Wake Forest forces 4 turnovers to beat Boston College 34-10

BOSTON -- When Jessie Bates III got back to the sideline after his third-quarter interception, his teammates let him have it.

After all, the Wake Forest safety failed to get the ball into the end zone when he dove for the pylon on the return.

"A lot of people were telling him to get off the field, or `Give us pushups," said Cameron Glenn, who forced a fumble and also had an interception in the Demon Deacons' 34-10 victory over Boston College on Saturday.

Bates grabbed one of three interceptions thrown by BC freshman Anthony Brown, and the Demon Deacons (2-0) scored 21 points of four Eagles turnovers in all. Bates ran the ball back 37 yards before he was pushed out at the 2 while diving for the end zone.

"I heard all about it," Bates, who set up Cade Carney's 3-yard run to make it 31-10, said with a wide smile. "But we're fine. Our offense scored anyway."

John Wolford ran 20 times for 92 yards and a touchdown and threw for another score in both teams' Atlantic Coast Conference openers. Essang Bassey returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown to make it 21-7 just before the half.

"After we got the first one, it's like, `Let's get some more," Glenn said. "Our goal is to have the biggest turnover margin in the ACC."

Wolford completed 13 of 19 passes for 151 yards.

Brown, a freshman who was named the starter before last week's victory over Northern Illinois, was 11 for 29 for 119 yards with three interceptions -- though two went through his receivers' hands.

"He looked a little uncomfortable from the get-go. That's going to happen," BC coach Steve Addazio said. "It didn't show up last week. It showed up in a little bit of a waterfall."

Brown was replaced in the third quarter after his third interception by Darius Wade, who completed 7 of 12 passes for 44 yards for the Eagles (1-1).

"I still have confidence in myself," Brown said. "I just have to put my teammates in a better position to win."

The teams traded punts over the first six drives before John Hilliman fumbled on the second play of BC's fourth possession. Four plays later, Wolford hit Greg Dortch for a 9-yard score, making him the first Wake freshman to have a touchdown catch in each of his first two games.

After Wolford ran it in from 29 yards out, the Eagles scored on a 6-yard pass Jon Hilliman's first career touchdown catch with three minutes left in the half. BC then held on defense to get the ball back with 2:13 on the clock.

But on second down, Brown's pass went through Kobay White's hands and Bassey grabbed it, taking it down the sideline for the score that made it 21-7 at the half.

THE TAKEAWAY

Wake Forest: In a game that recent years has determined last place in the ACC's Atlantic Division, the Demon Deacons were dominant.

Boston College: Heads into a Week 3 matchup with Notre Dame the same way it started the season: Trying to decide who should start at quarterback.

UP NEXT

Wake Forest: Hosts Utah State next Saturday.

Boston College: Hosts No. 24 Notre Dame on Saturday before heading on the road to play No. 3 Clemson.

"You know what I look at right now, to be honest? Getting to work tomorrow, and getting ready to beat Notre Dame," Addazio said. "That's all I look at."

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