No. 14 Wake Forest Earns Fifth-Straight Victory, Routs Virginia, 51-7

Saturday, October 31

Winston-Salem, N.C.

3:45 p.m.

Wake Forest University

7-1 , 5-1

Virginia

4-5 , 2-4

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Virginia	0	0	7	0	7
Wake Forest	10	10	24	7	51

PDF Box Score Postgame Notes

10/31/2026 8:10:00 PM | Football

Box Score PDF Box Score FB Postgame Notes vs. Virginia Photo Gallery

The Demon Deacons totaled 538 yards of total offense, including 309 yards on the ground, against the Cavaliers.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Led by a stifling defensive effort and 538 total offensive yards, the No. 14 Wake Forest football (7-1, 5-1 ACC) team earned its fifth-straight victory as the Demon Deacons defeated Virginia (4-5, 2-4 ACC), 51-7, Saturday afternoon at Allegacy Financial Stadium.

Quarterback Gio Lopez continued his stellar season as he recorded 293 yards of total offense against the Cavaliers. Lopez finished the game going 13-of-21 for 229 yards and a touchdown, while also adding 64 yards on the ground.

Over eight games, the Madison, Ala., native has compiled 2,494 total yards, 24 touchdowns and just one interception through eight games this season.

Wide receiver Carlos Hernandez served as the main target for Lopez on Saturday, totaling a team-high eight catches for 136 yards and a touchdown. This marked the Alhambra, Calif., native's fourth 100-plus-yard contest of the season through the first eight contests.

Running back Ty Clark III recorded one of his best games of the season, logging 48 yards and a career-high three rushing touchdowns. Meanwhile, Jamar Searcy totaled 78 yards and a touchdown, while Kyndall McCaleb notched 39 yards and his first career touchdown.

Overall, the Demon Deacons totaled 538 total yards of offense, including 309 yards on the ground.

Defensively, the Deacs were led by defensive back Braylon Johnson, who tallied seven tackles, including five solo efforts, as well as an interception on fourth down in the first quarter.

Wake Forest also excelled on special teams against Virginia, as kicker Connor Calvert connected on all three of his field goal attempts. Meanwhile, wide receiver Kam Shanks played a pivotal role in the return game, finishing with 94 yards on two punt returns, including a field flipping 64-yard effort in the third quarter.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Wake Forest kicked off to the visitors to open the game before the Demon Deacon defense forced a quick three-and-out.
Shanks returned the first punt of the contest 30 yards to set up the Deacs at midfield.
Lopez found Hernandez on back-to-back plays for a combined 49 yards before Clark capped off the drive with a two-yard rushing touchdown.
- It marked the Deacs' seventh opening drive touchdown of the year, which is tied for the most in the country.
The defense stepped up again as the Cavaliers next drive ended on the fourth down interception from Johnson at the 7:52 mark in the first quarter.
Calvert converted a 45-yard field goal with 2:30 remaining in the first to put the Deacs up 10-0.
After another quick stop, Wake Forest added to its lead with a 10 play, 81-yard touchdown drive finished off once again by a Clark rush up the middle from four yards out.
The Wake Forest defense held strong as the Cavaliers entered the red zone for the first time and got stuffed on fourth-and-short.
Calvert knocked down 25-yarder just before the break and sent Wake Forest into the locker room with a 20-0 advantage.
The Demon Deacons came out of the half with their fifth-consecutive scoring drive to open the game as the redshirt sophomore kicker added three more on a 44-yard field goal.
After another three-and-out by the Cavaliers, Shanks returned a punt 64 yards to set the Demon Deacons up at the Virginia 19 .
- Hernandez capitalized on the field position and made it 30-0 with a 10-yard touchdown reception from Lopez with 7:07 on the clock in the third quarter.
Following a Virginia turnover on downs, Lopez found Dickman for 47 yards to once again set up Clark III for his third rushing touchdown of the afternoon.
The two teams traded touchdowns at the end of the third quarter as a seven-yard touchdown from Searcy preceded Virginia's lone score of the contest.
At the 9:08 mark in the fourth quarter, McCaleb recorded his first career touchdown as he ran it in from the 27-yard line.
The Demon Deacons defeated the Cavaliers, 51-7.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Quarterback Gio Lopez finished Saturday's game with 293 yards (229 passing, 64 rushing) along with one touchdown.
- Through eight games, Lopez ranks third in the ACC in both passing yards and touchdown passes.
- Lopez is enjoying a breakout season in the Old Gold & Black, having compiled 2,494 total yards, 24 touchdowns and just one interception through eight games this season.
  - In 11 games at North Carolina last year, Lopez put up marks of 1,880 total yards and 13 touchdowns.
- Through eight games, the Madison, Ala., native is also one of only two active quarterbacks in the country with 20 or more total touchdowns to just one turnover.

Quarterbacks With 20+ Total Touchdowns, One Or Fewer Turnovers

Player	School	Total TDs	Interceptions	Fumbles Lost
Gio Lopez	Wake Forest	24	1	0
Darian Mensah	Miami	24	1	0

2026 ACC Passing Yardage Leaders

Rank	Player	School	2026 Passing Yardage
1.	Kevin Jennings	SMU	2,413
2.	Davis Warren	Stanford	2,203
3.	Gio Lopez	Wake Forest	2,176
4.	Darian Mensah	Miami	2,151
5.	Ethan Grunkmeyer	Virginia Tech	2,140

STAGGERING STATISTIC

Wake Forest's 51 points against Virginia marked the second time this season that the Demon Deacons have scored 50-plus points against an ACC opponent (57 points in 57-3 win over Stanford on Oct. 3).
- It marks the first time Wake Forest has scored 50-plus points in two ACC games in the same season since 2018.

FROM COACH DICKERT:
"Our guys came right back in a rhythm. I've got a lot of respect for Virginia's football team and we really dominated from start to finish. It starts at the line of scrimmage. The defense was lights out. Really proud of our football team and, most importantly, the mentality with which they carry. This team is on a mission. I want them to prove that we're not just a good team, but that we're a great team, and that's a day-in and day-out process. Our guys have to keep living in the dark, doing what we expect and we'll move right on to the next opponent next week."

UP NEXT:
The Demon Deacons return to Allegacy Financial Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 7 as they host Merrimack in their annual Homecoming & Reunion Weekend game. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. and the game will be streamed live on ACC Network.

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.