NCAAF Game Preview - Wake Forest at Clemson

Sat Nov 16, 2019 3:30 PM EST

Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson said he watched a horror movie the other night -- his team's 2018 game film against Clemson.

"At the end of the game we had a skeleton crew," Clawson said of the 63-3 defeat. "And Clemson made us pay."

Clawson is focused on avoiding a repeat viewing when his team faces No. 3 Clemson in an Atlantic Coast Conference game in Clemson, S.C., on Saturday afternoon.

That might be easier said than done, particularly after finding out that two of his top three wide receivers -- Sage Surratt and Scotty Washington -- will miss the game with injuries. Surratt, who leads the ACC with 1,001 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns, is out for the remainder of the season.

"This is a game where we would love to be at full strength," Clawson said. "But it is Week 10 and everybody to some degree goes through this."

Well, except Clemson.

"They are playing with a two-deep that looks exactly the way they thought it would out of preseason camp," Clawson said. "That is one of the advantages to always playing with a big lead; their kids haven't had to play as many reps as our kids have being in all these one-score games."

Clemson (10-0, 7-0 ACC) is riding a 25-game winning streak that ranks as the longest active streak in the nation. Coach Dabo Swinney's team has won 21 consecutive home games, has scored at least 45 points in four straight games and has clinched a fifth consecutive berth in the ACC title game.

Saturday's game was shaping up to be an Atlantic Division showdown until last week when Wake Forest was knocked off by Virginia Tech 36-17. The Deacons (7-2, 3-2) are still in contention for an attractive bowl bid.

"We have to bounce back and certainly the opponent this week presents every kind of challenge you could ask for," Clawson said. "It's amazing what Dabo and his staff have done down there. It's the combination of great talent and being an extremely well-coached team. They do everything well."

Clemson has outscored its past five opponents 263-55 since a 21-20 win at North Carolina on Sept. 28. The Tigers rank in the top four nationally in total offense (545.8 yards per game) and total defense (251.5).

Quarterback Trevor Lawrence has come on strong of late and has thrown at least three touchdown passes in five consecutive games. He is completing 67.1 percent of his 252 passes, for 2,303 yards with 23 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

Running back Travis Etienne has rushed for more than 1,214 yards and has logged five consecutive 100-yard games. The junior is averaging 8.9 yards per carry this season and 8.1 for his career.

Clemson's defense has held each of its 10 opponents this season to less than 300 yards.

"Defensively, with Clemson every year you look at who they are going graduate and you have a little bit of hope, and then you watch the film," Clawson said.

Saturday's game will be the final home game for 19 Clemson seniors.

"It's a fun week but a sad week, too," Swinney said. "It's hard to believe we're nearing the end of our season and this is the last home game. This will be the last time to see some great football players play in the Valley."

--Field Level Media