Skinner Named ACC Offensive Player of the Week
Wake QB leads Deacs on seventh career game-winning drive

Sept. 14, 2009

Wake Forest quarterback Riley Skinner on Monday was named the ACC Offensive Back of the Week by the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Skinner, a 6-1, 210-pound senior from Jacksonville, FL (The Bolles School) engineered his seventh career fourth quarter game-winning drive in Wake's 24-17 win over Stanford on Sept. 12. Skinner completed 18 of 26 passes for 187 yards and one touchdown. In the process, he broke the school record for pass completions in a career. He now has 677 career completions.

Trailing 17-10 in the fourth quarter, Skinner led Wake Forest on a pair of scoring drives. With 14:01 to play in the game, he hit Jordan Williams for a 9-yard scoring pass to complete a 14-play, 73-yard drive to tie the game.

After the teams traded punts, Wake had the ball at its own nine with 3:49 to play. Skinner led the Deacons to the Stanford one when he scored on a 1-yard run with two seconds left to play. During the fourth quarter, Skinner completed 8 of 9 passes for 92 yards. On the final drive, he was 4 for 4 for 65 yards including a 44-yard completion to Lovell Jackson on third and nine from the Stanford 46.

Saturday's come-from-behind win over Stanford should not have been a surprise for followers of Wake Forest football. Skinner has led the Deacons to similar wins in his second game of the year all four seasons.

In 2006, Skinner was playing in his second career game and made his first-ever start as he helped erase a 13-7 Duke lead as Wake Forest won 14-13.

After separating his shoulder in the season opener at Boston College in 2007, Skinner returned as the Deacons hosted Maryland, his second game of the season. He helped Wake rally from a 24-3 deficit to beat the Terps 31-24 in overtime.

Last year, Skinner drove Wake Forest on a nine-play, 57-yard drive as Sam Swank booted a 41-yard field goal to beat Ole Miss 30-28.

For Skinner, it marks his sixth ACC Player of the Week honor. He was the conference's Rookie of the Week three times during the 2006 season and earned Offensive Back of the Week honors in 2008 after wins over Baylor and Ole Miss.