Wake Football Breakdown: Beginning and Ends of the Half and Game

[PhDeac]

I went through the play-by-play of every game except VMI to look at how Wake performed on the first possessions of each half and the last 5:00 of each half. Wake was outscored 105-100 during these key periods of the game.

Feel free to point out any mistakes and I'll get around to fixing them.

First Possession of the Game - Overall

Wake had the second possession in 10 of 11 games was outscored 31-20 after each team’s first possession of the game. Here are the scores after both teams had their first possession and Wake’s record in those games:

Up 7-0 (2 times) (1-1, Army and Duke)
Up 3-0 (1 time) (1-0, Liberty)
Tied at 0 (3 times) (2-1, Vandy, BC, State)
Down 3-0 (1 time) (0-1, Louisville)
Down 7-3 (1 time) (1-0, Cuse)
Down 7-0 (3 times) (1-2, Clemson, FSU, UNC)

First Possession of the Game - Defense

The opponent had the opening possession in 10 of 11 games. Four opponents scored on the first possession (3 TDs, 1 FG). All the TDs were on drives 75 yards or longer (75, 83, 88). The FG was on a 64 yard drive.

The only opponent not to start with the ball was UNC, who had a 10 play, 91 yard TD possession.

In total, Wake allowed 82 plays, 574 yards, and 31 points on the opponents’ opening possession.

Most importantly, Wake only forced one 3-and-out on the first possession all season. NC State started the game with a 3 play, 1 yard possession. The average drive was 7.5 plays, 52 yards. Wake’s defense allowed 7 yards a play on the opening possession.


First Possession of the Game - Offense

Wake had the opening possession once against UNC and had a 4 play, 20 yard drive. Wake had the second possession of the game 10 times and scored 2 TDs and 2 FGs. The TDs were on drives of 91 and 75 yards.

In total, Wake had 76 plays, 359 yards, and 20 points on their first drive of the game. The average drive was 6.9 plays, 32 yards. Wake had 4.7 yards a play on their first possession.

 

[PhDeac]

Last 5:00 of the 1st half

This includes scoring possessions that took place within the last 5 minutes and all possessions that started after the 5 minute mark. 

Wake outscored opponents 31-23 within the last 5 minutes of the half.

Wake allowed 2 TDs and 3 FGs. No opponent got more than one score at the end of the 1st half. State and UNC scored TDs on 64 and 75 yard drives. The FGs were also on drives of 46, 51, and 60 yards (Liberty, Clemson, and Duke).

Wake scored 4 TDs and 1 FG at the end of the 1st half. Wake did not get more than one score at the end of any 1st half. Wake scored TDs on 63, 75, 51, and 80 yard drives (Liberty, BC, UNC, and Cuse). The FG was also on a long drive of 66 yards.

 

[PhDeac]

First Possession of the 2nd half - Overall

Wake got the ball to start the 2nd half in 10 of 11 games.

Wake tied opponents 28-28 on the first possessions of the 2nd half. Wake scored 5 TDs to start the half on drives of 75, 68, 75, 75, and 73 yards, but also allowed a pick-six to start the 2nd half vs. Louisville. Wake gave up 3 TD drives of 74, 85, and 80 yards before the half.

Despite having the ball to start the 2nd half 10 times, Wake never “double-dipped” by scoring at the end of the 1st half and beginning of the 2nd half. The closest was when Wake scored a TD with 4:06 left in the 1st half vs. UNC then had two more empty possessions before the half. UNC got the ball to start the 2nd half and lost it on downs. Wake scored a TD on the last possession.

First Possession of the 2nd half - Defense

Wake’s defense allowed 75 plays, 389 yards, and 21 points on the first possession of the 2nd half.

Most importantly, Wake only forced one 3-and-out on the first possession of the 2nd half. Duke had a 3 play, -4 yard possession. The average drive was 6.8 plays, 35.4 yards. Wake’s defense allowed 5.2 yards per play.


First Possession of the 2nd half - Offense

Wake had 60 plays, 436 yards, and 35 points on the first possession of the 2nd half.

Most importantly, Wake had four 3-and-outs on the first possession of the 2nd half and a pick six. That’s 5 out of 11 possessions that didn’t last longer than 3 plays.

The average drive was 5.5 plays, 39.6 yards. Wake had 7.3 yards per play.

 

[PhDeac]

Last 5:00 of the Game

Wake was outscored 23-14 in the last 5:00 of the game. This includes a few games Wake led and was running out the clock, but mostly included games that were within reach.

There were four games in which Wake only ran out the clock in the last three minutes (Vandy, FSU, Army, BC). In the other 6 games, Wake had 62 plays, 287 yards, and 14 points. The average play was 4.6 yards. The two TD drives were 75 and 68 yards (Liberty and Louisville).

