Wake Forest Football Takes on Aggies Under The Lights

Wake Forest Demon Deacons Jasheen Davis — © Peter Casey USA TODAY Sports

The college football season is underway and fanatics will not have to wait a week for their fix. The Wake Forest Demon Deacons take the field against North Carolina A&T at 7 p.m. EST on Thursday on Aug. 29.

Wake Forest hopes to shine as bright as their stadium lights. North Carolina A&T is a football team looking for any modicum of success after a dismal showing in 2023. Both teams are coming into this game with one mission in mind: win Week 1. But what team is better positioned to make that a reality?

The Wake Forest Advantage

Wake Forest enters the game with several advantages in their favor. Primarily, they are the bigger, stronger and faster team. Wake Forest has the offensive line advantage and should find little trouble establishing the run behind tackle DeVonte Gordon and Co. Quarterback Hank Bachmeier, a transfer from Boise State, must take advantage of secondary mismatches and utilize the sure hands of senior wide receiver Taylor Morin when single covered.

Wake Forest Key Players

Offensive Line: 49 sacks allowed in 2023
WR Taylor Morin: 617 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns in 2023

Aggies Ground Attack

The North Carolina A&T Aggies finished last season with very little to be positive about. The Aggies ended their 2023 campaign 1-10 in the Coastal Atlantic Association and failed to score 21 points in 7 of their 11 games. The Aggies are returning their top running back Kenji Christian.

The 2022 Virginia Tech transfer averaged 5.3 yards last season and will be even more electric in his second year with the Aggies' offense. The Aggies must capitalize on screen plays, use RPOs and play action passes. North Carolina A&T looks to slow down Jasheen Davis and the Wake Forest defensive rush.

NC A&T Key Players

Offensive Line: 27 sacks allowed in 2023
RB Kenji Christian: 716 Rush Yards and 6 touchdowns

Game Outcome

Wake Forest will control this game from whistle to whistle. The Aggies will fight valiantly in the first quarter. But ultimately, the battle of attrition will go to the Demon Deacons. The trenches are where Wake Forest will separate themselves from the Aggies. Expect a game centered around running the ball to establish the pass for both teams. But the Aggies will find difficulty stopping the Wake Forest defensive line on passing third downs. Look for Wake Forest to win 34-16.