RALEIGH, N.C. — NC State led Wake Forest at halftime Saturday in Raleigh, N.C., but the Demon Deacons scored the final 31 points of the game and pulled away for a 38-14 win over the Wolfpack.
Gio Lopez threw for three touchdowns and ran for another for Wake Forest, going 26-for-33 for 303 yards. Jack Foley caught eight passes for 156 yards and Carlos Hernandez added 117 yards on 12 catches, and each caught a touchdown. The win was the third straight for Wake Forest, which moved to 5-1 overall and 3-1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
The game started badly for the home team. CJ Bailey fumbled on NC State’s opening possession, and Wake Forest’s Braylon Johnson returned it to the 2-yard line. Lopez found Matthew Lusardi for a 1-yard touchdown two plays later.
Bailey settled in after that, completing his first 16 passes. NC State scored on a 24-yard pass from Bailey to Chance Robinson and then on a 2-yard pass from Will Wilson to Hunter Provience to cap a 13-play, 96-yard drive. The Wolfpack took a 14-10 lead into the break after Wake Forest settled for a 23-yard field goal by Connor Calvert on the final snap of the half.
The second half belonged to the visitors. Lopez threw 6 yards to Hernandez and 10 yards to Foley for third-quarter scores and ran in from 1 yard out, and Deuce Lawrence added a 17-yard touchdown run. NC State managed only six first downs after halftime while Wake Forest piled up 265 yards in a rainy second half.
Bailey finished 28-for-40 for 241 yards. NC State coach Dave Doeren said afterward that Wake Forest outplayed his team in the second half and that getting injured players back is a priority.
NC State, now 3-3 and 1-2 in the ACC, has a week off. Wake Forest plays at California next Saturday. The Wolfpack play home games at Carter-Finley Stadium.
