STANFORD, California — Hank Bachmeier threw three touchdown passes and Matthew Dennis kicked a crucial 23-yard field goal with just 1:48 left on the clock, leading Wake Forest to a 27-24 victory against Stanford on Saturday. This marked the first cross-country conference trip for the Demon Deacons this season.

Nick Anderson clinched the victory for Wake Forest (4-4, 2-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) by intercepting a pass from Stanford’s Ashton Daniels with only 22 seconds remaining, thwarting the Cardinal’s chances of tying the game with a long field goal opportunity.

Stanford, now at 2-6 and 1-4 in conference play, has dropped five consecutive games and remains winless at home against FBS opponents during Coach Troy Taylor’s two-season tenure. The team has experienced 12 straight home losses overall against FBS foes.

Bachmeier effectively dissected a struggling Stanford secondary in the first half, tossing three touchdown passes, including a 30-yard connection to Micah Mays Jr. and a 39-yard strike to Tate Carney. Although he finished the game with 245 passing yards, he encountered difficulties in the second half. Nevertheless, he orchestrated the game-winning drive, which was aided by a 36-yard punt return from Taylor Morin, placing the Demon Deacons at midfield.

With this victory, Wake Forest secured its third consecutive road triumph, moving closer to bowl eligibility.

Stanford’s quarterback situation fluctuated as Daniels came off the bench to complete 24 of 31 attempts for 214 yards. He successfully connected on all six passes during a touchdown drive in the second quarter, culminating in a 16-yard scoring pass to Sam Roush in the fourth quarter. This capped a lengthy 99-yard drive following a goal-line stand but, unfortunately for the Cardinal, the drive was not enough to secure a win.

For Wake Forest, the performance was far from flawless, as they were flagged 10 times for 95 yards and failed to convert on a fourth-and-goal attempt from the 1-yard line. However, they capitalized on four turnovers committed by Stanford, translating them into 14 crucial points, ultimately securing their victory.

Stanford’s freshman quarterback, Elijah Brown, was given the start after stepping in for Daniels early in the previous week. However, he struggled to energize the team, throwing an early interception and was subsequently replaced within the first half.

Looking ahead, Wake Forest will host California on Friday night, while Stanford is set to visit N.C. State on Saturday.