Aggies Fall To Wake Forest,Sept 18, 2004

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., September 18, 2004 – N.C. A&T head coach George Small described himself as neither disappointed nor discouraged following a 42-3 loss to Wake Forest at Groves Stadium on Saturday. Under the circumstances, Small believes the Aggies (1-2, 0-0) can take some positives from the lopsided defeat.

Saturday’s game against the Demon Deacons marked the first time the Aggies have ever faced a Division I-A opponent and it happened at an ACC school 34 miles from N.C. A&T’s campus.

“We’re eager to play another Division I-A opponent…not this year but certainly next year,’’ Small said. “We’ve got some things to work on, but we’re not that far away. Right now we do not have the necessary man power to play a DI every week, but maybe in another year or so.”

We’ve got to keep in mind who we were playing tonight. I saw a lot of good things, and I saw a lot of places where we can improve.” The Aggies got off to the most horrid start imaginable – a long Wake Forest opening drive, a turnover deep in their own territory and an injury to starting quarterback Marshall Glenn. The Aggies went three-and-out to open the game. The Demon Deacons (2-1, 0-1) then drove 81 yards on 13 plays as Chris Barclay scored on a seven-yard touchdown.

After the two teams traded punts, the Aggies opened their third drive at the Wake Forest 10. Three players later, Matt Robinson caused Aggies Glenn to fumble.

Caron Bracy recovered at the Demon Deacons 13. On Wake’s first play of the drive, Micah Andrews scored on a 13-yard run up the middle to give Wake Forest a 14-0 lead with 3:34 remaining in the first quarter.

Then the worst of the scenarios occurred. On a 3rd-and-6 from the Aggies 45-yard line, Glenn threw a pass that bounced off of his receiver Kenny Perry’s hands, then bounced off the back of the leg of Wake Forest’s Zach Stukes before finally landed in the arms of Wake Forest defensive end Jyles Tucker.

Tucker rumbled 47 yards and then met an eager Glenn at the Aggies 10-yard line. In his tackle attempt, Glenn got the worst of the collision as he was slammed to the ground. Glenn dislocated his shoulder and did not return.

After Glenn’s injury, the Demon Deacons took over at the Aggies 10 and two five-yard Barclay runs put Wake Forest up 21-0 with 14:02 remaining in the first half.

The Aggies are finished with their tour through the many Divisions of the NCAA. The Aggies have played a Division II, Division I-AA and Division I-A opponent over the first three weeks of the season. first three games of the season. It’s Division I-AA opponents the rest of the way this season, starting with their home opener next week against Elon at 1:30 p.m.

-www.ncat.edu/athletics