CHARLOTTE, N.C. _ Defense optional? More like defense prohibited, or at least that was the case in Friday's record-setting Belk Bowl between Wake Forest and Texas A&M.
After more than four hours of back-and-forth scoring _ blocked punts and punt returns, deep bombs and short runs _ Wake Forest finally outdueled Texas A&M, 55-52, in the highest scoring postseason game this year.
At first the game seemed likely to be a rout, as Texas A&M (7-6) took a 14-0 lead just minutes into the game on a series of Wake Forest miscues. Then the Aggies sputtered on offense while Wake Forest quarterback John Wolford settled into a groove, guiding the fast-paced Deacons' offense back to its normal pace.
From that point, a pattern presented itself: Texas A&M cut the lead, Wake Forest (8-5) extended it, and then repeat over and over again. Even as Texas A&M briefly retook the lead in the waning minutes of the third quarter, the game continued with the teams exchanging the lead.
It wasn't until the game's end that it was decided, when Wake Forest ran it in for the final go-ahead score with 2 minutes, 18 seconds left. Then penalties and incomplete passes took care of the rest, as a desperation heave on fourth down with less than a minute left sealed the Deacons' second consecutive bowl victory.
