In a commanding display of football, the Wake Forest Demon Deacons kicked off their 2026 season with a resounding 38-16 victory over the Akron Zips on Thursday night, September 3, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. This game marked the debut of quarterback Gio Lopez, who transferred from North Carolina, and he made an immediate impact by throwing for three touchdowns and accumulating 350 passing yards.
Lopez demonstrated impressive accuracy, completing 21 of 32 attempts, with two of his touchdown passes exceeding 70 yards. His performance not only set the tone for the game but also highlighted the offensive capabilities of the Demon Deacons under head coach Jake Dickert, who is entering his second season at the helm.
On the other side of the field, Akron faced challenges as they were forced to start freshman quarterback Cibastian Broughton. This situation arose due to eligibility issues concerning North Texas transfer Reese Poffenbarger, leaving Broughton to lead the Zips' offense. Despite his inexperience, Broughton managed to complete 21 of 26 passes for 111 yards and also contributed significantly on the ground, rushing for a team-high 82 yards on 14 carries. Backup quarterback Brayden Roggow also saw action, completing all seven of his passes for 45 yards and throwing two late touchdowns.
Akron struggled to find rhythm throughout the game, totaling just 305 yards of offense. Most of their production came during two fourth-quarter drives when they were already trailing 38-3. Their first touchdown was a 2-yard pass from Roggow to Elijah Alexander with 7:06 left in the game, followed by a 4-yard touchdown pass to Titus Myers just 29 seconds before the final whistle.
Wake Forest's offensive arsenal was further bolstered by receiver Carlos Hernandez, who recorded 165 receiving yards and a touchdown on five catches. Running back Ty Clark III also had a notable performance, rushing for 105 yards on just seven carries, while Deuce Lawrence added a 4-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. Connor Calvert contributed to the scoring with three successful field goals, showcasing the Demon Deacons' balanced attack.
The first quarter saw Wake Forest match their entire scoring output from their previous season opener against Kennesaw State, where they narrowly won 10-9. The scoring began with Lopez connecting on a 27-yard pass to Kam Shanks, followed by a 25-yard field goal from Calvert that capped a lengthy 14-play drive. The second quarter continued the onslaught, with Lopez throwing a 72-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Meeks and later a 78-yard touchdown to Hernandez, pushing the score to 28-0 before halftime.
Akron's first points came just before halftime, courtesy of a 28-yard field goal by Matthew Schramm, but the damage had already been done. Calvert added another field goal to start the second half, further extending Wake Forest's lead and solidifying their control of the game.
This season opener not only sets a positive tone for Wake Forest as they embark on their 2026 campaign but also serves as a learning experience for Akron as they adjust to their new quarterback situation.
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