Lopez's big day lifts Wake Forest past N.C. State 38-14

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Gio Lopez threw for three touchdowns and ran for another in Wake Forest’s 38-14 win over N.C. State on Saturday.

Lopez was 26-for-33 with 303 yards in the air as the Demon Deacons (5-1, 3-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) won their third game in a row, undeterred by a rainy second half.

Jack Foley racked up 156 receiving yards on eight catches and Carlos Hernandez had 117 receiving yards on 12 receptions. They each made a touchdown reception.

CJ Bailey was 28-for-40 for 241, with a costly first-quarter fumble. He recovered from that by completing his first 16 passes until an attempt was deflected late in the second quarter for the Wolfpack (3-3, 1-2), who led 14-10 at halftime.

Lopez threw 6 yards to Hernandez and 10 yards to Foley for third-quarter scores. He plowed in from 1 yard out later in the quarter as the margin grew to 31-14.

Wake Forest’s Braylon Johnson returned Bailey’s fumble on the opening possession to the 2-yard line. Two plays later, Lopez connected with Matthew Lusardi on a 1-yard TD toss.

Wake Forest reached the N.C. State 1 in the final seconds of the first half but, after a penalty, settled for Connor Calvert’s 23-yard field goal on the last snap of the half to finish a 16-play, 89-yard drive.

Wake Forest: The Demon Deacons have won two road games and a home romp past Stanford since losing to nationally ranked Miami. Their best defensive performances have come in the past two games.

N.C. State: The Wolfpack’s two-game winning streak ended, and there wasn’t much to build on after allowing the game’s final 31 points. The offense generated only 15 yards on the ground.

Wake Forest: At California next Saturday.

N.C. State: At Stanford on Oct. 23.

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