news-record.com

WINSTON-SALEM -- If you want to call Wake Forest the most blessed team in the ACC, the Demon Deacons probably won't get too defensive. You can call them a lot of things as long as you still call them relevant.

In beating Duke 33-30 in overtime on Saturday, the Deacs got 23 points off Blue Devil errors. They only got to the extra period when the Devils missed a 47-yard field-goal attempt at the end of regulation. Wake's difference-making field goal was facilitated by a tipped ball that might have been an interception. They survived a botched coverage when Alphonso Smith intercepted Thaddeus Lewis' attempt at a game-winning pass in OT to end it.

"Do I feel lucky? I feel fortunate to walk away with a win," quarterback Riley Skinner said, opting for a synonym.

Strange as it may seem, Wake (5-3, 3-2 ACC) has been outscored 102-67 in conference play but is still in the race for the Atlantic Division title after its six offensive scoring drives against the Devils totaled 123 yards.

To its credit, Wake took advantage of its opportunities, turning all of its three takeaways in regulation into touchdowns. And the Deacs needed every chance they got against the ACC's most improved team, which fell to 4-4 and 1-3.

"Football's not that hard to figure out," Duke coach David Cutcliffe said. "We have four turnovers and they have one."

The last one cemented another huge game for Smith, who blocked a punt for a safety and swiped two Lewis passes to bring his career total to 19 -- good for the school record and one off the ACC's standard. And it came only seconds after

Deacon safety Kevin Patterson lined up in the wrong spot and ultimately left Duke's Eron Riley open for a second. Smith tried to get his teammate's attention, but his calls were drowned out by the Wake student section.

"I was like, 'Dude. That's the wrong call,' " Smith said.

Smith was therefore left to scramble, and Riley appeared to have a step on him until Smith came across and picked off the pass inside the 5.

"I started running, and I thought (Riley) was going to go up," Smith said. "That's why I took off and jumped. But he didn't (jump), and I made the play. I ran it out the back of the end zone. Deacs win."

Just another night on the job, huh?

"They kind of blew the coverage," Lewis said. "I saw Eron wide open down the field and Alphonso Smith made a great play on the ball. My hat's off to Wake Forest."

There were at least three moments in the fourth quarter when Duke appeared ready to take over.

Cutcliffe's bold decision to order an onside kick after his team had overcome a 19-7 deficit and claimed a 20-19 was one. Joe Surgan's pooch kick didn't hit the ground, and by rule, that meant any Wake player deemed in position to catch it had the right to do so. Wake's Lee Malchow was in the vicinity. Hence the seldom seen ruling of kick-catch interference on a kickoff.

If Surgan had slammed the ball into the ground and created a pop-up that way, anything would have been fair game once it traveled 10 yards.

"We have a right to the ball, too, if he's not in position," Cutcliffe said. "I can't say what happened. I'm sure they got the call right."

Instead of the apparent Duke recovery, the Deacs got the ball with a 15-yard penalty to boot. Their subsequent drive lost a yard but ended with a Shane Popham field goal of 44 yards.

As regulation expired and the score was tied at 30, Duke's Nick Maggio thought the kick felt good off his foot. It was wide right.

Likewise, Popham, 3-for-8 in relief of the injured Sam Swank before Saturday, was able to attempt the eventual game-winner from 28 yards instead of 42 because Glenn Williams' diving tip fell into the grateful arms of Wake's Yloo Brown.

If Virginia Tech beats Maryland on Thursday, the Terrapins, Deacons and Florida State will all be tied for the Atlantic lead at 3-2.

"With the ACC being wide open, we definitely needed this victory," Deacon wide receiver D.J. Boldin said. "And now we need to win out."

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

Duke 7 0 13 10 0 --30

Wake Forest 9 3 10 8 3 --33

Wake--Skinner 1 run (Popham kick)

Duke--Varner 2 pass from Z.Asack (Maggio kick)

Wake--Safety

Wake--FG Popham 24

Wake--Pendergrass 2 run (Popham kick)

Duke--Harris 33 pass from Lewis (Maggio kick)

Duke--Hollingsworth 6 run (pass failed)

Wake--FG Popham 44

Duke--FG Maggio 20

Wake--Boldin 20 pass from Skinner (Boldin pass from Skinner)

Duke--Harris 20 pass from Lewis (Maggio kick)

Overtime

Wake--FG Popham 28

A--32,226

Duke Wake Forest

First downs 21 16

Rushes-yards 37-145 43-112

Passing 231 232

Comp-Att-Int 19-27-2 18-31-0

Return Yards 4 13

Punts-Avg. 3-22.3 4-36.5

Fumbles-Lost 2-2 1-1

Penalties-Yards 3-43 6-73

Time of Possession 31:04 28:56

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING--Duke, Hollingsworth 15-67, Jackson 12-63, Lewis 2-14, Harris 3-10, Z.Asack 2-3, Team 1-(minus 1), J.Williams 1-(minus 3), Varner 1-(minus 8). Wake Forest, Pendergrass 21-64, Skinner 14-36, Boldin 3-8, Rinfrette 3-5, Washington 2-(minus 1).

PASSING--Duke, Lewis 18-26-2-229, Z.Asack 1-1-0-2. Wake Forest, Skinner 18-31-0-232.

RECEIVING--Duke, Huffman 6-71, Riley 6-71, Harris 2-53, Varner 2-3, J.Williams 1-20, T.Robinson 1-11, Hollingsworth 1-2. Wake Forest, Boldin 8-89, Rinfrette 3-22, Mars.Williams 2-50, Pendergrass 2-18, Brown 2-16, Parker 1-37.