Wake Forest had to ride out a wild one against Louisville, and the Demon Deacons answered every time the game started to tilt. They won 30-27, but this was not a clean, comfortable finish. It was a game built on explosive offense, stubborn defense, and one last massive stop when Louisville had every chance to force overtime.
The turning point came late in the first half, with Wake Forest trailing 14-10. Gio Lopez dropped back and found Carlos Hernandez for a 77-yard touchdown strike, the kind of play that flips a game in a blink. That catch put the Demon Deacons ahead 17-14 and gave the offense a jolt it carried into the break.
Ty Clark III was doing heavy lifting throughout the night, too. He scored twice on the ground, including a second touchdown before halftime that stretched the lead to 24-14. Louisville didn’t fold, though, and the Cardinals answered with a long touchdown pass of their own to trim the margin to 24-21 at the half.
From there, it turned into a fourth-quarter fight. Louisville tied it at 27-27, and neither side could separate until Wake Forest finally broke through with 6:20 left. Connor Calvert drilled a 32-yard field goal to put the Demon Deacons back in front 30-27, and that kicked off a tense final stretch.
Louisville still had chances. The Cardinals moved into Wake Forest territory and lined up for a 42-yard field goal that could have tied it, but the kick missed with 2:29 remaining.
They got the ball back again, advanced to the Wake Forest 40, and had one more shot with 18 seconds left. This time the attempt was from 57 yards, and Gabe Kirschke blew it up, getting through to block the kick and help Wake Forest run out the clock.
Hernandez was the headliner on offense. The senior caught nine passes for 194 yards and a touchdown, turning in one of the best receiving performances in Wake Forest history. That outing earned him ACC Offensive Player of the Week honors.
Kirschke’s night was just as big on the other side of the ball. In addition to the blocked kick, he finished with three tackles and two sacks, good enough for ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors.
Lopez was efficient and steady, completing 12 of 19 passes for 225 yards and a touchdown. Clark finished with 91 rushing yards and two scores, while Aiden Hall led the defense with 11 tackles.
As a unit, Wake Forest came up big when it mattered most. The defense produced four sacks and nine tackles for loss, and it held Louisville to 75 rushing yards. The win moved the Demon Deacons to 3-1 and added another ACC victory to their start.
In Other News...
Louisville Suddenly Has A Much Bigger QB Problem At NC State
Louisville heads into its trip to North Carolina State with a lot less certainty under center than it expected. Starting quarterback Lincoln Kienholz is listed as questionable because of an injury, and Jeff Brohm said only that Kienholz is dealing with one, leaving the details vague as the Cardinals turn their attention to game time.
If Kienholz is unable to go, Louisville will be forced to sort through a backup plan that was never supposed to be this prominent so soon. The options appear to be freshman Briggs Cherry or transfer Davin Wydner, a reminder that what looked like a straightforward Week 1 quarterback situation can change in a hurry once injuries enter the picture. [Read more 🡒]
Louisville Heads To NC State With No Room For Another Letdown
Louisville heads into its trip to NC State still trying to steady itself after a 30-27 loss at Wake Forest, a result that left the Cardinals with little margin for error as they move into their third conference game of the season. At 2-2, Louisville has already shown enough to believe it can stay in the mix, but the consistency has to show up now, especially against a Wolfpack team that has also been fighting through a disappointing start.
The injury picture only adds another layer to the matchup, with Louisville navigating a long list of unavailable players, while NC States status report includes uncertainty at quarterback. The Cardinals also bring a historical edge into the series, but that kind of backdrop only matters if they avoid another stumble in a game that already feels like a test of whether the season can stay on track. [Read more 🡒]
Louisville Faces A Familiar ACC Problem At NC State
Louisville heads to NC State with the kind of ACC road test that can quietly shape the rest of a season, and this one carries a little extra familiarity for both sides. The matchup is set for a noon kickoff, with broadcast details already in place and the Cardinals slated to wear red. The teams have seen each other recently enough to remember how tight this series can get, and Louisvilles own recent struggles with penalties remain part of the backdrop as it prepares for another league game away from home.
NC State brings a mixed profile into the game, with quarterback play split between CJ Bailey and Will Wilson and Duke Scott giving the Wolfpack a threat on the ground. Defensively, Popo Aguirre has been one of the more active players on the roster, which adds another layer to a game that figures to hinge on discipline and execution. Louisville already knows how quickly this matchup can turn into a grind, and this one feels built for another possession-by-possession fight. [Read more 🡒]