Wake Forest walks into Week 2 with a few real answers already in hand - and a few bigger questions waiting in West Lafayette.
Start with Gio Lopez. The Demon Deacons’ quarterback made a strong first impression in the 38-16 win over Akron, throwing for 350 yards and three touchdowns while completing 21 of 32 passes.
He didn’t turn the ball over, added 39 rushing yards, and gave Wake Forest exactly the kind of dual-threat presence that can stress a defense. Even more encouraging for the Deacons: Lopez piled up 313 passing yards and all three of his touchdown passes in the first half.
Carlos Hernandez was the biggest beneficiary of that fast start. He caught five passes for 165 yards and a touchdown, including a 78-yard score that helped push Wake Forest out to a 28-0 lead.
Antonio Meeks added another chunk-play punch with 93 receiving yards and a 72-yard touchdown, while Kam Shanks chipped in with 55 yards and a touchdown. That kind of spread-the-ball production gives Lopez plenty to work with.
But Akron is one thing. Purdue is another.
The real test for Lopez is whether that Week 1 production travels against Power 4 competition. Wake Forest got a balanced attack against Akron, finishing with 203 rushing yards, so Lopez didn’t have to carry everything on his own. Against stronger defenses, though, he’ll have to stay composed, make good decisions, and avoid the kind of mistakes that can swing a game quickly.
The Deacons also have to get cleaner. They were flagged 11 times for 115 yards against Akron, and seven of those penalties came on offense.
False starts kept showing up, and those pre-snap issues repeatedly put Wake Forest behind the chains or erased positive plays. The Deacons were able to overcome it in a comfortable win, but that margin disappears fast when the competition rises.
On the other side of the ball, Wake Forest’s defense gets a much tougher assignment after allowing 305 total yards to Akron. The Zips split that production pretty evenly, with 156 passing yards and 149 rushing yards, which means the Deacons have work to do against both phases.
Purdue arrives off a much louder offensive showing. In its opener against Indiana State, the Boilermakers rolled up 523 total yards.
Ryan Browne was sharp, going 23 of 29 for 317 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. Fame Ijeboi also made an impact on the ground, gaining 87 yards and scoring on just 11 carries.
There were positives for Wake Forest’s defense against Akron. The Demon Deacons finished with seven tackles for loss and two sacks, showing they can create disruption in the backfield. Vincent Firenze and Frank Cusano each had nine tackles, and Firenze added a tackle for loss and a forced fumble.
To have a shot at slowing Purdue down, Wake Forest will need to keep the Boilermakers from hitting explosive plays, get them into tougher third-down situations, and take advantage of turnover chances when they come. Pressuring Browne while limiting Ijeboi and the run game would go a long way. If Purdue keeps finding success both through the air and on the ground, Wake Forest’s defense is going to have a long afternoon.
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Wake Forest Gets A Shot At Miami's Shakiest Weakness Yet
Wake Forest is catching Miami at a time when the Hurricanes offense still looks plenty dangerous, but the defensive picture is less settled than it was a few weeks ago. The No. 5 Hurricanes are coming off a record-setting performance on that side of the ball, yet injuries in the secondary have forced Mario Cristobal to start reshaping the group as the ACC schedule rolls on.
The immediate concern is how Miami holds up at cornerback and safety against a Wake Forest team that will be watching for openings. With the Hurricanes already leading the series, the bigger question is whether the next stretch becomes a test of depth for a defense leaning more heavily on younger players to steady the back end. [Read more 🡒]