Wake Forest loses top WR Greg Dortch to season-ending injury

Sam Cooper
·College football writer

Wake Forest will be without its leading receiver for the rest of the season.

The Demon Deacons announced Sunday that Greg Dortch suffered an abdominal injury in Saturday’s win over Louisville. Dortch had surgery on the injury Saturday night at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, hours after he torched the Cardinals for 10 catches for 167 yards and a school-record four touchdowns.

Wake Forest’s Greg Dortch (89) celebrates a touchdown against Louisville during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Winston-Salem, N.C., Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Wake Forest’s Greg Dortch (89) celebrates a touchdown against Louisville during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Winston-Salem, N.C., Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

Dortch, a redshirt freshman, finishes his season with 53 catches for 722 yards (second-most in the ACC) and nine touchdowns in just eight games. He also contributed 559 return yards on the year — 397 on kickoff returns and 162 on punt returns. Dortch’s 1,290 all-purpose yards are fifth-most in the nation.

With Dortch out, Tabari Hines is expected to see an increase in playing time. Hines, a junior, has 18 catches for 250 yards and one score this season.

The Demon Deacons snapped a three-game losing streak with the win, improving their record to 5-3 overall and 2-3 in ACC play. Next on the schedule is a trip to Notre Dame.

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Sam Cooper is a writer for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!