With Wake Forest eking by Duke 33-30 in overtime on Saturday, posting its highest scoring totals since its season-opener, two important things were accomplished: The Demon Deacons emerged from a puzzling scoring slump and possibly discovered an offensive identity that fits their personnel.

“I think we know who we are a little better,” Wake coach Jim Grobe said. “I don't think we're a total spread football team. We stayed with that six weeks and that's just not us.”

Breaking from the spread, the Deacs (5-3 overall, 3-2 ACC) have returned to the familiar I-formation, a staple running attack employed by Grobe for many years. Against Duke, his team mixed that two-back formation with a multiple wide receiver spread.

The move produced a balanced offense that gained 344 total yards and scored its most points against an ACC opponent this season. There still were some hiccups but the offensive rarely sputtered.

“We came out running, we came out passing, we came out mixing stuff together that I think we caught them off guard,” said Wake sophomore running back Brandon Pendergrass, who rushed 21 times for 64 yards.

Pendergrass made his first career start in place of injured back Josh Adams, whose sprained left ankle kept him out.

Wake junior quarterback Riley Skinner added variety to the running game with a career-high 14 rushes for 36 yards.

Skinner also used his arm, completing 18 of 31 passes for 232 yards and a 20-yard touchdown connection with senior D.J. Boldin in the fourth quarter.

Play calls by Wake offensive coordinator Steed Lobotzke, who in previous weeks had come under pressure as the Deacs had scored just two touchdowns against ACC opponents, appeared designed to take more chances.

“We had more aggressiveness in our game plan,” Wake receiver Marshall Williams said. “We wanted to stop having to do what the defense wanted us to do.”

In the third quarter, Skinner twice tried to connect with Williams downfield, though the long passes were slightly off the mark. They finally teamed for a 36-yard completion late in the fourth quarter.

The Deacs also found some confidence in the red zone, entering Saturday's game ranked 11th among ACC teams in red zone offense.

Against Duke, they scored inside the 20-yard line on 3 of 4 chances.

They have now scored on five of their last six attempts in the red zone.

All of the Deacs woes are not behind them but Saturday's game eased some concerns.

“Scoring 33 points, it was big, it gave us some of our swagger back,” Williams said. “So we can hopefully carry on.”