Jan. 14, 2013
By Nick Sebesta, Wake Forest Athletic Communications (@SIDeacons)
Two former Wake Forest players took part in the divisional rounds of the NFL playoffs this weekend and will meet in the NFC Championship on Sunday at 3 p.m. Following Sunday's matchup in the conference title game, one of the two former Demon Deacons will represent Wake Forest at Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans on Feb. 3.
Tyson Clabo - Falcons
Clabo started at right tackle on Sunday for the NFC's top-seeded Atlanta Falcons against the Seattle Seahawks as the Falcons gutted out a 30-28 win at home in an instant classic.Atlanta jumped ahead early, going up 20-0 at halftime. Matt Bryant kicked two field goals while Tony Gonzalez and Roddy White each notched a touchdown. Seattle stormed back in the second half and despite a Jason Snelling touchdown in the third quarter, the Seahawks took a 28-27 lead with 31 seconds left in the game.
Quarterback Matt Ryan engineered a drive in the final seconds as Bryant kicked the go-ahead field goal with eight seconds left to win the game. Behind Clabo and the rest of the offensive line, Ryan was not sacked during the game and completed 24-of-35 passes for 250 yards. Atlanta also gained 167 rushing yards in the win.
Joe Looney - 49ers
Looney was inactive for San Francisco on Saturday as the 49ers rolled the Green Bay Packers 45-31 in Candlestick Park to advance to the NFC title game. Green Bay looked impressive early in the first quarter, leading 14-7 aided by a Colin Kaepernick interception that was returned for a touchdown by Sam Shields. The 49ers though rallied in the second quarter and went into halftime leading 24-21 following a field goal from veteran David Akers.
San Francisco scored three-straight touchdowns in the second half which included a 56-yard touchdown run by Kaepernick. Green Bay scored a touchdown in the final minute, but the 49ers advanced to the NFC Championship game to face the Falcons. Looney is second on the depth chart at left guard behind Mike Iupati.
