Virginia Tech made too many mistakes in its 30-23 loss to Wake Forest in Lane Stadium on Saturday.
The Hokies (2-4, 1-1 ACC), who were coming off a victory over NC State, couldn’t overcome costly errors, didn’t generate enough offense and struggled to slow down the Demon Deacons’ (3-2, 1-2) passing attack.
Tech had six penalties for 74 yards, including a roughing the passer call (Ben Bell) and a late hit (Kaleb Spencer) on Wake touchdown drives. It also had an illegal formation in the second half on a Deacs’ field goal attempt, which was originally missed. The second attempt was converted.
Moreover, a costly unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on wide receiver Donavon Greene in the end zone after a third-and-goal play from the Wake Forest 1-yard line pushed Tech back to the 17, meaning it had to settle for a field goal. That came on the heels of the defense forcing an interception inside the 15.
It was that kind of afternoon for the Hokies, whose only two touchdowns came in the game’s first 21 minutes.
Wake Forest drew first blood with a 33-yard field goal from Connor Calvert, his longest conversion of the season to date. It began a back-and-forth first half and came on the heels of an early Virginia Tech mistake when quarterback Kyron Drones threw an interception on third-and-5 on his own 13. The pass was broken up by Aiden Hall and caught by Dallas Afalava.
The Hokies responded at the end of the first quarter when Marcellous Hawkins punched in his first rushing touchdown of the season from three yards out. Quarterback Kyron Drones had a 14-yard pass to wideout Donavon Greene, a Wake Forest transfer, and Hawkins picked up 12 to kickstart the possession.
The Demon Deacons punched back with a quick strike from running back Demond Claiborne, who carved his way up the middle from the 11. A roughing the passer penalty on third-and-8 on Bell, Tech’s defensive end, extended the drive.
After Hokies running back Terion Stewart had a 43-yard burst on the first play of the next possession, they snatched back the lead as Drones hit wide receiver Takye Heath on a slant for a nine-yard score, making it 14-10 with 9:48 in the second quarter.
Tech bailed out Wake again when a late hit penalty on Spencer on third-and-15 moved the chains. Three plays later, running back Ty Clark scored from the 3-yard line for the Demon Deacons to take a 17-14 lead, and they led the rest of the way.
They had a smooth two-minute operation at the end of the half, too. After getting the ball with 1:39 left, they methodically moved the ball down the field and quarterback Robby Ashford hit tight end Eni Falayi over the middle for a 10-yard touchdown with 10 seconds on the clock.
At halftime, Wake Forest led Virginia Tech 24-14 and were up 209-120 in total yards.
John Love tacked on field goals on the Hokies’ first two second-half possessions — makes from 32 and 38 yards — to pull them within 24-20 before Calvert answered with one of his own from 29. He actually missed his first attempt from that distance, but an illegal formation penalty on Tech — lining up over the long snapper — offset by a similar flag on Wake allowed a second try, which was converted.
Love knocked a third one through from 34 yards out with as many seconds left in the third, but the Hokies didn’t completely capitalize on their opportunity. After Isaiah Brown-Murray downed a Nick Veltsistas punt at the 2-yard line, he picked off Ashford — a tipped pass by linebacker Jaden Keller — and set them up at the 11.
However, after Hawkins’ initial three-yard carry, Tech went backwards. Drones got back to the line on second down and Hawkins lost a yard on third — which coincided with Greene’s aforementioned unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Instead of having a chance to take the lead on fourth-and-goal from the 2-yard line, it had to settle for a field goal from the 17.
The Hokies got the ball back trailing 27-23 with over 12 minutes to play and marched down the field, helped out by a Wake pass interference call, but stalled at the Deacs’ 23 when Drones was sacked for an eight-yard loss. Love trotted on for his fourth field goal attempt, yet pushed it wide right from 49 yards — just his second miss on the year.
The Deacs closed things out with a long 59-yard drive that took 6:30 off the clock and culminated in a 27-yard field goal from Calvert with just over two minutes remaining. It put them up 30-23.
Tech had one final opportunity to conjure up a score but turned the ball over on downs on four plays on its own 29.
The Hokies head to Atlanta next Saturday to face No. 17 Georgia Tech at 3:30 p.m. ET on the ACC Network.
Box Score: Wake Forest 30, Virginia Tech 23
