No. 21 Wake Forest Secures Bowl Eligibility in 41-7 Victory Over Cal

Saturday, October 17

Berkeley, CA

10:30 EST/7:30 PST

Wake Forest University

6-1 , 4-1

Cal

3-4 , 2-2

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Wake Forest	14	20	7	0	41
California	0	0	0	7	7

PDF Box Score Postgame Notes

No. 21 Wake Forest Secures Bowl Eligibility in 41-7 Victory Over Cal

10/18/2026 2:38:00 AM | Football

Box Score

Quarterback Gio Lopez tallied 318 total yards and four total touchdowns against the Golden Bears.

By: Stephen Czarda and KJ Smith

BERKELEY, Calif. – Powered by an all-around team performance, the No. 21 Wake Forest football team (6-1, 4-1 ACC) defeated Cal (3-4, 2-2 ACC), 41-7, on Saturday night at Cal Memorial Stadium.

With Saturday's victory, the Demon Deacons secured bowl eligibility for the second consecutive season and the 19th time in program history. Additionally, the Deacs have now earned a postseason berth nine times since the 2016 season.

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Quarterback Gio Lopez continued his stellar season as he finished the game with 318 total yards against the Golden Bears. Lopez completed 16-of-23 passes for 267 yards and four touchdowns, while also adding 51 yards on the ground.

Tight end Dominick Barry recorded his best game of the season as he totaled four receptions for 103 yards and three touchdowns, becoming the first Wake Forest tight end with a 100-yard receiving performance since Cam Serigne hauled in nine passes for 112 yards against Texas A&M on Dec. 29, 2017.

Additionally, the Greenwood, Ind., native is the first Demon Deacon tight end with three receiving touchdowns in a single game since Jake Freudenthal hauled in three touchdowns against NC State on Nov. 2, 2019.

Elsewhere, wide receiver Jack Foley tallied three catches for 45 yards and a touchdown, while fellow wide receiver Kam Shanks notched five catches for 79 yards.

The Demon Deacons also excelled in the run game, with running backs Jamar Searcy and Ty Clark III both added rushing touchdowns on Saturday.

Defensively, the Deacs were led by defensive back Myles Turpin, who finished the game with 10 tackles, including three solo efforts and 1.5 tackles for loss, and a pair of pass breakups. Defensive lineman Langston Hardy continued to put pressure on the Cal backfield, logging three tackles with two tackles for loss and a sack.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Demon Deacons struck first as quarterback Gio Lopez found tight end Dominick Barry over the middle for a 39-yard touchdown strike at the 8:20 mark in the first quarter, capping off a five-play, 99-yard drive.
- The touchdown reception marked the first of Barry's career.
Defensive back Deuce Blades III broke up a pass to turn the Golden Bears over on downs deep in their own territory.
- The Deacs capitalized two plays later as Lopez found wide receiver Jack Foley wide open in the end zone from 29-yards out to make it 14-0.
Running back Jamar Searcy extended the Deacs lead to 21 points as he punched in a one-yard rushing touchdown at the 11:55 mark in the second quarter.
Wake Forest made it 27-0 with 8:54 left in the first half following a 31-yard rushing touchdown by running back Ty Clark III.
- The Deacs failed the ensuing two-point conversion.
Blades recorded another pass breakup on fourth and goal to keep the Golden Bears off the scoreboard.
The Deacs made it 34-0 with nine seconds remaining in the second quarter as Lopez connected with Barry on a 30-yard strike for his second touchdown of the game.
Wake Forest entered the half with a 34-point lead.
The Demon Deacons made it 41-0 with 2:57 left in the third quarter as Lopez and Barry connected on a two-yard touchdown reception.
Cal got on the board with a touchdown with 8:29 remaining.
Wake Forest defeated Cal, 41-7

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Freshman tight end Dominick Barry had his best performance of the season, finishing with four receptions for 102 yards and three touchdowns.
- He is the first Wake Forest tight end with a 100-yard receiving performance since Cam Serigne hauled in nine passes for 112 yards against Texas A&M on Dec. 29, 2017.
- Additionally, he is the first Demon Deacon tight end with three receiving touchdowns in a single game since Jake Freudenthal hauled in three touchdowns against NC State on Nov. 2, 2019.
- He is also only the second tight end in FBS this season with three or more touchdowns, joined by Houston's Patrick Overmyer.

STAGGERING STATISTIC

The Demon Deacons secured bowl eligibility for the second consecutive season and the 19th time in program history with the win over the Golden Bears.
- The Deacs have clinched a postseason berth nine times since the 2016 season.
- Wake Forest All-Time Bowl Appearances: 1946, 1949, 1979, 1992, 1999, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2025, 2026

FROM COACH DICKERT
"Really proud of our team. Really proud of our program as a whole. The intensity in which we took the field and in which we prepared showed. I meant it when I said we felt like caged animals being out here and waiting for this football game. Our guys executed the plan. Offensively, Gio Lopez is an absolute stud. He continues to play at a big time level, which is giving us a chance in every game. Defensively, I thought we kept them off balance. It was a complete and dominant win on the road. It's our fourth Power 4 road win, which is huge for our team. Excited about the bye week and excited about what's next."

UP NEXT
After its bye week next week, the Demon Deacons return to Allegacy Financial Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 31 as they host Virginia.

Join The Best Fan Experience in North Carolina by purchasing tickets through GoDeacs.com/tickets, by calling (336) 758-3322 or by visiting the Wake Forest Athletic Ticket Office located behind the north end zone of Allegacy Stadium. To request more information, fans can fill out this form and a representative will follow up to provide assistance.