By BJ Bennett
SouthernPigskin.com

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On Saturday against the Eagles, Wake Forest left no doubt.

All season, Wake Forest has had to earn the benefit of the doubt.

Many overlooked the returning production and experience during summer projections. Some wouldn’t even welcome the Demon Deacons to the national stage after an 8-0 start. For others, Wake Forest scoring 70 points at Army wasn’t enough. A mid-November win over 16th-ranked North Carolina State was still met with some hesitation. As the Demon Deacons entered a win-and-you’re-in contest at Boston College, needing one more victory to advance to the program’s second-ever ACC Championship Game, there were plenty of skeptics.

On Saturday against the Eagles, Wake Forest left no doubt.

The regular season finale, clinching the ACC Atlantic Division, was a statement performance for Dave Clawson, who just signed a long-term contract extension, and the Demon Deacons. With all of the pressure on the visitors, Wake Forest promptly jumped out to a 14-point lead and never looked back. A game many were finally talking about proved to not be much of a contest after all. There was a championship conviction on full display.

Embracing the spotlight and the stage, the Demon Deacons finished the contest on a 24-0 run, advancing to the upcoming ACC Championship Game in Charlotte versus Pittsburgh in an all-out sprint.

It was a resounding showing from Wake Forest, perhaps the team’s most complete effort of the year. The Demon Deacons outgained Boston College 413 yards to 182, compiling 25 first downs compared to nine. Wake Forest, determined and decisive, was 11-of-21 on third down tries while the Eagles were 1-of-10. Sam Hartman scored four total touchdowns, A.T. Perry caught two scores abd Malik Mustapha had two fumble recoveries and an interception as the Demon Deacons dominated throughout.

The 31-point triumph was Wake Forest largest road victory since 2018.

Now 10-2, the Demon Deacons have reached double-digits in wins for the second time in program history. They did it despite few giving them the attention they deserved, the attention they earned. Not only will Wake Forest next play for a conference championship, with an opportunity to win a third-ever league title, two more wins would result in a new all-time season-high for a program very much on the rise.

Already, the Demon Deacons, likely having to play extra well for any extra attention, have played their way into the national spotlight. This is a team worthy of that shine. Wake Forest ranks in the top five in the country in scoring offense, has a quarterback in Hartman who has 44 total touchdowns, two 1,000-yard receivers in Perry and Jaquarii Roberson, a defense that is one of the national leaders in turnovers forced and a kicker, in Nick Sciba, who has made the most consecutive field goals in NCAA history. All for the likely ACC Coach of the Year.

The Demon Deacons are one of college football’s best stories and one of college football’s best teams. They also aren’t yet done. Wake Forest will soon play for a championship. It’s a stage that’s finally fitting.