Recap: Deacs Overcome Slow 1st Half to Rout NC State 38-14

Wake Forest Demon Deacons overcame a slow first half to defeat NC State Wolfpack 38-14 at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, North Carolina on October 10, 2026. The Deacs started strong with a fumble recovery by Braylon Johnson, leading to a 7-0 lead, but struggled in the first half against a dominant NC State offense. The Wolfpack scored two touchdowns on long drives, taking a 14-7 halftime lead.

Wake Forest responded in the second half with a 16-play, 89-yard drive, ending inside the NC State 1-yard line, but settling for a field goal. Redshirt freshman Jack Foley played a key role in the second half with 43 yards on 3 receptions. Wake Forest's defense stepped up, holding NC State to just 18 yards in the second half and forcing turnovers.

Junior quarterback Gio Lopez had an impressive day, completing 26 of 33 passes for 303 yards and 3 touchdowns. The Deacs finished strong with a 17-yard touchdown run by Deuce Lawrence, securing a 31-point run in a row to end the game. The victory marks Wake Forest's best start since 2022, moving them to 5-1 overall and 3-1 in the ACC.