Wake Forest Tops No. 12 Virginia 16-9 in ACC Clash

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. Virginia's undefeated run in Atlantic Coast Conference play ended Saturday night as the No. 12 Cavaliers fell 16-9 to Wake Forest at Scott Stadium, marking their first league loss of the season in a low-scoring defensive battle.

The Demon Deacons secured the victory with a pivotal 88-yard punt return touchdown by Carlos Hernandez in the third quarter, the game's only score from scrimmage. Wake Forest, now bowl-eligible under first-year coach Jake Dickert, improved to 6-3 overall and 3-3 in the ACC. The win came a week after a 42-7 defeat at Florida State and snapped Virginia's five-game winning streak in the series.

Virginia entered the contest 8-1 overall and 5-0 in conference play, riding their best start in 35 years behind quarterback Chandler Morris. The senior transfer from North Texas had been instrumental in the Cavaliers' turnaround, passing for 2,088 yards and 12 touchdowns across 10 games while adding 214 rushing yards and four scores. However, Morris left the game in the second quarter after sustaining an injury on a 6-yard scramble.

With the score tied at 3-3 and facing second-and-7 from their own 14-yard line, Morris slid to avoid contact but was...