Wake Forest wins Seattle Bowl

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Posted 6:47AM on Tuesday, December 31, 2002

SEATTLE - For his last game at Wake Forest, James MacPherson was grateful that the game plan called for a bit more passing than usual. MacPherson completed 9 of 16 passes for a season-high 241 yards and two touchdowns as the normally grounded Demon Deacons beat Oregon 38-17 Monday in the Seattle Bowl. ``Going into the game, I knew there were going to be opportunities to throw a couple of deep passes on them, and maybe score a few touchdowns,'' the senior said. ``Luckily, we were able to do that.'' MacPherson, who also ran for a score, hit Jason Anderson with TD passes of 57 and 63 yards as Wake Forest (7-6) finished with a winning record for the second straight year. The Deacons last had consecutive winning seasons in 1987-88. ``I couldn't ask for a better game to finish out my career here at Wake Forest,'' MacPherson said. The Ducks (7-6) started the season 6-0 and were ranked as high as No. 6, but they simply weren't the same without quarterback Joey Harrington, a 2001 Heisman finalist. The team lost five of its last six, a year after going 11-1 and winning the Fiesta Bowl. Entering Monday's game, Wake Forest was ranked eighth nationally in rushing offense, averaging 239.9 yards a game. The Deacons ran for 256 against Oregon, even with their early emphasis on the passing game. ``We knew going against Oregon that they had a real good rushing defense, so we knew we could have a typical game plan,'' Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe said. Oregon coach Mike Bellotti said the Ducks figured as much. ``I expected a little bit more than they've thrown the rest of the year,'' he said. ``Our problem was missed plays.'' The Ducks opened the game with Jared Siegel's 45-yard field goal, but Wake Forest answered with a seven-play, 65-yard drive, topped by Ovie Mughelli's 1-yard run. Oregon starter Jason Fife completed just 1 of 7 passes for 4 yards before he was replaced late in the first quarter by redshirt freshman Kellen Clemens. MacPherson fared batter, hitting Anderson with a 57-yard scoring pass early in the second quarter to push Wake's lead to 14-3. MacPherson added a 1-yard touchdown dash with 2:40 left before halftime. With 26 seconds left in the half, Clemens hit Samie Parker with a 7-yard scoring strike to make it 21-10. Matt Wisnosky had a 43-yard field goal for Wake Forest before Oregon's Matt Floberg narrowed it to 24-17 on a 1-yard run with 5:39 left in the third quarter. MacPherson, who had just six touchdown passes going into the game, closed the third quarter with his 63-yard touchdown pass to Anderson. Chris Barclay added a 12-yard TD run late in the game for the final margin. Anderson caught three passes for a career-best 157 yards. Clemens finished 19-of-31 for 161 yards. ``We attacked them, but I don't think we attacked them enough,'' said Oregon receiver Keenan Howry. Oregon tailback Onterrio Smith, who missed three of the last four games with an injury to his left knee that required surgery in late November, gained 62 yards on 18 carries in what would be his final college game if he declares himself eligible for the NFL draft. In nine regular-season games, Smith ran for 1,079 yards and 12 touchdowns. Barclay led the Deacons with 82 yards on 19 carries. Tailback Tarence Williams, who got off to a slow start this season but rushed for 550 yards in his final five games, had 53 yards on 16 carries. Late in the third quarter, Williams appeared to twist his left knee on a run and spent several minutes prone on the field as trainers attended to him. He was taken from the field by cart and did not return. Wake Forest defensive end Calvin Pace remained one sack short of the school record of 30 set by Mike McCrary. Pace broke his left leg Nov. 23 against Navy and practiced for the first time Thursday. The second annual Seattle Bowl marked the first meeting between the Ducks and Demon Deacons since Dec. 31, 1992 in the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La. Wake Forest won 39-35.