Deep into the third quarter, Darian Mensah remained flawless through the air, putting together a historic performance while keeping fifth-ranked Miami’s offensive machine running smoothly.
When the final period arrived, the Hurricanes’ defensive unit was forced to step up and guide the team.
Mensah hit his targets on his opening 24 throws to establish new ACC benchmarks for successive completions, as Miami’s defensive side registered four consecutive stops in the final quarter to secure a 33-20 victory over Wake Forest on Friday evening.
“A massive amount of praise belongs to our defense for standing tall and performing exceptionally well under pressure,” remarked Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal.
The defensive squad secured the win for the Hurricanes after a game that began with an seemingly unstoppable offensive display, highlighted by Mensah firing accurate strikes right into his targets’ chests and leading his receivers perfectly for deep gains.
In total, Mensah successfully completed 35 passes in a row dating back to the previous matchup against Florida A&M, surpassing the ACC multi-game record of 30 straight completions established by North Carolina’s Mitch Trubisky back in September 2016. His perfect 24-of-24 opening run shattered the single-game conference record of 18, previously shared by three quarterbacks, coming just two completions shy of the national FBS record set by Dominique Davis of East Carolina in 2011.
Three weeks in and Darian Mensah is already rewriting the history books ✍️
✅ 24 straight completions Friday, tied for 3rd-most in a game in FBS history
✅ 35 straight completions over his last two games, an ACC record and one shy of the FBS record
✅ First FBS player in at… pic.twitter.com/cQ3uaOzyPT
— ESPN Insights (@ESPNInsights) September 19, 2026
Mensah wrapped up the game with 30 completions on 34 attempts, totaling 220 yards and three touchdowns, which featured a 9-yard scoring strike to Joshua Moore during the opening drive and a beautifully placed ball to the left flat for Elija Lofton’s 21-yard touchdown.
He also connected on a brief touchdown pass with standout sophomore wideout Malachi Toney, extending the advantage for Miami (3-0, 2-0 ACC) to 31-7 during the middle of the third quarter; however, the high-powered offensive attack suddenly stalled with four consecutive three-and-out drives alongside several key players suffering injuries.
This offensive slump set the stage for the Hurricanes’ defensive squad to rise to the occasion as the Demon Deacons attempted a comeback.
“My confidence in our defensive players is incredibly high because they make things difficult for us during practice sessions,” Mensah noted. “Seeing them deliver like that is expected. Those guys are absolute playmakers.”
Gio Lopez recorded 312 passing yards and a trio of touchdowns for the Demon Deacons (2-1, 0-1), which highlighted a pinpoint 17-yard pass to Carlos Hernandez in the back right corner of the end zone, narrowing the margin for Wake Forest to 31-20 with 14:56 remaining.
Afterward, Miami’s pass rush forced a holding call against Lopez in his own end zone, resulting in a safety. Wake Forest later marched down to the Miami 13-yard line, but the Hurricanes once again disrupted Lopez, forcing an incomplete fourth-down pass in the end zone. Following another critical stop on fourth down, Ethan O’Connor sealed the victory by intercepting a desperation throw from Lopez deep in the red zone with just 2:24 left on the clock.
“There were chances for us to claw our way back into contention during the fourth quarter, but we just couldn’t make the crucial plays to get over the line,” Wake Forest head coach Jake Dickert admitted.
Up to this point, the Hurricanes had put on a masterclass of dominance, pacing the nation in total yardage (702.5 YPG) and securing the second spot in FBS scoring average (61.0 PPG). The defensive unit’s late-game heroics provided a silver lining during a matchup where Miami faced actual adversity, unlike their initial two blowout victories of the season.
“Winning like this feels great, but we operate as a collective unit,” commented defensive lineman Marquise Lightfoot, who brought down Lopez for a sack during the third period. “When we need support, the offense is there, and when they need a lift, we step up for them.”
The Hurricanes dealt with several physical setbacks, with Toney and star rusher Mark Fletcher Jr. getting shaken up. Defensive lineman Ahmad Moten Sr. also had to head to the sideline temporarily during the opening quarter holding his left arm limp, though he managed to return to action later on.
Adding to the injury concerns was running back CharMar Brown, who collapsed in the second quarter immediately following a stellar 32-yard sprint that ended just short of the goal line. He remained on the turf in the end zone while trainers evaluated his right knee before being assisted off the field and ultimately carted back to the locker room.
The Demon Deacons were hunting for a historic upset against a top-tier opponent. They came into Friday’s contest holding a dismal 1-68 historical record against teams ranked in the AP top 10, with their solitary triumph dating back to a 1946 matchup with No. 4 Tennessee. A major factor in their defeat was committing 13 penalties that cost them 137 yards, including a pair of infractions that wiped out substantial punt returns in the fourth quarter.
“We have to take these lessons and improve,” Dickert stated. “Our performance simply lacked the necessary precision.”
Contributions to this article were made by The Associated Press.
