Virginia Tech vs. Wake Forest: Who Will Seize Victory in This High-Stakes Showdown?

The Virginia Tech Hokies (2-3, 1-0) return to Blacksburg on Saturday to host the Wake Forest Demon Deacons (2-2, 0-2). The Hokies are looking for their third consecutive win after an ugly 0-3 start to the season that led to the firing of head coach Brent Pry.

Can Tech make it 3-0 under offensive coordinator/interim coach Philip Montgomery?

The Hokies have been missing several players in recent weeks. Some have entered the transfer portal, taking advantage of the clause allowing players to enter for 30 days after their head coach is fired. Several players are dealing with injuries, some were removed from the team, yet Montgomery found a way to rally the rest of the team, and they played inspired football in last week’s win at NC State.

Quarterback Kyron Drones has played well the last two weeks, taking care of the football and making quicker decisions. He had plenty of help against the Wolfpack in the form of running back Terion Stewart. Stewart bowled over multiple NC State defenders for 174 rushing yards on 15 carries. Tech’s defense was excellent last week, too, finishing with five sacks and coming away with multiple passes defensed, including on the play that clinched the win.

Can it continue against the Demon Deacons?

Wake won two in a row to begin the season (Kennesaw State and Western Carolina), but has lost the last two weeks. Wake’s two losses: NC State (34-24) and Georgia Tech (30-29). We aren’t sure if you caught what happened late in that game, but ACC officials missed an offside call that proved critical in Georgia Tech’s survival against Wake. The ACC acknowledged the officiating crew got it wrong. Had the correct call been made, the Demon Deacons could have run out the clock, keeping the Yellow Jackets from another possession, which would have helped them win the game.

Wake’s top players are senior quarterback Robby Ashford and senior running back Demond Claiborne, a Virginia native. However, both players are dealing with injuries. Ashford injured his knee last week and missed most of the second half, while Claiborne has battled injuries all season. Claiborne rushed for 119 yards and two touchdowns last week. The good news for Wake Forest is that both players were listed as probable on Thursday.

Ashford is Wake’s second-leading rusher, so that means the Hokies must shut down another dual-threat quarterback, which hasn’t been a strength. Of course, shutting down Wake’s offense begins and ends with Claiborne.

Wake’s top defender is senior linebacker Nick Anderson. Yes, that’s the same Nick Anderson who picked off Hendon Hooker three times in a 23-16 Wake Forest upset over then-No. 19 Virginia Tech all the way back in 2020. Anderson was a true freshman, and he’s also a Virginia native. Catching one pass for 36 yards that day for Wake was a true freshman wide receiver named Donavon Greene. Greene, a redshirt senior, now starts for the Hokies.

Here’s all the info you need to watch, stream, or listen to VT’s game against Wake Forest.