Wake Forest’s defense regrouped after a poor start against Miami and held the Hurricanes in check in the second half. Louisville’s offense is next; Wake’s front has impressed, but its defense gives up 235 passing yards per game and has yet to intercept a pass.
Wake’s undersized front four is built to create disruption. Edge defenders Langston Hardy and Gabe Kirschke are key; Kirschke leads the team with eight pressures. Dallas Afalava plays the 3-technique in the middle, where he shoots gaps, collapses pockets and holds up against the run. Louisville will test the front’s run defense after its success running against SMU.
Only 14 passes against Wake have gone incomplete, and linebackers Frank Cusano and Aiden Hall have struggled in coverage. Yet Wake has allowed just five passes longer than 10 yards and no completion of 30 yards; more than half its passing yards allowed have come after the catch. Vincent Firenze is an effective run defender when he plays, while Louisville’s Lawayne McCoy and Tre Richardson have shown they can make plays with the ball in their hands.
