Wake Forest’s trip west to face Cal comes with a little bit of rarity baked in. It’s the only West Coast game on the Demon Deacons’ schedule, and just the second time these two programs have ever met.
For Old Gold & Black sports editor Griffin Lamphier, the biggest question isn’t the travel or the late kickoff. It’s whether Wake Forest can treat it like any other ACC road test.
“ACC road games are really hard, they always have been,” Lamphier said. “But Wake’s now gone on the road three times this year against three pretty darn good opponents at Purdue, Louisville - who was ranked No. 16 at the time, and this past weekend at NC State. I think it’s going to be a matter of “it’s another ACC game.””
That road résumé is part of why Lamphier thinks Wake Forest’s early-season story has been more about how the team has looked than where it was picked. The Demon Deacons entered the year No. 13 in the preseason polls, just behind Cal at No. 12, but Lamphier said people around the program didn’t see that ranking coming.
“I don’t think the guys who were at the practices really expected them to be as low as they were picked by the media, or at least by consensus,” he said. “The defense didn’t get all that many changes from last year, they were one of the best in the ACC.”
The bigger shift, Lamphier said, came on offense. Wake Forest had to replace a lot in the receiving room, even while keeping Carlos Hernandez, who leads the country in receptions, and bringing back Jack Foley for another season. But the move that has changed the most is under center.
Wake Forest brought in Gio Lopez from UNC after a difficult year in Chapel Hill, and the reunion with offensive coordinator Rob Ezell - who had coached him at South Alabama two years earlier - has paid off fast.
“So, reunited him, got him in a system he was used to, and it's been night and day difference,” Lamphier said. “He’s been one of the strongest quarterbacks in the country.
He’s looked incredibly comfortable. He’s described it as it feels like there’s air here again and then he’s shown it on the football field.”
Lopez’s comfort has shown up in the numbers, too. He leads the nation in EPA, and Lamphier said it’s not just about scheme familiarity. The offensive line in front of him has been better than what he had at Carolina, and that has helped stabilize the entire attack.
“I think Freddie Kitchen’s offensive coordinator at Carolina was not a fun experience for him,” Lamphier said. “Gio has benefited from Rob Ezell calling the plays.”
There’s also a broader plan behind the offense’s approach. Jake Dickert has said in recent press conferences that if Wake Forest can run the ball better than its opponent, it can control the game. Lamphier pointed to the two-back combination of Ty Clark III and Deuce Lawrence as part of that effort, giving the Deacons more than just a one-man show.
“They’ve had success with mainly two backs Ty Clark III and Deuce Lawrence, just add a diversity, a second layer to the offensive play calling, where the only person running isn’t just Gio Lopez,” Lamphier said.
Asked which players beyond the obvious names could swing the game, Lamphier highlighted Foley, Antonio Meeks, the running backs, and the linebackers. He said Foley has been on a strong run, with Meeks positioned to step in if needed. He also pointed to Vincent Firenze after his strong outing at NC State, when he forced a fumble on the first drive and earned PFF Team of the Week honors.
“Wake’s linebackers are going to have to play a pretty good game,” Lamphier said.
For all the momentum on offense, Lamphier said the key concern still comes down to the line of scrimmage. NC State made Wake Forest throw by loading the box, and the Deacons couldn’t respond on the ground. If that happens again, the offense can get too easy to diagnose.
“Winning the battle in the trenches,” Lamphier said. “NC State basically said, ‘Here, we’re going to stack the box.
We’re going to make you throw the ball, and you're not running the ball on us.’ And they couldn't.
The offensive line wasn’t producing any kind of space, and that was an issue. If they can’t run the ball, it’s a very one-dimensional offense.
With a guy like Kingston Lopa potentially on the field, that can be really troublesome.”
In Other News...
Cals QB Outlook Just Shifted At A Crucial Time
Cal got a significant boost under center heading into Saturdays home game against No. 21 Wake Forest, with Jaron-Keawe Sagapolotele upgraded from questionable to probable. The quarterbacks status suggests he is likely to return after missing last week with a concussion, a timely shift for a Bears offense that needed clarity at the position as it prepares for a ranked opponent.
The rest of the availability report brought a mixed bag for Cal. Running back Adam Mohammed was downgraded to doubtful, while safety Kingston Lopa moved up to probable, giving the Bears a better look on defense even as the backfield remains unsettled. Wake Forest also got encouraging news of its own, with wide receiver Carlos Hernandez and defensive end Langston Hardy upgraded to probable. [Read more 🡒]
Cal May Have Found A Clutch Scorer As Offense Still Looks Shaky
Cals preseason tune-up against Loyola Marymount did little to hide the bigger offensive questions, but it did offer a glimpse of a player who might thrive when the game tightens late. Nojus Indruaitis delivered the decisive bucket in the closing moments of a 60-59 win, giving the Bears a needed bright spot in a game that was ugly in stretches but still ended with a confidence-building finish.
Mark Madsen pointed to Indruaitis and others who helped Cal hang around despite the rough shooting night, which is the part that matters most this early in November. The Bears still have another exhibition left before the regular season begins, and for a team searching for more reliable scoring, the final seconds provided at least one encouraging answer while the broader offensive picture remains unsettled. [Read more 🡒]
Wake Forest Brings A Major Depth Question Into Berkeley
Wake Forest is heading into Berkeley with its injury report carrying plenty of weight, and California has reason to keep an eye on it. The Demon Deacons have six players listed as out, leaving their depth thinner than usual in spots that matter most, especially up front where line rotations can shape both protection and the run game. For a Cal defense that will be watching how the visitors handle pressure, the availability of the players listed as probable could end up being part of the early-game story.
Among the names to watch are wide receiver Carlos Hernandez and defensive lineman Langston Hardy, both listed as probable heading into the matchup. Wake Forest will need to sort through personnel issues on both sides of the ball, and that makes the health of those key contributors even more important as the week unfolds. If the Deacons can patch together their offensive and defensive fronts, theyll give themselves a chance to keep the game manageable, but the margin for error is already looking slim. [Read more 🡒]