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Wake Forest visits Virginia in key ACC clash

Nov 3, 2007 - 10:42 AM No. 21 Wake Forest (6-2) at Virginia (7-2) 12:00 pm EDT

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia (Ticker) -- Even after losing last week, Virginia is where Wake Forest wants to be - in first place in its division.

The Cavaliers look to bounce back from their first league defeat when they host the surging 21st-ranked Demon Deacons on Saturday in Atlantic Coast Conference play.

Virginia (7-2, 4-1 ACC Coastal) has a half-game lead over Virginia Tech atop its division, while Wake Forest (6-2, 4-1 Atlantic) is a half-game behind No. 2 Boston College, which handed the Demon Deacons a 38-28 season-opening home loss on September 1.

The Cavaliers opened their season with a 23-3 loss at Wyoming, then reeled off seven straight victories. But last week, Virginia fell to North Carolina State - which had yet to win an ACC game this season - 29-24.

The Cavaliers had taken a 24-23 lead on a five-yard run by Mikell Simpson with 13:12 to play. But the Wolfpack countered with a 30-yard TD pass from Daniel Evans to Donald Bowens midway through the period, and Virginia was unable to score again.

Jameel Sewell passed for a career-high 260 yards and two TDs with two interceptions before exiting with leg cramps late in the game.

Wake Forest followed up its loss to BC with another to Nebraska. But the defending conference champions have not tasted defeat since.

The Demon Deacons extended their winning streak to six games with a 37-10 rout of North Carolina last week behind two TD runs by Josh Adams.

The teams have not met since 2003, when Virginia posted a 27-24 home win.