Wake Forest Athletics
Photo by: Nick Lott / Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest's Gio Lopez Named ACC Quarterback of the Week
9/14/2026 1:59:00 PM | Football
The redshirt junior quarterback accounted for three touchdowns and delivered the game-tying score and game-winning two-point conversion in Wake Forest's double-overtime win at Purdue.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Wake Forest redshirt junior Gio Lopez has been named Week 2 ACC Quarterback of the Week, as announced by the league office Monday, following his performance in the Demon Deacons' thrilling 38-36 double-overtime victory at Purdue on Saturday.
Lopez pushed Wake Forest to its first road win of the season, finishing the afternoon with three touchdowns — two rushing, one passing — to go along with 225 passing yards and a team-high 59 rushing yards. In double overtime, he scored the game-tying touchdown on a three-yard keeper before rushing in the game-winning two-point conversion.
The heroics were set up earlier in the drive, as Lopez delivered on a 4th-and-15 conversion to wide receiver Carlos Hernandez with the game on the line. In the first overtime, he found Bryce Kania for a 24-yard touchdown — the first score of Kania's career.
It marked just the second time in Lopez's career he's rushed for two touchdowns in a single game, joining a performance against Louisiana on Nov. 16, 2024 while at South Alabama. With the effort, he became just the sixth Wake Forest quarterback since 1996 to throw for more than 225 yards, rush for more than 55 yards and score two rushing touchdowns in a game, and the first to do so since the 2023 season.
Lopez is also one of only two ACC quarterbacks — and one of 11 nationally — to throw for 225 yards, rush for 55 yards and total three touchdowns in a game so far this season.
Through Week 2 action, he is also one of just two quarterbacks in the country with 575 passing yards, four passing touchdowns, two rushing touchdowns and zero turnovers.
Lopez pushed Wake Forest to its first road win of the season, finishing the afternoon with three touchdowns — two rushing, one passing — to go along with 225 passing yards and a team-high 59 rushing yards. In double overtime, he scored the game-tying touchdown on a three-yard keeper before rushing in the game-winning two-point conversion.
The heroics were set up earlier in the drive, as Lopez delivered on a 4th-and-15 conversion to wide receiver Carlos Hernandez with the game on the line. In the first overtime, he found Bryce Kania for a 24-yard touchdown — the first score of Kania's career.
It marked just the second time in Lopez's career he's rushed for two touchdowns in a single game, joining a performance against Louisiana on Nov. 16, 2024 while at South Alabama. With the effort, he became just the sixth Wake Forest quarterback since 1996 to throw for more than 225 yards, rush for more than 55 yards and score two rushing touchdowns in a game, and the first to do so since the 2023 season.
Lopez is also one of only two ACC quarterbacks — and one of 11 nationally — to throw for 225 yards, rush for 55 yards and total three touchdowns in a game so far this season.
Through Week 2 action, he is also one of just two quarterbacks in the country with 575 passing yards, four passing touchdowns, two rushing touchdowns and zero turnovers.
Players Mentioned
Monday, September 14
Saturday, September 12
Friday, September 11
Tuesday, September 08