-away or throw-it-to-John type deals."

Hodges did neither, which was fine with Nebraska's Zackary Bowman, who hung out calmly and found himself a football.

"I didn't see that corner," Hodges admitted. "Just didn't even put him in my process. Just threw it right to him."

A year ago, Wake was on the receiving end of such plays. North Carolina, for example, was about to tie the Deacs in a frenzied, last-minute drive in Chapel Hill. Then the Tar Heels deposited a pass into the stunned arms of Jon Abbate and the Deacs were en route to Jacksonville and ultimately Miami.

The Deacons threw six interceptions in 287 passes in 2006. They have now thrown five in 84 attempts in two games of the new year.

Skinner, Grobe said, is more likely to return "sooner rather than later" from a separated throwing shoulder, but his is one injury you don't want to mess with. Aggravate that one and you're looking at weeks on the shelf.

There was still plenty to like from Hodges, a smart guy who will learn the art of throwing the ball away when a play's first and second options are unavailable.

"A little shaky at first, but he made some great completions," Moore said. "Everyone could have done a better job."

The Deacs' secondary was seldom beaten and generally aggressive against the Huskers, and there were intriguing signs in the running game, the best of them from redshirt freshman Josh Adams.

In his college debut, Adams didn't put up huge numbers, but he successfully fought for additional yards twice when any gain was important. Grobe said he'd have to wait to evaluate the film before committing to increasing the third teamer's chances.

"He is going in that direction," the coach said. "I liked what I saw. He had quickness and explosion."

Wake Forest is 0-2, which should be absolutely no surprise. Come the first Saturday in December, the Deacs' first two opponents may very well be in conference championship games. A few plays here and there may well define what becomes of the Deacons.

"We have the potential to be a good football team, but we're not there yet," Grobe said. "And we might be a good team. Just not good enough to beat Boston College or Nebraska."

Contact Rob Daniels at 373-7028 or rdaniels@news-record.com

Nebraska 3 10 7 0 -- 20

Wake Forest 0 10 7 0 -- 17

Neb--FG Henery 22

Wake--FG Swank 25

Neb--FG Henery 22

Wake--Hodges 1 run (Swank kick)

Neb--S.Hill 25 pass from Keller (Henery kick), :16.

Wake--Moore 5 run (Swank kick)

Neb--Lucky 22 run (Henery kick)

A--32,483.

Nebraska Wake Forest

First downs 21 18

Rushes-yards 34-115 53-236

Passing 258 140

Comp-Att-Int 24-41-2 12-24-2

Return Yards 3 14

Punts-Avg. 5-51.0 7-39.0

Fumbles-Lost 2-1 0-0

Penalties-Yards 5-26 6-51

Time of Possession 27:58 32:02

Individual Statistics

RUSHING--Nebraska, Lucky 24-90, Castille 6-28, Keller 2-1, Team 2-(minus 4). Wake Forest, Moore 8-116, Andrews 14-49, Adams 8-31, Marion 3-17, Hodges 8-14, Harris 10-9, Bryant 1-2, Team 1-(minus 2).

PASSING--Nebraska, Keller 24-41-2-258. Wake Forest, Hodges 12-24-2-140.

RECEIVING--Nebraska, Nunn 6-83, Swift 5-45, Lucky 4-34, Purify 3-30, Teafatiller 3-21, Hardy 2-20, S.Hill 1-25. Wake Forest, Moore 4-35, Marion 3-73, Adams 2-11, Bryant 1-12, Andrews 1-6, Brinkman 1-3.