Wake Forest’s blowout of Stanford wasn’t just a clean win on the scoreboard. It was the kind of game that gave the grades a chance to tell the story too, and a bunch of Demon Deacons came out looking sharp when the numbers were in.
The headliner was Gio Lopez, who keeps stacking big weeks on top of big weeks. The transfer quarterback threw for 265 yards and added 88 more on the ground, then turned that into five total touchdowns.
PFF gave him a 91.6, which was the highest grade of any Power Four quarterback in Week Five. He’s already been strong all season, but this one felt like another step up as Wake’s offense kept rolling.
The help around him showed up in the trenches. Wake’s offensive line handled Stanford’s front well and continued to trend in the right direction. Clinton Richard posted a team-best 78.5 pass-blocking grade, while left tackle Tolu Olajide wasn’t far behind at 76.3 in pass protection.
Right tackle Aidan Martin may have turned in his best outing as a Deac. He finished with a 76.2 overall grade and led the team with an 82.2 mark in run blocking. For a young tackle who’s had some uneven moments this season, that’s a promising sign.
Tight end Will Loerzel also made his presence felt. He hauled in two catches, including a touchdown, and earned a 78.6 overall grade. He was especially effective as a run blocker, where he posted a 71.9.
Wake’s defense was just as efficient, and the tackling stood out again. Coach Dickert had already pointed to sloppy tackling early in the year that hurt the Deacs against Purdue and Miami, but for the second straight week, Wake was much cleaner.
Five defenders graded above 80 in tackling, with Davaughn Patterson leading the way at 85.2. In all, 22 Wake defenders who played at least three snaps finished with tackle grades above 71.
One of the most encouraging developments came from Rushaun Tongue. He delivered his best game of the season against Stanford, putting up a 77.2 overall grade, an 83.7 tackling grade, and a 78.2 coverage grade across 46 snaps.
Stanford never really threatened over the top, and Tongue handled the free safety role well. That should give him a boost moving forward.
Kadear Dembele kept building too. The interior defensive lineman graded out at 80.3 against the run and 73.5 overall, and he matched a season high with 30 snaps. He’s continuing to make himself felt up front week after week.
In Other News...
Wake Forest Is Counting On Opal Bird To Change This Season
At ACC Basketball Tipoff, Wake Forests womens program made clear it is trying to establish a sharper edge heading into a new season, with coach Megan Gebbia joined by Breauna Ware and returning sophomore Opal Bird to talk through the groups mindset. The Deacons are looking to carry that confidence into a league that leaves little margin for error, and they already have a date circled with a season opener against USC Upstate on Nov. 2.
Bird, in particular, sounded like a player stepping into a bigger role after a year of growth, as the sophomore discussed her development, leadership responsibilities and the standard she wants the team to chase. For Wake Forest, the hope is that her evolution helps turn an encouraging offseason into something more tangible once the games start, especially in conference play where every possession tends to matter. [Read more 🡒]