By Dave Holcomb
SouthernPigskin.com

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Dave Holcomb recaps Wake Forest’s 37-34 win over Louisville.

When Wake Forest and Louisville get together on the football field, its usually an entertaining, high-scoring affair. Saturdays matchup in Week 5 between the two programs was no different.

Quarterbacks Sam Hartman and Malik Cunningham traded touchdowns most of the afternoon like two heavy-weight boxers exchanging blows in a prize-fight. Like any great fight, the best punches came in the final minutes.

Hartman possessed the ball in the final few minutes, which enabled the Demon Deacons to hold off the Cardinals in a 37-34 win. With the victory, Wake Forest remains undefeated and is the first team in the ACC with three conference wins.

Additionally, Wake Forests five wins this season is already more than the team had in 2020.

With the game tied at 27, Hartman found A.T. Perry for a 7-yard touchdown with 3:52 remaining. But Cunningham responded, throwing a 75-yard score to Tyler Harrell 51 seconds later.

The problem for Cunningham was his offense scored too fast. Wake Forest moved the ball into field-goal range on its next possession in 2:32 and kicked a 29-yard field goal to retake the lead.

Even with only 22 seconds left, Cunningham had Louisville threatening to send the game into overtime, but Bryan Hudson fumbled to end the game.

Hartman finished 23 of 30 with 324 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. The victory was Hartmans first of his career against Louisville.

Dating back to last year, Hartman has thrown for multiple touchdowns in six of his last seven starts. He did throw four picks against Wisconsin in the Mayo Bowl to end the 2020 season, but heading into Saturday, Hartman was one of only two ACC quarterbacks with at least 110 pass attempts and only one interception. The other one was Pitts Kenny Pickett.

Behind Hartmans fast start, Wake Forest is averaging 38.4 points per game this season, including 36.3 points per ACC contest. The Demon Deacons have scored at least 35 points in every game.

Hartman found eight different receivers with his 23 completions with wide receivers Jaquarii Roberson and Taylor Morin his two favorite targets. Both wideouts had more than 100 receiving yards and averaged more than 20 yards per catch.

Coincidentally, both receivers also hauled in a 42-yard catch against Louisville on Saturday.

Hartman chipped in another 35 yards and an additional touchdown on the ground. His 1-yard dive to the end zone was Wake Forests first touchdown of the afternoon.

Running backs Christian Beal-Smith and Justice Ellison have split the carries for most of this season, and that continued Saturday. The two combined for 103 rushing yards on 25 carries. Ellison ran for a 7-yard touchdown to open the second in the second half.

Louisville trailed by 10 after Ellison scored with about four minutes remaining in the third quarter, but the Cardinals responded with a touchdown and field goal on their next two drives to tie the game again. As good as Hartman was, Cunningham was more efficient with 309 passing yards and two touchdowns on just 26 attempts. He averaged 11.9 yards per pass and didnt throw an interception.

Cunningham also rushed for a pair of touchdowns. The junior signal caller has two rushing touchdowns in all five games this season, and he has multiple passing and rushing touchdowns in each of the last two weeks.

Wake Forest still has matchups with NC State and Clemson. Despite Clemsons struggles, if the Tigers win every game until they play the Demon Deacons on Nov. 20, Wake Forest can be undefeated heading into the matchup and yet still must win at Death Valley to win the ACC Atlantic.

But thats for another day. For now, Wake Forest has its second 5-0 start in the last three years.