A homecoming mashup: the Deacs demolish Merrimack 77-0 and set their sights on upcoming ACC play
Merrimack Warriors (4-5 overall) vs #16 Wake Forest Demon Deacons (7-1 overall/5-1 in the ACC)
Coming into today's homecoming game (November 7, 2026 - 3:30pm EST kickoff at Allegacy Financial Stadium), the 16th ranked (College Football Playoff) Wake Forest Demon Deacons come in focused on winning their 6th consecutive game. The Merrimack Warriors, who come with a 2-game winning streak, have an opportunity to get to the .500 mark and improve their prospects for a winning season.
Merrimack's offense (339.6 total yards per game/18 points per game) is led by AJ Hairston, as the quarterback comes into today's game with 1362 passing yards (with a 55.3% completion rate along with 7 touchdowns and 6 interceptions). Along with the solid running efforts of Mathius Latham (623 rushing yards/5.1 yards per carry/3 touchdowns) and receiving of Austin Palmer (417 receiving yards/16.7 yards per reception/2 touchdowns), they'll look to create challenges for the Demon Deacon defense. The Deacs come into today's play allowing about 18 points per game (along with 323.5 total yards per game) and are led by linebacker Vincent Firenze (a team-leading 52 tackles) and defensive end Langston Hardy (5.5 sacks). With one of the nation's best defenses against the run (allowing 82.8 yards per game), Wake looks to make Merrimack as one-dimensional as possible.
On offense, Gio Lopez, one of the top quarterbacks in the ACC and the country, is held out today (2176 passing yards/67.1% completion percentage/18 touchdown passes and 1 interception), so Steele Pizzella earns the start, the first of his collegiate career. The dual-threat quarterback has a 66.7% completion rate in limited play (6 of 9 passes), as the Deacs likely intend to lean on the running game led by Ty Clark III (376 rushing yards/4.8 yards per carry/7 touchdowns). Carlos Hernandez (856 receiving yards/15.0 yards per reception/5 touchdowns) figures to be the all-conference and beyond presence in the passing game, as Wake's offense is scoring nearly 40 points per game (39.1 along with 457.4 yards of total offense per game). The Merrimack defense (allowing 27.1 points per game/347.7 total yards per game) looks to their leading tackler, free safety Danny Simms (57 tackles), Dwayne Green, Jr. (the defensive end has a team leading 3.5 sacks), and cornerback Bertin Placide (3 interceptions) to slow down the high flying Wake Forest offense.
Game recap: Pizzella paces the offense and combined with the team defense, the Deacs wallop the Warriors.
On a day which features a visit from former head coach Jim Grobe, Football Alumni Weekend (including the 2006 ACC Champion team who plays in the Orange Bowl), Wake starts with the ball and after their opening possession, essentially takes control of the game to overwhelm the Warriors.
The Deacs take a 7-0 lead (8:26 in the 1st quarter) as Ty Clark III caps off the drive with a 1-yard scoring run. Nearly 2 1/2 minutes later (5:59 in the 1st quarter), Steele Pizzella connects with Carlos Hernandez for a 38-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 14-0. They would close out the quarter with another connection (this time for 9 yards to Carlos Hernandez with 58 seconds left in the quarter) to take a 20-0 lead.
Wake would continue with 4 scoring drives in the 2nd quarter to take a 49-0 lead at the half. Jamar Searcy's 3-yard touchdown run (11:06 in the 2nd quarter to make it a 28-0 lead thanks to a 2-point conversion by Charlie Wingfield), Drayden Dickmann's 6-yard run (7:57 in the 2nd period to make it a 35-0 game), a 30-yard touchdown reception by Kam Shanks (5:03 in the 2nd quarter to make it a 42-0 game), and Steele Pizzella's 13-yard touchdown run (1:23 in the 2nd quarter) result in the Deacs creating distance between Merrimack.
In the 3rd quarter, Gannon Jones enters the game at quarterback and connects with Drayen Dickmann for an 87-yard sprint to the end zone to give the Deacs a 56-0 lead; Kam Shanks scores on a 79-yard punt return to make it a 63-0 game (1:23 in the 3rd quarter).
Joshua Patterson extends the lead to 70-0 thanks to his 98-yard interception return for a touchdown.
The Deacs conclude their scoring with a 1-yard touchdown run by Ryan Henley to end with a 77-0, falling only 4 points shy of setting a new single game (team scoring) record since 1915 (as they have an 80-0 win over Camp Bragg).
Post-game: Wake wins and sets their sights on their upcoming business trip to Dallas, TX.
Other than addressing challenges with penalties (Wake commits 11 penalties for 115 yards compared to 8 penalties for 74 yards by Merrimack), the Deacs do what they are expected to do in this game.
Although Merrimack wins the time of possession battle (36:40 to 23:20), Wake essentially dominates the game. The Deacs have nearly 3 1/2 times as many offensive yards (730 to 202 total yards), including averaging 6.6 yards per carry (28 attempts for 184 yards) and average a video game-esque 16.5 yards per passing attempt. In his first collegiate start, Steele Pazzella (23/28 for 432 passing yards/3 touchdowns along with 7 carries for 63 yards and a touchdown), Jack Foley (6 receptions for 162 yards), and Carlos Hernandez (4 receptions for 89 yards and 2 touchdowns) lead the offense. On defense, Monroe Partin (9 total tackles) plays a key role in the shutout effort.
During post-game, Head Coach Jake Dickert, Steele Pazzella (quarterback), and Gabe Kirschke (defensive end) field our questions (including the head coach engaging in some friendly banter with our question). All speak to the team effort and focus displayed in today's game, along with identifying things to work on as they prepare for their travel to Dallas, TX (November 14, 2026) to take on SMU in what should not only be a matchup between ranked teams, but between teams vying for the upper level of the conference standings (you may watch their responses below):
Merrimack's AJ Hairston, Jr. (11/27 for 80 passing yards and 1 interception) and Austin Palmer (5 receptions for 48 yards) make the impact they can on offense. Micah Green's 8 total tackles lead the defense as the Warriors' 2-game win streak comes to an end.
With Homecoming coming to a close, the 4th quarter of Wake's season ensues.
And next Saturday is yet another key and meaningful game in November which can impact the team's December and beyond.
Notes: You are invited to watch our playlist (click HERE) for game snapshots and interviews. Wake travels to Dallas, TX (November 14, 2026/ time TBA) against SMU while Merrimack looks to get back on track at Monmouth (12pm EST) next week.
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