Wake Forest opens the season with a 38-16 win over Akron, powered by a fast offensive start. In Thursday night’s game in Winston-Salem, N.C., Gio Lopez throws for three touchdowns and helps the Demon Deacons build an early lead they hold throughout.
According to reports, Lopez has a strong debut performance, finishing with 350 passing yards and three touchdown passes. He completes 17 of 25 throws for 313 yards and has all three scores by halftime. One touchdown includes a 72-yard strike to Antonio Meeks, a Louisville transfer, down the middle.
Outlets also provide context for Lopez’s transition to Wake Forest. They note he struggled last year at North Carolina under a new coaching situation, but he is now reunited with offensive coordinator Rob Ezell. Sources describe Ezell as someone Lopez previously thrived with at South Alabama in 2024, framing the change as a factor in his early-season output. The coverage focuses primarily on the quarterback’s start and the result of the opener, with no major disagreements on the game’s key statistics.
