Wake Forest Demon Deacons
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By: Stephen Czarda & KJ Smith
RALEIGH, N.C. – Powered by a dominant second half performance, the Wake Forest football team (5-1, 3-1 ACC) routed Big Four rival NC State (3-3, 1-2 ACC) by a final score of 38-14 on Saturday afternoon at Carter-Finley Stadium.
Congratulations Coach Dickert and to all the @WakeFB players for proving once again you deserve respect! Going into NC State and destroying them in front of a sold out crowd should have you ranked now! @GSM_Sports13 @PGLoveSports @Its_Coach_Steve @SOTGsmoke @GSM_Wake pic.twitter.com/UnM8NecZSY
— Greenville Sports Media (@GreenvilleSM) October 10, 2026
After entering the halftime locker room trailing 14-10, the Demon Deacons outscored the Wolfpack 28-0 in the second half. Overall, the Deacs totaled 265 yards of offense while allowing the Wolfpack to only 63 yards over the final 30 minutes.
Largest road win in Raleigh in 83 years 🎩 pic.twitter.com/piPwsC3jsc
— Wake Forest Football (@WakeFB) October 11, 2026
Quarterback Gio Lopez continued his stellar start to the season as he finished the game going 26-of-33 for 303 yards and three touchdown passes, as well as a touchdown on the ground. Lopez was dominant down the stretch, completing his final 13 passes for 184 yards.
Comin' through 💨 https://t.co/Ea2eNkpmuV pic.twitter.com/uc8xeb5XPD
— Wake Forest Football (@WakeFB) October 10, 2026
Wide receivers Carlos Hernandez and Jack Foley both shined for the Deacs as they both eclipsed 100-yards receiving on Saturday. Foley led the Deacs with eight receptions for a career-high 156 yards and a touchdown, while Hernandez added a career-high 12 catches for 117 yards and a touchdown.
Running the offense to perfection 👨🍳 https://t.co/j4lt0mGAPK pic.twitter.com/wZXZPPeqbs
— Wake Forest Football (@WakeFB) October 10, 2026
This marks the first time a pair of Wake Forest wide receivers logged 100 yards receiving in the same game since Nov. 6, 2021, when A.T. Perry and Jaquarii Roberson did so against North Carolina.
Back-to-back games with a TD 🔥 https://t.co/kGJQWP50lP pic.twitter.com/6vJPvwLm47
— Wake Forest Football (@WakeFB) October 10, 2026
Elsewhere, running back Deuce Lawrence logged 46 yards and a rushing touchdown, while tight end Matthew Lusardi notched his first career reception and his first career touchdown to open the scoring.
4 catches, 54 yards, 1 TD 🙌
Incredible drive from @Hernandez8K https://t.co/KY9HFBRGvH pic.twitter.com/wft9ZTWHRs
— Wake Forest Football (@WakeFB) October 10, 2026
Defensively, the Demon Deacons were led by defensive lineman Langston Hardy, who tallied eight tackles with four solo efforts, two tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks against NC State. Linebacker Vincent Firenze also recorded another solid performance on Saturday as he finished the game with eight tackles with four solo tackles, as well as a forced fumble on the first possession of the game.
CAPTAIN TO CAPTAIN 👨✈️👨✈️
Wake 7-0 NC State pic.twitter.com/pZEuRtNiMf
— Wake Forest Football (@WakeFB) October 10, 2026
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Quarterback Gio Lopez finished Saturday’s game with 313 yards (303 passing, 10 rushing) along with four total touchdowns.
Through six games, the Madison, Ala., native is also one of only six active quarterbacks in the country with 15 or more total touchdowns to just one turnover.
Fast start from the Deacs 😤@BJ1WAY | #GoDeacs 🎩 pic.twitter.com/AYQFhgy5O7
— Wake Forest Football (@WakeFB) October 10, 2026
STAGGERING STATISTIC
With the victory, Wake Forest is now one of just two programs to win three Power 4 road games through the conclusion of the 12 p.m. window alongside Miami.
Date Opponent Location Score
Oct. 10, 2026 NC State Raleigh, N.C. 38-14
Sept. 26, 2026 No. 16 Louisville Louisville, Ky. 30-27
Sept. 12, 2026 Purdue West Lafayette, Ind. 38-36 (2OT)
No matter the location 😤 https://t.co/hhIb4BYKBB pic.twitter.com/iUs1wA6oQe
— Wake Forest Football (@WakeFB) October 10, 2026
FROM COACH DICKERT
“I’m really proud of our whole football program. The celebration in that locker room is pretty special. Going on the road in the ACC and to play that dominant in the second half is incredible. We challenged them at halftime. I thought we lacked a little intensity coming out the gate. NC State was beating us on the line of scrimmage. I thought our offensive line responded to that. Our run game came to life. I think Gio Lopez is that guy. He only had one incompletion in the second half. He’s a hell of a leader. Our defense continues to find ways to be dominant, especially in the second half. Credit to our players, our coaching staff and our entire program. In year two, to have that type of performance against a 14-year program is important to us. It’s important in our recruiting in taking this thing to the next step.”
We heard you all day, Deacon Nation. Thanks for being there for us 🖤💛 pic.twitter.com/WD5SUSpddg
— Wake Forest Football (@WakeFB) October 10, 2026
UP NEXT
Wake Forest will return to road action next Saturday, facing Cal in the first-ever matchup between the two schools at California Memorial Stadium. The game will kick-off at 10:30 p.m. PST/7:30 p.m. EST and be televised nationally on either ESPN or ESPN2.
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