Wake Forest Dominates Virginia 51-7 for Fifth Straight Win
The fourteenth-ranked Demon Deacons relied on a stifling defense and a dominant offensive performance to secure a runaway victory in Winston-Salem.
No. 14 Wake Forest cruised to a 51-7 victory over Virginia at Allegacy Financial Stadium, extending its winning streak to five games. The Demon Deacons controlled both sides of the ball on Saturday, posting the second-largest margin of victory against the Cavaliers in the 54-game history of the series.
Wake Forest head coach Jake Dickert praised his team's preparation leading up to the contest, noting the high energy displayed during Friday's walk-through after a critical mid-week assessment. That preparation translated immediately to the field, as the Demon Deacons improved their record to 7-1 overall and 4-1 in Atlantic Coast Conference play.
The Wake Forest offense rolled up substantial numbers despite quarterback Gio Lopez suffering an apparent leg injury late in the third quarter. Lopez completed 13 of 21 passes for 229 yards before limping off the field. Steele Pizzella stepped in under center to finish off a scoring drive capped by Jamar Searcy's 7-yard touchdown run.
Wide receiver Carlos Hernandez anchored the passing attack with an exceptional performance, hauling in eight catches on nine targets for 136 yards and a touchdown. Ty Clark III contributed three short rushing scores, Connor Calvert added three field goals, and Kyndall McCaleb chipped in a 27-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
Virginia struggled to find any offensive rhythm against a stout Wake Forest defense, managing just 16 rushing yards on 19 attempts. The Cavaliers dropped to 4-5 overall and 2-4 in conference play, suffering their third consecutive loss. Virginia avoided a shutout late in the third quarter when quarterback Beau Pribula connected with De'Shawn Martin on a 47-yard scoring pass.
The Cavaliers missed critical opportunities in the first half to stay competitive. Virginia drove deep into Wake Forest territory twice before halftime, only to come away empty-handed after turning the ball over on downs and throwing an interception. Virginia head coach Tony Elliott noted that his squad failed to make competitive plays when opportunities arose to shift the momentum.
With the victory, Wake Forest continues its impressive run through the season's final stretch. The Demon Deacons will look to keep their momentum going when they host Merrimack next Saturday, while Virginia will take next weekend off before hosting California on November 14.