11/23/2002 - Football
Wake Forest 30, Navy 27
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Winston-Salem, NC (Sports Network) - Fabian Davis scored on a five-yard run with 53 seconds remaining to give the Wake Forest Demon Deacons to a 30-27 victory over the Navy Midshipmen in a non-league tilt from Groves Stadium. The setback was the 10th straight for Navy (1-10), which lost for the first time ever to Wake Forest.
The Demon Deacons (6-5) were led in the contest by James MacPherson, who connected on 12-of-19 passes for 210 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions.
The Midshipmen were paced by Michael Brimage, who rushed for a game-high 184 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries. Navy lost despite totaling 317 yards on the ground and outgaining Wake Forest 444-410.
The Deacons reached the scoreboard first behind a 41-yard field goal from Matt Wisnosky, but Navy took a 7-3 lead when Lionel Welsey caught a 19-yard touchdown pass from Craig Candeto with 25 seconds left in the opening quarter.
Wake Forest responded quickly, however, as MacPherson tossed a 70-yard touchdown pass to Jason Anderson on the ensuing possession, giving the Deacons a 10-7 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Deacons added to their lead in the second quarter, taking a 17-7 halftime advantage on Tarence Williams' three-yard run.
Navy began a comeback in the third quarter, cutting the lead to three points on Brimage's 10-yard run at the 10:08 mark. Wisnosky pushed the Wake Forest edge to six points on a 28 yard field goal, but the Midshipmen took a 21-20 lead on a 53-yard TD pass from Candeto to Chandler Sims.
The Deacon reclaimed the lead at the 12:08 mark of the fourth quarter, as Wisnosky connected on a field goal from 30 yards out. Navy responded with a one-yard touchdown plunge by Candeto, but the failed two-point conversion attempt left the Midshipmen with just a 27-23 lead.
Wake Forest made no mistake with its final opportunity, cashing in on a victory with Davis' five-yard scamper in the waning moments.
11/23 19:35:26 ET
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