In a commanding performance, Gio Lopez showcased his skills in his Wake Forest debut, throwing for 350 yards and three touchdowns as the Demon Deacons triumphed over the Akron Zips with a score of 38-16 in their season opener on Thursday night in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Lopez, who completed 17 of 25 passes, made a significant impact early in the game, throwing for 313 yards and all three touchdowns by halftime. His standout moment came when he connected with Louisville transfer Antonio Meeks for a spectacular 72-yard touchdown pass, setting the tone for the evening. Lopez followed this with another impressive play, delivering a quick pass to returning player Carlos Hernandez, who evaded a tackle and sprinted down the left sideline for a 78-yard score, extending the lead to 28-0 in the second quarter.
Last season, Lopez faced challenges while playing at North Carolina under head coach Bill Belichick, but he found renewed success after reuniting with offensive coordinator Rob Ezell, who had previously guided him at South Alabama. The chemistry between Lopez and his offensive teammates was evident, especially on the opening drive where he connected with Hernandez for a 34-yard gain, culminating in a 27-yard touchdown pass to Kam Shanks.
Hernandez was a standout performer, finishing the game with five receptions for 165 yards. However, his night was cut short due to a hard hit to the midsection before halftime. In addition to Lopez's passing prowess, Ty Clark III contributed significantly on the ground, rushing for 105 yards on just seven carries, helping the Demon Deacons accumulate a total of 559 yards of offense.
On the other side, Akron's redshirt freshman quarterback Cibastian Broughton made his college debut, throwing for 111 yards and adding 82 rushing yards to his tally. The Zips managed to score before halftime with a 28-yard field goal from Matthew Schramm. Later in the game, backup quarterback Brayden Roggow threw two short touchdown passes, but the outcome was already decided.
As the Zips enter their fifth season under head coach Joe Moorhead, they are projected to finish 10th in the 13-team Mid-American Conference, having struggled to achieve a winning record during his tenure. Despite managing 305 total yards against Wake Forest, much of their yardage came after the game was well in hand.
Conversely, the Demon Deacons are looking to build on their surprising nine-win season from the previous year under head coach Jake Dickert, who has brought in approximately 50 new players, including Lopez. His impressive debut provides a glimmer of hope for Wake Forest fans as they aim to improve on their projected 13th place finish in the 17-team Atlantic Coast Conference.
Looking ahead, Akron will host Robert Morris on September 12, while Wake Forest is set to visit Purdue, also on September 12, as both teams look to build momentum early in the season.
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