Film Review: Miami Hurricanes 33 – Wake Forest Demon Deacons 20
WINSTON-SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 18: Elija Lofton #9 and Malachi Toney #1 of the Miami Hurricanes celebrate a touchdown during the first half of a college football game against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium on September 18, 2026 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. (Photo by Eston Parker/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images) | ISI Photos via Getty ImagesThe Miami Hurricanes came out hot and held on to beat the Wake Forest Demon Deacons 33-20 on Friday night. The Friday night games in the ACC have grown a lore of their own, including a home loss for Miami to Louisville in 2025. This time the offensive start was too much for WF to overcome.
The Canyonero Keys to Victory to beat Wake's main theme was to control the gunner.' Gunners are teams that will air it out and take major risks- which Wake really didn't attempt (fake punts, onside kicks, etc.).
The individual keys were:
1- Contain Lopez. QB GioLopez ran the ball seven times for -8 yards, I'd say he was contained by the Canes defense.
2- Keep attacking. Well well well... Miami did not continue attacking Wake once MalachiToney went out. It's amazing how open JoshMoore and ElijaLofton got with Toney in the game, and how little they did once he was out.
3- Control the LOS. Wake averaged 1.4 yards per carry including sack yardage (three sacks) while Miami averaged 4.6 yards per carry including one sack. While Miami didn't dominate the Wake lines the Canes clearly had the advantage.
The DopplerThe Hurricanes finished the game 5-of-13 on money downs while Wake finished 5-of-15. That's a close comparison for two teams on the opposite end of the P4 rankings spectrum.
Miami won the turnover game as the Canes did not turn the ball over but did have a game sealing interception from Ethan O'Conner.
Miami absolutely won the penalty yardage battle: The Dekes were flagged 13 times for 122 yards while Miami was flagged only seven times for 75 yards in comparison. Although 75 yards is far too many, including a roughing the passer call, for a team where the head coach preaches discipline.
Jake Weinberg missed a questionable 54 yard FG attempt while Girard Pringle needs to learn what a fair catch is on kick returns. I missed the number (I was at the game) but Toney was blasted by a Miami player on a punt return, yes, a Miami player. A punt was also nearly blocked from my vantage point in Section 8.
The Miami OffenseDarian Mensah started off 24-of-24, an ACC record, but ended the game with only 6.5 yards per passing attempt. Mensah did toss three TD's and as I previously said- did not turn the ball over.
Mensah was able to connect with seven different receivers, with only one hitting on double-digit yards per catch marks. Lofton, Moore and Toney all caught TD passes from Mensah.
Mark Fletcher Jr and Marty Brown had nice nights before Fletcher was hobbled and Brown left with what looks like a season ending knee injury. Fletcher averaged 5.3 yards per attempt with a score and Brown was averaging 17.5 yards per carry when he went down. Brown was absolutely putting together a great season, I truly feel for him. Javian Mallory and Girard Pringle were pedestrian vs. ACC competition at 3.3 and 3.0 per carry, respectively.
The O-Line allowed one sack and two TFL's on the night. It was a cute start but the final six drives were: 22 plays for 26 yards. I'll spare you the yards per play data... it's called BAD.
Above- Mesh with the post to the outside WR. Mensah pinpoints this one. Behind Moore 1 step and it's a PBU, in front 2 steps vs. 1 and it's a decleater.
Above- The man leaves wreckage in his.... wake... The Dekes kept attempting to dive at his ankles, I'm not sure where to tackle Fletcher but I'd aim for his hip and double leg him rather than high for a shoulder or low low for a knee to the head.
Above- This is why you want the run game going. Lofton runs a delayed TE leak and sneaks himself out and open for a walk-in TD for 20+ yards.
Above- He did have a couple of consecutive pop' plays between the TD and this hurdle that made you say Greentree er green grass AA?
Above- Marty Brown explodes on this wide zone play for 30+ before going down clutching his knee. Brown will be sorely missed as a runner, pass catcher and more importantly- in pass pro!
