Virginia Tech 2-Game Winning Streak Snapped (10-4-25)
By: Joey Raymond
Headline Photo Credit: Jason Wiley-LMS Network
Blacksburg, VA —Coming off a huge upset win over NC State — a game where the Hokies entered as multi-point underdogs — Virginia Tech returned home to Lane Stadium to host the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. This matchup carried extra energy, serving as both Homecoming and the annual Orange Effect game. The Hokies broke out sleek new white helmets with orange chrome logos and trim to pair with their orange uniforms, creating a sharp look under the clear autumn skies. It was a picture-perfect fall day in the Blue Ridge Mountains as the Hokies looked to earn their third straight victory — and third under interim head coach Phillip Montgomery.
Wake Forest entered at 2–2, owning wins over Kennesaw State and Western Carolina, but falling to NC State and Georgia Tech. The Deacons’ defense had struggled against the run early in the season, but they proved capable of hanging tough against a solid Georgia Tech squad. With that, all eyes turned to Lane for another pivotal test in Montgomery’s early tenure.
First Quarter
Virginia Tech won the toss and deferred, giving Wake Forest the opening possession. Starting from their own 25, the Deacons picked up an early first down before the Hokies’ defense clamped down, forcing a punt.
Tech’s offense took over at its own 19-yard line but ran into trouble quickly. After a short run by Terion Stewart and an incomplete pass, Kyron Drones had the ball knocked loose mid-throw, resulting in a fluky interception that never touched the ground. Wake took over deep in Hokie territory at the 13.
Penalties immediately set the Deacons back — including a false start on “everyone but the center” — and the Hokies’ defense held firm, limiting Wake to a 33-yard field goal. The Deacons struck first, 3–0.
A facemask penalty on the ensuing kickoff gave Tech great field position at the 42, but the Hokies went three-and-out. Wake’s next drive started at its own 15 and quickly stalled again after another false start and a misfire on third down. A shanked punt gave the Hokies prime field position at the Wake 43.
Tech capitalized. Drones connected with Donovan Greene for 14 yards, followed by a 12-yard run from Bryce Hawkins. The Hokies kept the drive moving with several tough runs before Drones brought the ball to the 2-yard line on a keeper. Two plays later, Hawkins powered it in from three yards out to give Virginia Tech a 7–3 lead.
Wake’s final drive of the quarter started with a quick first down, but the Hokies’ defense held strong as the first quarter came to an end with Tech on top, 7–3.
Second Quarter
Wake Forest opened the second with help from a roughing-the-passer penalty on Tech, moving deep into Hokie territory. A few plays later, the Deacons found the end zone on an 11-yard run to retake the lead, 10–7.
The Hokies answered immediately. On the first play of their next drive, Terion Stewart ripped off a 43-yard run to the Wake 32. Drones followed with a 14-yard scramble, and moments later, he found Takye Heath in the end zone for a 9-yard touchdown. Tech was back in front, 14–10.
Wake responded with one of its best drives of the half, stringing together completions of 19 and 11 yards. The Hokies’ defense seemed to have them stopped, but an intentional grounding call and a late-hit penalty gave Wake new life. The Deacons took advantage, punching in another short touchdown run to make it 17–14.
With just over two minutes left in the half, Tech tried to mount a drive of its own, but a holding penalty killed the momentum. The Hokies were forced to punt, and Wake took over near midfield with a chance to extend its lead.
Quarterback Robby Ashford led the Deacons on a sharp drive, converting a 4th-and-3 before finding Falayi Eni for an 11-yard touchdown with just seconds left in the half. That capped a 10-play, 44-yard march and sent Wake Forest into the locker room leading 24–14.
Third Quarter
The Hokies opened the second half with the ball, starting from their own 25 after a touchback. Terion Stewart got things moving with a short reception and a pair of strong runs to move the chains. Drones then hit Ayden Greene for a 15-yard gain before Marcellous Hawkins broke off a 16-yard run, pushing the Hokies deep into Wake territory. Despite some solid momentum, the drive eventually stalled, and John Love drilled a 32-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 24–17.
Wake Forest went three-and-out on its first drive of the half, and on the ensuing punt, interference on the return gave Tech a free 15 yards, setting them up near midfield. The Hokies took advantage of the short field with a 24-yard strike from Drones to Donovan Greene and another Drones scramble for six yards. Once again, the drive bogged down in the red zone, but Love was reliable, knocking through a 38-yarder to make it 24–20.
Wake responded with a big play — a 62-yard bomb that flipped the field and set up shop inside the Hokies’ 20. Tech’s defense stiffened and forced a field goal try, but a wide-right miss was negated by offsetting penalties. Given a second chance, Wake converted from 29 yards to stretch the lead to 27–20.
The Hokies’ next possession showed flashes of life, highlighted by an 11-yard Drones run, but the drive fizzled and Tech was forced to punt. A booming punt pinned Wake back at its own 2-yard line — and the Hokies made it count. On second down, pressure forced a tipped pass, and Isiah Brown-Murray came down with the interception, returning it to the 4-yard line.
Tech couldn’t punch it in, though — penalties killed the short drive — and they had to settle for another John Love field goal, this time from 34 yards. That brought the Hokies within four, 27–23, as the third quarter came to a close.
Fourth Quarter
Wake Forest opened the final quarter with a 17-yard completion to move near midfield, but the Hokies’ defense held and forced a fourth down. After burning a timeout to avoid a delay of the game, the Deacons elected to punt — though a pair of penalties (illegal formation and illegal snap) pushed them back even further.
Virginia Tech took over at its own 30, needing a touchdown to reclaim the lead. Drones opened with an 11-yard connection to Donovan Greene, then found Takye Heath for 16 more on third down. A pass interference call against Wake moved the chains again, and Lane Stadium came alive. But the momentum vanished as Drones was sacked, pushing the Hokies out of field goal range. John Love’s 39-yard attempt sailed wide right, leaving the score at 27–23.
Wake took advantage of the miss, methodically driving into Hokie territory. A questionable defensive pass interference call gave the Deacons a key first down, and despite a false start, they converted another third down with a short pass to keep the drive alive. Eventually, Tech’s defense forced a field goal attempt, and Wake converted from 27 yards to make it 30–23 with just over two minutes to play.
With no timeouts and the clock working against them, the Hokies took over at their own 25. Drones scrambled for four yards before an incomplete pass brought up third down. Two more incompletions sealed Tech’s fate, turning the ball back over to Wake.
The Demon Deacons knelt it out to close the door on Virginia Tech’s comeback hopes, leaving Lane Stadium quiet on what began as a perfect fall afternoon.
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Final Thoughts
For Virginia Tech, this one will sting. The Hokies had every opportunity to seize control of the game in the second half — forcing turnovers, generating good field position, and moving the ball efficiently at times — but they just couldn’t finish drives. Settling for field goals instead of touchdowns proved costly, especially against a Wake Forest team that capitalized on its chances and avoided major mistakes. Despite the loss, there were still encouraging signs from the ground game and the continued growth of Kyron Drones under center.
Defensively, the Hokies showed grit but struggled to contain big plays at crucial moments. The late pass interference call and a couple of missed stops on third down ultimately swung the game in Wake’s favor. With this loss, Virginia Tech’s momentum under interim coach Phillip Montgomery takes a slight hit. However, the team still looks more organized and confident than it did earlier in the season. If the Hokies can clean up the penalties and red zone execution, they’ll have every chance to bounce back next week.
