Errors plague Indiana in loss to Wake Forest

Bloomington, Ind. — John Wolford ran for two touchdowns and threw for another, and Jessie Bates returned an interception for a third score Saturday to lead Wake Forest past Indiana 33-28.

The Demon Deacons are 4-0 (1-0 ACC) for the first time in 10 years and have already surpassed the three-win totals they had each of the previous two seasons. It was coach Dave Clawson’s 100th career victory.

And it was impressive, too, as Wake Forest ended Indiana’s eight-game winning streak against non-conference opponents.

After Indiana (2-1) took a 7-0 lead with a 75-yard TD pass from Richard Lagow to Nick Westbrook on the game’s first play, Wake converted three interceptions and a blocked field goal into 24 points.

“No turnovers,” coach Dave Clawson said, referring to Wolford. “He stepped up, made plays with his feet, made plays with his arm, ran the offense really, really well, managed the end of the game well. He’s played really, really well now for six straight quarters.”

The first interception, off a tipped pass in the end zone, led to Wolford’s 4-yard TD run that tied the score at 7. Bates returned his second pick of the game 55 yards to make it 14-7, and the Deacons finished the half with a 26-yard TD pass from Wolford to Chuck Wade to make it 21-7.

Wolford wound up 16 of 29 for 172 yards and ran 14 times for 61 yards.

Lagow’s fourth interception led to a Wake Forest field goal in the third quarter and a 24-7 lead.

That’s when the Hoosiers rallied.

A 65-yard completion from Lagow to Ricky Jones set up a 10-yard TD pass to Westbrook. Lagow was 28 of 47 for 496 yards, a single-game school record, with three TD passes. Ben Chappell held the previous record, throwing for 480 yards against Michigan in 2010.

Jones had eight catches for 208 yards.

“We just had way too many errors, nine penalties, a lot of them were critical,” coach Kevin Wilson said. “Got down to the 2-yard in the first half, got a holding penalty, got a blocked field goal.”

After another Wake Forest field goal, 270-pound Tyler Natee took a direct snap for Indiana and scored on a 1-yard run to make it 27-21.

But Wolford sealed it with an 11-yard TD run with 9:59 to play.