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WINSTON-SALEM -- Wake Forest's offense turned heads. Its defense practically took them off.

Constant harassment of Clemson quarterback Cullen Harper drove the Tigers out of their comfort zone, and the Tigers' running game couldn't bring them back in.

Wake's 12-7 victory Thursday night was probably the best showcase yet of a defense with eight fifth-year starters in the starting 11. Even better, perhaps than a 12-3 win at Florida State last month. In that one, the Seminoles contributed mightily with seven turnovers. The Tigers weren't so generous.

While the use of running backs at quarterback, a quarterback at wide receiver and a wide receiver at running back looked cool, defensive coordinator Brad Lambert's decision to order all-out assaults on Harper proved critical.

Wake Forest is now 2-0 in the ACC for the first time in 21 years.

"Going into the game, I felt good about our game plan," said Wake tackle John Russell, a demonstrative sort who took rather well to the ESPN stage. "We're known as a gap, sound, technically oriented defense, but I was glad when coach Lambert told us he was going to let us go. I wasn't surprised by the effort because we have some great players up front."

A couple of old ones, too. End Matt Robinson, the sixth-year senior who played here when crowds were sparse and the field turned brown every November, was the biggest reason Harper threw the ball away at least a half-dozen times in the second half alone. Last year's second-team All-ACC quarterback seldom had time to survey things and ponder his options. The plan was to compel Harper to take two steps forward in the pocket -- just enough to disrupt his timing.

"The coaches call them my 'Almost Sacks.' Since I'm leading the country in them, I figured I'd have to add to my total," Robinson joked. "John Russell did his job, I did mine and then he smashed them right in the mouth."

While the offense sputtered and the backup kicker missed two field goals in his first collegiate appearance, the defenders allowed only one of Clemson's 13 possessions to cover more than 39 yards. They didn't fret when they trailed 7-3 after three quarters.

"The thing we talk about -- and coach (Jim) Grobe says this a lot -- is to keep your eyes off the scoreboard," Robinson said.

In the end, Riley Skinner's touchdown pass to D.J. Boldin with 5:28 left allowed the Deacs to reap the benefits of a night in which they committed only three penalties and zero turnovers. It was a pleasant contrast from the previous effort against Navy, in which a six pack of giveaways facilitated the first Midshipmen victory over a ranked team since Ronald Reagan was Commander-in-Chief.

"When you have six turnovers, statistically speaking, you're supposed to lose the game," Boldin said. "Tonight, we called it TCB: taking care of the ball."

Clemson did not need its injury-related misfortune, which knocked tailback C.J. Spiller out by halftime. But who really thought the Tigers would manage only 21 rushing yards under any circumstances? Or that their longest of their 23 rushes would gain 10 yards?

"We tried everything," Tigers coach Tommy Bowden said. "We tried reverses. We tried fake punts. We tried C.J. on the outside and James (Davis) in the middle. They were playing really well defensively. We just couldn't develop any kind of continuity and we sure tried everything we had."

When the Deacs play at Maryland in eight days, they hope to have kicker Sam Swank back.

If not, it's still nice to know they've got a few others to lean on.

Clemson 0 0 7 0 -- 7

Wake Forest 3 0 0 9 -- 12

Wake--FG Popham 22

Clem--J.Ford 10 pass from C.Harper (Buchholz kick)

Wake--FG Popham 32

Wake--Boldin 7 pass from Skinner (pass failed)

A--33,988.

Clemson Wake Forest

First downs 10 21

Rushes-yards 23-21 46-156

Passing 177 186

Comp-Att-Int 15-35-1 22-36-0

Return Yards 0 11

Punts-Avg. 7-40.6 5-34.6

Fumbles-Lost 0-0 1-0

Penalties-Yards 7-59 3-17

Time of Possession 24:08 35:52

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING--Clemson, Davis 12-25, Spiller 2-10, J.Ford 1-2, Hamlin 1-0, C.Harper 7-(minus 16). Wake Forest, Skinner 11-73, Adams 12-56, Pendergrass 12-33, Boldin 4-11, K.Harris 1-1, Team 4-(minus 4), Brown 1-(minus 5), Mars.Williams 1-(minus 9).

PASSING--Clemson, C.Harper 15-35-1-177. Wake Forest, Skinner 22-34-0-186, Boldin 0-1-0-0, J.Williams 0-1-0-0.

RECEIVING--Clemson, J.Ford 5-43, Kelly 3-9, Grisham 2-38, Davis 2-27, Faerber 1-35, Dye 1-19, J.Harper 1-6. Wake Forest, Wooster 5-36, Pendergrass 5-32, Brinkman 4-31, Boldin 3-35, Mars.Williams 2-34, K.Harris 1-11, Adams 1-8, Belton 1-(minus 1).