Phew, did No. 10 Wake Forest have a rough Saturday… and not like a typically bad day resulting in an unremarkable loss.
No, the Demon Deacons had such a miserable in their 48-21 embarrassment against unranked Louisville that it could actually redefine what a terrible day means in the college football world. It was an ugly game all around for Wake Forest as the Cardinals fought back from a 14-13 deficit headed into halftime and charged out to a huge double-digit lead by the end of the third quarter.
But all Louisville’s second-half success almost certainly would not have been possible without Wake Forest’s jaw-dropping, unbelievably dismal third quarter, which featured six (SIX!!) Demon Deacon turnovers, including two pick-sixes against quarterback Sam Hartman.
It’s hard not to feel bad for Hartman, who had a uniquely difficult day and a hand in each of the three interceptions and three lost fumbles.
Wake Forest’s third-quarter turnovers went something like this…
1. Hartman was picked off within the first minute, and Louisville defensive back Kei’Trel Clark returned it for a 46-yard pick-six.
PICK-SIX 🚨
Bring out the turnover belt 😤 @LouisvilleFB pic.twitter.com/tJNheOeqeY
— ACC Network (@accnetwork) October 29, 2022
2. On the very next possession, linebacker Yasir Abdullah sacked Hartman, who fumbled and lost the ball.
3. After marching up the field on Wake Forest’s next possession, Hartman was sacked on Louisville’s 26-yard line, this time by defensive lineman Jared Dawson, and fumbled and lost the ball. Again.
The defense is eatin' ♨️ @LouisvilleFB pic.twitter.com/MILLNxhghj
— ACC Network (@accnetwork) October 29, 2022
4. With a little more than four minutes left in the quarter, Hartman threw another interception, caught by linebacker Monty Montgomery. At least this one wasn’t returned for a touchdown.
5. After the Cardinals jumped out to a 34-14 lead, Hartman again was sacked by defensive lineman Caleb Banks before he fumbled and lost the ball. Again.
6. This horrible quarter for the Demon Deacons mercifully ended eventually, but not before Hartman closed it out with another interception — only this time, cornerback Quincy Riley returned it for a 90-yard touchdown. Yikes.
Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson starts by giving credit to UL.
“That was a thorough ass kicking.”
— Les Johns (@Les_Johns) October 29, 2022
Objectively, this has to be one of the worst quarters ever played in college football because it seems like it takes genuine skill to turn the ball over this many times in 15 minutes.
Hartman finished completing 20-of-35 passes for 271 yards, one touchdown and those three interceptions, along with his three lost fumbles.
Not great, and college football Twitter actually couldn't believe this was a real quarter. And had jokes, of course.
Wake Forest was leading at half. They just had their best offensive drive of 3Q, a 3 & out for negative 5 yards. pic.twitter.com/9AasyS3tID
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) October 29, 2022
Wake Forest's third quarter turnover Count. #countvoncountonfootball pic.twitter.com/NX5NsBHD3L
— Patrick Stevens (@D1scourse) October 29, 2022
SIX WAKE FOREST TURNOVERS IN ONE QUARTER
They had five all season! Two pick-sixes!
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) October 29, 2022
Deacs led 14-13 at the half, trail entering the fourth 48-14. has to be in the running for the worst quarter of the century.
— Matt Hinton (@MattRHinton) October 29, 2022
6 turnovers in the third quarter for Wake Forest.
6 TAKEAWAYS from Louisville in the 3Q.It was 14-13, Wake to start the 3rd.
It is now 48-14, Louisville to end the 3rd.35 points in the 3Q.
2 pick-6’s, 1 extra INT, 3 fumble recoveries.Unreal.
— Cam Mellor (@CamMellor) October 29, 2022
That's now seven second-half turnovers for Wake Forest.
The Deacs are trying to go full Miami in one half.
— Yahoo Sports College Football (@YahooSportsCFB) October 29, 2022
Is anyone else watching #10 Wake Forest and Louisville? Wake led 14-13 at the half.
SIX Sam Hartman 3rd Quarter turnovers later and the 4th is about to start with Wake trailing Louisville 48-14
I don't think I've ever seen anything like this.
— Randal Kennedy (@FF_Terminator) October 29, 2022
Louisville has forced SIX turnovers in the 3rd quarter… 🤯
Wake Forest (-165 ML) bettors: pic.twitter.com/oIaWgX0Ogi
— Pickswise (@Pickswise) October 29, 2022
some people ask me, what's the perfect number of turnovers in one quarter, and until today I didn't have a good answer
but it's six and Wake Forest did them all
— BUM CHILLUPS AKA SPENCER HALL (@edsbs) October 29, 2022
If you took a shot every time Wake Forest turned the ball over there’s no shot you’re able to read this tweet pic.twitter.com/xwOvO5Xvyl
— Kenny Covers (@KennyCovers_) October 29, 2022
Wake Forest may have had the worst 3rd quarter in college football history 😬 pic.twitter.com/Wh2V1XXDTo
— 247Sports (@247Sports) October 29, 2022
Wake Forest with six turnovers in one quarter. That is actually super hard to do!
— Adam Kramer (@KegsnEggs) October 29, 2022
Wake Forest has ended five consecutive drives in fumbles. Pretty impressive IYAM
— Bud Elliott (@BudElliott3) October 29, 2022
That may be the most insane quarter of football I have witnessed. Louisville forced six Wake Forest turnovers in the third quarter, outscoring the Deacs 35-0 in the quarter.
— Curt Weiler (@CurtMWeiler) October 29, 2022
What happened to Wake Forest at halftime? 5 turnovers in the 3rd Quarter. pic.twitter.com/SJMVJIQHif
— Sickos Committee (@SickosCommittee) October 29, 2022
Thanks coming out wake forest, what a fraud
— Tanner Wunder (@TannerWunder) October 29, 2022
