Wake Forest’s 38-14 win at NC State turned into an awards haul on both sides of the ball.
Gio Lopez, Jack Foley, Vincent Firenze and Langston Hardy all picked up weekly recognition after the Demon Deacons rolled to their largest road victory over NC State in 83 years. The honors matched the shape of the game itself: Wake Forest got production from its quarterback, a breakout showing from a young receiver, and a defense that kept the Wolfpack from getting anything going on the ground.
Lopez was the headliner. The redshirt junior went 26 of 33 for 303 yards and three touchdown passes, and he added a rushing score in the win.
That performance brought him ACC Quarterback of the Week honors, a spot in the Davey O’Brien Award’s Great 8 and recognition as a Manning Award Star of the Week. It was the second time this season he has landed both ACC weekly recognition and Manning Award Star of the Week honors.
His best stretch came after the break. Lopez completed 15 of 16 passes for 218 yards and two touchdowns in the second half, and he also scored on a fourth-down run as Wake Forest strung together 31 unanswered points.
Foley’s day was just as eye-catching in its own way. The redshirt freshman was named ACC Receiver of the Week after setting career highs with eight catches and 156 receiving yards. He also found the end zone, giving him touchdown receptions in back-to-back games.
A big chunk of that damage came in the third quarter, when Foley piled up 108 receiving yards and helped fuel Wake Forest’s surge. His longest catch went for 52 yards from Lopez, a play that stretched the field and forced NC State to keep chasing. Among ACC wideouts in Week 6, no one had more receiving yards than Foley, and his 19.5 yards per catch led the conference’s receivers last week.
Hardy’s recognition came from the other side of the ball. The redshirt senior defensive lineman was named East-West Bowl Defensive Player of the Week after tying Firenze for the team lead with eight total tackles and four solo stops. His work helped Wake Forest control the line and blunt NC State’s run game, as the Wolfpack managed only 0.6 yards per rushing attempt, one of the lowest marks posted by an ACC team this season.
Firenze added another standout line to the mix and was named ACC Linebacker of the Week. The redshirt junior finished with eight tackles, including four solo stops, and changed the tone of the game right away by forcing a fumble from NC State quarterback CJ Bailey on the opening drive. Wake Forest recovered and turned that takeaway into the game’s first touchdown.
He kept making plays from there, helping shut down the Wolfpack’s ground attack and prevent any real rhythm on offense. Firenze also earned a place on Pro Football Focus’ national Team of the Week after posting a 90.1 defensive grade, the second-highest mark among linebackers nationally for the week. It was the second time this season he has been named ACC Linebacker of the Week.
Taken together, the honors tell the story of the afternoon. Lopez ran the offense with efficiency, Foley gave the passing game a sharper edge, and Hardy and Firenze anchored a defense that repeatedly put NC State behind the sticks.
Wake Forest got more than a win out of the trip. It got a snapshot of what the roster can look like when multiple pieces click at once.
In Other News...
Wake Forest Awaits Two Crucial Injury Decisions Before Game Day
Wake Forest heads into game day with a couple of important injury situations still hanging over the roster, as wide receiver Carlos Hernandez and EDGE Langston Hardy are both listed as questionable. Hernandezs status matters because he was hurt in the middle of the Akron game, while Hardy has been working through a knee issue after being seen with a small brace on his left knee against NC State. Defensive tackle Kadear Demebele is listed as probable, but Tyler Walton and Jack Hines remain unavailable.
For a Demon Deacons team trying to manage its depth on both sides of the ball, those late-week decisions could shape how the staff approaches the matchup. Cal has its own uncertainty, with quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele and safety Kingston Lopa questionable but trending toward availability after concussions, and running back Adam Mohammed also in question after missing two games, so both sides are waiting on a few key health updates before Saturday settles in. [Read more 🡒]