Wake Forest Athletics
Three Demon Deacons Earn Week 7 ACC Player of the Week Selections
10/19/2026 1:59:00 PM | Football
This marks the third time this season Gio Lopez has earned ACC Quarterback of the Week honors alongside Clinton Richard and Dominick Barry who were recognized for their performances against Cal.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Redshirt junior quarterback Gio Lopez, redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Clinton Richard and freshman tight end Dominick Barry were named Week 7 ACC Players of the Week, the conference office announced on Monday. Lopez was named ACC Co-Quarterback of the Week while Richard earned Offensive Lineman of the Week honors and Barry was selected as Co-Rookie of the Week.
This is the third time this season and the second-straight week that Lopez has earned ACC Quarterback of the Week honors, as the Madison, Ala., native led Wake Forest to a 41-7 victory at Cal on Saturday night, completing 16-of-23 attempts for 267 yards and four touchdowns while also rushing for 51 yards.
Lopez opened the night orchestrating a 99-yard touchdown drive, capped by a 39-yard touchdown connection with Barry. He then scored on just one play on Wake's second drive of the evening, finding redshirt freshman wide receiver Jack Foley for a 29-yard touchdown.
His third and fourth touchdowns were once again to Barry, as Lopez was one of only two quarterbacks nationally in Week 7 with 250-plus passing yards, four touchdown passes and no interceptions.
Richard, meanwhile, helped power Wake Forest's offense to more than 500 yards of offense and seven touchdowns, helping protect Lopez to hold the Golden Bears without a sack on the evening. He earned a team-high 87.7 pass blocking grade according to Pro Football Focus' metrics and was named to the outlet's National Team of the Week.
Additionally, Richard created space for Wake Forest to rush for 220 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Barry had a career-night against Cal, recording four catches for 102 yards and three touchdowns.
He became 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.
Alongside Houston's Patrick Overmyer, Barry is just the second tight end in the country this season with three or more receiving touchdowns in a single game.
This is the third time this season and the second-straight week that Lopez has earned ACC Quarterback of the Week honors, as the Madison, Ala., native led Wake Forest to a 41-7 victory at Cal on Saturday night, completing 16-of-23 attempts for 267 yards and four touchdowns while also rushing for 51 yards.
Lopez opened the night orchestrating a 99-yard touchdown drive, capped by a 39-yard touchdown connection with Barry. He then scored on just one play on Wake's second drive of the evening, finding redshirt freshman wide receiver Jack Foley for a 29-yard touchdown.
His third and fourth touchdowns were once again to Barry, as Lopez was one of only two quarterbacks nationally in Week 7 with 250-plus passing yards, four touchdown passes and no interceptions.
Richard, meanwhile, helped power Wake Forest's offense to more than 500 yards of offense and seven touchdowns, helping protect Lopez to hold the Golden Bears without a sack on the evening. He earned a team-high 87.7 pass blocking grade according to Pro Football Focus' metrics and was named to the outlet's National Team of the Week.
Additionally, Richard created space for Wake Forest to rush for 220 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Barry had a career-night against Cal, recording four catches for 102 yards and three touchdowns.
He became 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.
Alongside Houston's Patrick Overmyer, Barry is just the second tight end in the country this season with three or more receiving touchdowns in a single game.
Players Mentioned
Wednesday, October 14
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