Wake’s defense gave up 2 TDs and 3 FGs in the last 5:00. The two TDs were by Vandy when the game was out of hand and by Duke to take the lead. Wake gave up 58 plays for 444 yards and 23 points in the last 5:00, an average of 7.7 per play when teams were driving to clinch or win the game.

 

[PhDeac]

Wake 45, Vandy 25

Start of Game
Vandy got the first possession and had a 4 play, 34 yard drive that ended with a punt from 50 yard line.

Wake had a 3 play, 2 yard drive.

Last 5:00 of 1st half
Vandy had a 3 play, 8 yard drive. Wake had a 3 play, 1 yard drive. Vandy had a 3 play, 9 yard drive. Wake ran 2 plays for 3 yards.

Start of 2nd half
Wake got the ball to start the 2nd half and had a 7 play, 75 yard TD drive. Vandy had a 6 play, 7 yard drive.

Last 5:00 of Game
Vandy had a 5 play, 75 yard TD drive. Wake ran out the game with 3 plays for 9 yards.

Liberty 36, Wake 37

Start of Game
Liberty got the first possession and had a 6 play, 26 yard drive that ended when they got stopped on 4th & 1 from their own 46 yard line.

Wake had a 10 play, 36 yard drive for a FG to take a 3-0 lead.

Last 5:00 of 1st half
Liberty threw a pick after a 3 play, 14 yard drive. Wake scored a TD on a 4 play, 63 yard drive. Liberty responded with a 5 play, 46 yard drive for a FG in the last 52 seconds.

Start of 2nd half
Wake got the ball to start the 2nd half and had a 3 yard 3 and out. Liberty scored on a 3 play, 74 yard TD drive.

Last 5:00 of Game
Wake got the ball with 5:50 left and had a 6 play, 75 yard TD drive to go up 37-30. Liberty scored on a 8 play, 70 yard TD drive and missed the 2-point conversion to take the lead.

Clemson 51, Wake 45

Start of Game
Wake got the first possession and had a 7 play, 27 yard drive that ended in a punt. Clemson had an 8 play, 88 yard TD drive to take a 7-0 lead.

Last 5:00 of 1st half
Clemson had a 15 play, 51 yard FG drive that started with just under 6 min left in the half. Wake got the ball with 14 sec left and ran out the clock

Start of 2nd half
Clemson got the ball to start the 2nd half and had a 4 play, 22 yard drive end in a punt. Wake had a 4 play, 68 yard TD drive to take a 21-20 lead.

Last 5:00 of Regulation
Wake got the ball with 4:01 left tied 38-38 and had an 8 play, 27 yard drive ending in a punt. Clemson ran a play to end regulation.

Wake 31, FSU 21

Start of Game
FSU got the first possession and had a 6 play, 83 yard TD drive. Wake had a 5 play, 11 yard drive end in a punt.

Last 5:00 of 1st half
FSU got the ball with 3:54 left after a Wake missed FG. FSU had 12 play, 63 yard drive ending in their own missed FG.

Start of 2nd half
Wake got the ball to start the 2nd half and had a 7 play, 75 yard TD drive to go up 28-7. FSU followed up with their own 10 play, 85 yard TD drive.

Last 5:00 of Regulation
FSU got the ball with 2:55 left down 31-21 and had a 10 play, 38 drive ending in a missed FG. Wake kneeled twice to end the game.

Army 10, Wake 45

Start of Game
Army got the first possession and had a 6 play, 66 yard drive that ended in a fumble. Wake had a 9 play, 91 yard TD drive.

Last 5:00 of 1st half
Army got the ball with 2:37 left after a Wake TD. Army had 11 play, 55 yard drive ending in an interception. Wake kneeled to end the half.

Start of 2nd half
Wake got the ball to start the 2nd half and had a 6 play, 75 yard TD drive to go up 28-0. Army had a 12 play, 50 yard drive end in a missed FG.

Last 5:00 of Regulation
Army got the ball with 4:21 left down 45-7 and had a 5 play, 68 yard FG drive. Wake recovered an onside kick and had a 4 yard, 7 yard drive that ended on downs. Army ran 2 plays, 17 yards to end the game.

BYE WEEK

 

[PhDeac]

BC 15, Wake 43

Start of Game
BC got the first possession and had a 6 play, 3 yard drive. Wake had a 5 play, 16 yard drive.

Last 5:00 of 1st half
Wake got the ball with 5:51 left and had a 10 play, 75 yard TD drive. BC had a 3 play, 4 yard drive. Wake had a 3 play, -1 yard drive. BC ended the half with 4 plays, 11 yards.

Start of 2nd half
Wake got the ball to start the 2nd half and had a 3 play, 2 yard drive. BC had a 3 play, 1 yard drive.