Above- So here's the pass pro... Fletcher watches a LB run right by and doesn't touch him. Brown would've crushed this dude. That's a sack on Fletcher, not the OL.
Above- Toney runs Y-Cross here and man is he good at working this concept. Over the LB, under the S, flatten out if needed, run the 22-and-across if you can.
Above- Bang is filled by a LB, bounce is a clogged up log jam, so bend it back. The TE gives up the inside so Fletcher just goes one more gap over to the outside (left side) and burns a big run.
Above- Why RPO's? Because when the box is stacked you can put Toney in motion, let him fake a crack block and slip up for a TD on a pop pass. Mensah reads this quickly and puts it on him for 6.
Above- Yeah so that's not a catch. The ball is out there, he just dogs the route. Dude looked gassed.
The Miami DefenseThe Miami defense held Lopez to 6.8 yards per passing attempt but he threw three TD's with that one late INT. Lopez was unable to really scramble or excel in the designed QB run game.
Freshman RB Deuce Lawrence averaged 4.5 yards per carry but veteran Ty Clark III was held to just one yard per carry on three touches.
Lopez connected with 11 different Wake receivers with six hitting the double-digit yards per catch mark. Cactus" Jack Foley averaged 19.7 yards per catch with a touchdown. They were Foley's first six receptions of 2026, and only the 7th of his career.
Carlos Hernandez caught a TD pass but also had key drops that kept Miami in front of Wake. The Wake O-Line allowed three sacks and five TFL's.
Marquis Lightfoot tallied another sack and TFL, Damon Wilson III finally got on the stat sheet with a sack and TFL of his own. JJ Dunnigan did a great job of cutting off some 2-way go's and had five solo tackles.
Above- I'm going to call this the flaccid zone from here on out. I've seen (and ran) a bend but don't break offense but this is another level of SOFT zone.
Above- Miami winds up having to get more exotic and send more blitzers because the front 4 weren't getting home without an extra wrinkle. WF did a solid job of controlling four blue chippers with their OL.
Above- Woo-dang that play action flow had Miami chasing the Wake skills here. Lopez takes the tougher throw up top vs the down low easier toss.
Above- Wake had a beautiful opening script. Toure is exactly the guy I would pick on in the red zone. He's a LEGO piece. Make him run and flip his hips. But don't run directly at him in the box.
Above- Fitzgerald did a great job on this one in space to make the stop. A year ago Miami CB's would've let this break for a huge gain, maybe even a TD. He gets his leg and brings him down. Thornton with pressure to force it early.
Above- Lightfoot dip and rip for a sack. He's having quite the year and I'd like to see him in a QB's face more than as a drop defender.
Above- More flaccid zone. Wake started abusing Miami on stick routes and spacing concepts. Hitting WR's and TE's on little 5y throws that went for 10+. If the LBs can't cover Miami is in trouble with the DB's that are out.
Above- Foley (in the box) scores on this. No one covers either mesh player AND he then breaks a tackle from Thornton for a TD. He really stood out after being a guy I'd never heard of.
Above- If we're even / I'm leavin'. Thornton lets the WR get even on slot fade and it's over and an easy TD.
Above- This isn't flaccid zone, it's wide open spaces. O'Connor stays short and Dunnigan doesn't roll over enough. Someone missed a hand signal there.
Above- Hey it's only four but the sim pressure confused the Wake RG and Miami got in Lopez's face on 4th down. This INC pass helped to seal the game.
The WrapMiami is far from perfect and the All-22 is going to be the final judge. What is any team without its key players? Xavier Lucas and OJ Frederique are out; Toney and Fletcher going down, M. Brown possibly being done for the year... Mario Cristobal is going to have to rely heavily on depth and his strength and medical staff to keep his players healthy. Listen to the sports science guys, please!
That said you dominate the 247 recruiting pages and hit on transfer portal players for a reason- to have the depth to weather the injury storm over a 12-16 game season. Now it's NEXT MAN UP against lowly Central Michigan, another cupcake on the Canes schedule to start the season.