WINSTON-SALEM — The Wake Forest football team got in the win column for the first time this season with a 66-14 blowout of Campbell on Friday night at Truist Field.
After starting the season with losses to top-ranked Clemson and in-state rival North Carolina State, the non-conference rout marked an opportunity for the Demon Deacons to work out some kinks.
"Certainly, it feels good to get a win," Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson said. "It feels good to be rewarded and get in the left-hand column. I thought we competed hard. I thought our offense was extremely efficient. Defensively, I thought in the second half, we settled down."
The Demon Deacons (1-2) took control in the second half, and a defense that has had its share of inefficiencies showed flashes of playmaking. Wake Forest's 66 points tied its most in the modern era, equaling a mark reached at Virginia in 1975.
The Camels of the Football Championship Subdivision dropped to 0-4, completing their four-game fall season against bowl subdivision opponents.
Here are five takeaways from the Demon Deacons' first victory of the season:
Defense shows resistance
Sure, it was against an FCS team, but there has to be some type of confidence that comes to a Wake Forest defense that made plays against the Camels.
Campbell marched down the field on its opening drive, only to come away with no points after a missed field goal. The Demon Deacons defense bowed up at the goal line, keeping the Camels out of the end zone on six plays from inside the 10-yard line.
After forcing just one turnover in its first two games, Wake Forest forced a pair on back-to-back plays in the first half. Traveon Redd deflected a Campbell pass and gathered his first career interception. On the Camels’ next offensive play, Chase Jones forced a fumble, recovered by Zion Keith, eventually leading to Christian Beal-Smith's second touchdown of the game.
"The story of the day of why it got to where it was was all the turnovers," Clawson said. "We did a great job of generating turnovers and really took it from what could've been a competitive game to a non-competitive game because all the turnovers."
Keith intercepted a Campbell pass and returned it 45 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter.
Pounding the rock
Wake Forest was content to run the ball, and for good reason.
Beal-Smith and Kenneth Walker III had their way on the ground, combining for 235 yards on 31 carries through about 2½ quarters of action.
"Any win we get, it's a celebration," Wake Forest offensive lineman Michael Jurgens said. "especially when we run the ball like that."
Beal-Smith scored three rushing touchdowns while Walker added one of his own.
"Our O-line did a great job run blocking," Clawson said. "I thought Christian Beal-Smith and Ken Walker did a great job running the football."
Reserves Justice Ellison and Will Drawdy added rushing touchdowns.
Hitting their shots
Clawson has drilled home the importance of the Demon Deacons needing to be able to push the ball down the field in the passing game.
Wake Forest converted on both of its deep-ball attempts in the first half, leading to scores a few plays later.
"It was good to see our outside receivers make plays," Clawson said.
On the Demon Deacons’ first drive, quarterback Sam Hartman connected with A.T. Perry for 40 yards down the sideline. A couple of plays later, Beal-Smith pounded the ball into the end zone for his first touchdown.
A 34-yard completion to Donavon Greene set up a Nick Sciba 41-yard field goal to give Wake Forest a 24-7 lead entering halftime.
Special teams good, bad
The positive was a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Greene in the third quarter, upping the lead to 52-14.
"There was three major blocks I was reading," Greene said. "I seen them take their leverage to the right side so I cut the gap and after that I seen open field. I knew at that moment I was going to take it to the crib."
It was the first Wake Forest kickoff return for a touchdown since Kevin Marion ran one back in 2007 against North Carolina.
The negative, and what has been a surprise to start the season, are the continued inconsistencies of the usually reliable Sciba. The junior went 1 of 2 on field goal attempts, hitting from 41 yards and missing from 28.
Sciba is 3 of 6 on field goals this season after making 24 of 25 attempts last year.
For the first time in Wake Forest history, the Demon Deacons didn't attempt a punt in a game.
Status moving forward
Luke Masterson, one of the Demon Deacons' most experienced defensive players in the secondary, left the game in the first half with an injury.
He was wearing a walking boot on his right foot while on the sideline in the second half.
"We're not sure," Clawson said. "We're hoping it's not too serious. He's been struggling with a foot issue and it started really bothering him."
Masterson being out for a significant period of time would be a tough pill to swallow considering the issues that Wake Forest has had, particularly in the defensive backfield this season.
The good news is Keith, a redshirt sophomore safety, is coming into his own after collecting two turnovers against the Camels.
This article originally appeared on Times-News: Five takeaways as Wake Forest blows out Campbell, matches record in first win of season
