Carlos Hernandez wins ACC weekly award
Carlos Hernandez was the only player in Saturday night’s Wake Forest–Virginia football game to score a touchdown.
For his performance, he was named the ACC’s specialist of the week on Monday.
The junior slot receiver’s 88-yard punt return touchdown changed the complexion of Saturday night’s game, a 16-9 win by the Deacons. In the last two minutes of the first half, and with Virginia leading 6-0, Hernandez fielded a punt on one bounce, made three Virginia defenders miss initially, and then cut to the right where Wake Forest had set up its return.
“Credit to my guys doing their job, blocking,” Hernandez said of the play. “Just saw the ball bounce, had the opportunity, took it. My guys did their job blocking for me.”
While it was the highlight, it wasn’t Hernandez’s only good return of the game.
He had a 21-yard return in the second quarter, before the touchdown. In the second half had an 18-yard punt return that he fielded on Wake’s 9-yard line — though some of that yardage was negated by a penalty.
It added up to 124 yards of punt returns. Hernandez entered the game with 93 yards on 12 punt returns this season and had not had the steadiest of times fielding them. He lost one muffed punt against SMU.
“I’m really proud of Carlos and a lot of our guys that just keep showing up,” coach Jake Dickert said, “and doing the hard, gritty things even when it’s not going their way.”
Here is the full list of the ACC’s weekly winners:
QB/rookie – Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele (California)
Running back – T.J. Harden (SMU)
Receiver – Jacob De Jesus (California)
Offensive lineman – Francis Mauigoa (Miami)
Defensive lineman – Isaiah Smith (SMU)
Linebacker – Khmori House (UNC)
Defensive back – Hezekiah Masses (California)
Specialist – Carlos Hernandez (Wake Forest)
Did you enjoy this story? If so, subscribe to Deacons Illustrated to read *every* in-depth, objective, substantive story. Click here, subscribe, and stop missing out!