Last 5:00 of Regulation
BC had a 5 play, 32 yard drive. Wake had 3 plays, 32 yards to end the game.

Wake 21, Louisville 48

Start of Game
Louisville got the first possession and had an 11 play, 64 yard FG drive. Wake had a 3 play, 6 yard drive.

Last 5:00 of 1st half
Wake got the ball with 2:54 left and had a 3 play, 2 yard possession. Louisville had a 6 play, 26 yard missed FG drive. Wake had a 6 play, 56 yard drive that ended with an incomplete pass from the Louisville 15.

Start of 2nd half
Wake got the ball to start the 2nd half and had a 3 play, 15 yard drive that ended with a pick 6. Wake had a 5 play, 4 yard possession that ended with a fumble. Louisville gave up the ball on downs after a 4 play, 9 yard drive.

Last 5:00 of Regulation
Wake had a 14 play, 68 yard TD drive. Louisville kneeled to end the game.

Wake 21, State 30

Start of Game
State got the first possession and had a 3 play, 1 yard drive. Wake had a 5 play, 15 yard drive that ended with an interception.

Last 5:00 of 1st half
State got the ball with 4:11 left and had a 8 play, 64 yard TD drive. Wake had a 3 play, 4 yard drive. State had a 3 play, 5 yard drive to end the half.

Start of 2nd half
Wake got the ball to start the 2nd half and had a 3 play, 9 yard drive. State had a 15 play, 80 yard TD drive.

Last 5:00 of Regulation
State got the ball with 6:54 left and had a 9 play, 62 yard FG drive. Wake got the ball with 2:54 left and had an 8 play, 41 yard drive that ended on downs. State kneeled to end the game.

UNC 36, Wake 34

Start of Game
Wake got the ball to start the game and had a 4 play, 20 yard drive. UNC had a 10 play, 91 yard TD drive.

Last 5:00 of 1st half
Wake got the ball with 5:55 left and had a 5 play, 51 yard TD drive. UNC got the ball with 4:06 left and had a 5 play, 75 yard TD drive. Wake had a 3 play, -14 yard drive. UNC had a 5 play, 10 yard drive, Wake had a 2 play, 9 yard drive.

Start of 2nd half
UNC got the ball to start the half and had a 10 play, 48 yard drive the ended on downs. Wake had a 9 play, 73 yard TD drive.

Last 5:00 of Regulation
Wake got the ball with 5:47 left and had a 5 play, 36 yard drive that ended in an interception. UNC had a 5 play, 33 yard FG drive. Wake had a 4 play, -2 yard drive that ended on downs. UNC ended the game with 4 plays for 10 yards.

Syracuse 35, Wake 45

Start of Game
Cuse got the ball to start the game and had an 11 play, 75 yard TD drive. Wake had a 14 play, 60 yard FG drive.

Last 5:00 of 1st half
Cuse got the ball with 5:07 left with a 5 play, 11 yard missed FG drive. Wake had a 11 play, 80 yard TD drive. Cuse kneeled to end the half.

Start of 2nd half
Wake got the ball to start the half and had a 7 play, 31 yard drive. Cuse had a 5 play, 17 yard drive.

Last 5:00 of Regulation
Wake got the ball with 5:13 left and had 6 play, 18 yard drive. Cuse had a 7 play, 24 yard missed FG drive. Wake kneeled to end the game.

Wake 31, Duke 34

Start of Game
Duke got the ball to start the game and had an 11 play, 43 yard drive. Wake had an 11 play, 75 yard TD drive.

Last 5:00 of 1st half
Wake got the ball with 4:37 and had a 8 play, 66 yard FG drive. Duke had a 10 play, 60 yard FG drive. Wake kneeled to end the half.

Start of 2nd half
Wake got the ball to start to start the 2nd half with a 3 play, 6 yard possession. Duke had a 3 play, -4 yard drive.

Last 5:00 of Regulation
Wake got the ball with 5:05 left and had a 6 play, 13 yard possession. Duke had a 2 play, 65 yard TD drive. Wake had a 5 play, 11 yard drive that ended with an interception. Duke had 5 plays, 33 yards to end the game.

 

[WFU03]

This is it. Time to double dip?

 

[WFU03]

This is it. Time to double dip?

And…no

 

[awakegirl]

I mean I could have told you this anecdotally, but pathetic to see it “in print.” This should be the number one consideration in the off season.

 

[Deaconblue]

Wake did OK with their game opening and game ending drives. Stopped Mizzou after the opening kickoff. Morin TD catch on Wake's first possession.

End of game drive by Wake ended with Morin TD at 2:33 to put Wake up 10. Followed by the defense just teeing off on Cook with three straight sacks. Then Sam in victory formation the last minute.

End of first half/beginning of second not good.