Wake Forest’s offensive performance in its season opener on Thursday night was the program’s worst in 27 years.
Unofficially, the Demon Deacons’ 94-yard performance is the worst since they mustered just 66 yards against South Carolina in 1987. In that game, Wake Forest lost 30-0 at home. Quarterback Mike Elkins threw for 63 yards, but he also lost 33 yards rushing. The Demon Deacons only gained three yards on the ground.
Wake Forest was 7-4 that season under coach Bill Dooley.
Thursday night, the Demon Deacons lost 17-10 to Louisiana-Monroe while failing to gain 100 yards for the first time since that 1987 game, unofficially. Wake Forest threw for 97 yards but lost three yards on the ground, thanks to seven sacks for a loss of 55 yards.
That’s not the only time Wake Forest lost yards rushing for a game. In 2000, the Demon Deacons had -2 rushing yards against North Carolina, but they finished the game with 162 total yards.
Among the worst offensive performances between Nov. 14, 1987 and Thursday night were a 126-yard outing against Florida State in 2012, a 154-yard outing against Florida State in 1995, a 155-yard outing against Maryland in 2010 and a pair of 159-yard outings against Vanderbilt and Clemson in 1994 and 2000, respectively.