Wake Forest vs Tulane Highlights

The Deacs are still undefeated! And even though Thursday’s win over Tulane probably gave us all heart conditions, you can’t say it wasn’t an exciting game to watch. Let’s go back and look at some of the key moments from the 23-17 OT victory.

It was pretty clear from the first quarter of the game that Wake has 2 future stars in red-shirt freshman Sage Surratt and true freshman Sam Hartman.

Surratt managed to haul in this beautiful pass from Hartman with 1 hand for a gain of 37 yards. He finished with a team high 11 receptions for 150 yards. This is definitely a connection that Deacon fans should get used to seeing for a few years.

Our Deacs struck first, with Hartman finding senior Alex Bachman in the end-zone from 10 yards out.

Hartman gives a well-earned pump as he is undoubtedly excited to throw his first ever collegiate touchdown pass. Bachman finished the game with 5 catches for 62 yards and both of the Wake Forest touchdowns.

Tulane came back quickly in the 3rd quarter, as quarterback Jonathan Banks scrambled out of the pocket, buying himself time to find Terren Encalade deep for the 52-yard touchdown bomb.

This combination was big for the Green Wave. Banks finished 18-37 for 281 yards and 2 TDs. Encalade caught both of those TDs and finished the game with 8 catches for 189 yards.

After a Wake Forest field goal gave the Deacs a 10-7 lead, Banks and Encalade would hook up again, this time for a 74-yard touchdown bomb on the pump and go.

These two big plays were the black mark on what was otherwise a pretty good showing defensively. Not to sound like a certain former coach, but if you take out those 2 deep balls, the Deacs did a pretty good job containing Tulane’s offense.

Wake Forest was able to regain the lead early in the 4th quarter on another touchdown pass from Hartman to Bachman, this time from 19 yards out.

Hartman finished the game 31-51 for 378 yards and 2 TDs — quite a showing for a true freshman starting in his first college game. He did have 1 “freshman moment” late in the 4th quarter, where he tried to avoid taking a sack by flailing the ball away at the last second.

This was a costly red-zone turnover and a throw I’m sure Hartman wishes he could have back. Also, his knee is clearly down, but that’s fine I guess. Pretty veteran move by the true freshman to go ahead and get it out of his system in the first game.

Tulane would tie the game at 17 all on the ensuing drive, sending the game to overtime after the teams exchanged punts. In overtime, the Deacs were able to hold the Green Wave to no points after an illegal use of the hands penalty on Peter Woullard backed them up 15 yards. There was really no way the refs couldn’t call this one.

After that, it was just matter of punching it in with the human bulldozer, Cade Carney.

What was your favorite play from the thrilling 23-17 overtime win at Tulane? Let us know in the comments!