After a wild fourth quarter of multiple lead changes, the Wake Forest football team beat Virginia, 34-30, with a long touchdown pass that was only intended to get a first down.
Trailing, 30-27, with less than two minutes to go, the Demon Deacons (4-4, 2-4 ACC) were facing a third down with 7 yards to go on their own 36. Hoping just to convert a first down, Wake quarterback James MacPherson found freshman wide receiver Jason Anderson on a short slant pattern. Anderson split through Virginia's (3-6, 2-5) zone defense and the reception turned into a 64-yard touchdown.
"We told our kids we just have to get into field-goal range and tie it up," said Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe, whose team broke a 17-game losing streak to Virginia. "I don't think Jason Anderson heard that, and I'm glad he didn't. It was really more of a possession throw for us, but we'll take the result."
The Anderson touchdown was the last of three lead changes that occurred in the fourth quarter, a period in which 35 points were scored.
Less than two minutes before Wake's final score, Virginia freshman running back Alvin Pearman pounded his way into the end zone on an 8-yard reception from quarterback Bryson Spinner.
"In the long run, they had one more play in them than we did," Virginia coach Al Groh said. "We had our chances to win the game and we couldn't come up with the play."
Following a Spinner touchdown pass to wide out Michael McGrew to start the fourth quarter, Virginia had a 10-point lead at 23-13. Wake responded, driving the length of the field in five plays, keyed by a 45-yard reception by Anderson on an end-s'around pass by receiver Fabian Davis to cut the Cavaliers' lead to three.
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On their next possession, the Demon Deacons returned a punt for a touchdown to go up 27-23. Davis struck again by running up the middle for 62 yards on the return. It was Wake's first punt return for a touchdown since 1993.
The fourth quarter did bring some good news for the Cavaliers. Injured senior running back Antwoine Womack returned to action for a couple plays in the last half of the period. Although he brought the crowd to its feet and energized his team, Groh said using Womack was based on something besides his running ability or an emotional boost.
"We used him for pass protection," Groh said. "One of the many things he does well is that he's probably the best pass-protecting back on the team."
Because of the Cavaliers' ineptitude on the ground, Virginia was forced to pass almost exclusively in the fourth quarter. Wake Forest out-rushed the Cavaliers, 267 yards to 165. The Demon Deacons' 267 rushing yards were the most they have had against Virginia since 1986. Sophomore Fred Staton, who tallied 153 yards on 28 carries and had one touchdown, led Wake's rushing attack.
But the player of the game was Anderson. He finished with five catches for 150 yards and the game-winning touchdown. His 64-yard gallop not only destroyed the Cavaliers' bowl eligibility, but also broke Virginia's 17-game winning streak over Wake.
"It is really nice for us to break through and get a win," Grobe said. "We showed a lot of determination, and the thing I'm most proud of is we never thought the game was over. We've lost 17 years in a row to Virginia, and it's nice for our kids to get that one off their backs"
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