Virginia Tech Football: 3 takeaways from dominating win over Wake Forest

Coming off a 39-17 loss last weekend at Florida State, the Virginia Tech football team returned home to Lane Stadium to host Wake Forest for Homecoming. This was a big game for the Hokies in many ways.

First off, Virginia Tech is heading into its much-needed bye week following the game, and coach Brent Pry hosted several committed and potential recruits. Going into the off-week with a win would be much better for the Hokies and they will be able to enjoy the week.

They got a dominant performance from their defense, and offensive coordinator Tyler Bowen called another good game, after the first quarter, quarterback Kyron Drones had a good day throwing the ball which all led to a 30-13 dominating win over the Demon Deacons.

The win improves Virginia Tech to 3-4, 2-1 in the ACC, all of a sudden, it’s not out of the question with a manageable schedule following the bye week that Pry’s team could flirt with becoming Bowl-eligible over the final five weeks with what could be considered a manageable conference schedule.

Things didn’t go completely as planned as what has been an issue this season became an issue again with injuries. Multiple Hokies left the game, and some did return, but if there was ever a time and a team that needed their bye week, it’s Virginia Tech.

Here are three takeaways from the Hokies win that dropped Wake Forest to 3-3.

Virginia Tech’s defense was dominating

It was well publicized all week the struggles that Wake Forest’s offense was having this season. Coach Dave Clawson’s team came into the game averaging six points less a game this season than they did in 2022 at 25 per game through the first five weeks. They scored just 12 last week in a five-point loss at Clemson.

Chris Marve’s defense got after the Demon Deacons early and often. The Hokies finished with seven sacks, four by Antwaun Powell-Ryland, Keonta Jenkins finished with 12 tackles, six solo, and Alan Tisdale had nine. They forced three turnovers, two fumbles, and a Derrikc Canteen interception. As a unit, they finished with 13 tackles for loss.

Wake Forest starting quarterback Mitch Griffis was replaced in the second quarter by Michael Kern. The Demon Deacons rushed for just 19 yards and racked up 243 yards through the air and their best drive at the end of the first half was aided by a questionable face mask call, but they had to settle a field goal.

The Demon Deacons’ only touchdown came from a 99-yard kickoff return in the second quarter, but for the second straight home game, the Hokies defense dominated their opponent. Two weeks ago they did it to Pittsburgh before doing it again to Wake Forest on Saturday.

Kyron Drones has a strong game

With each passing week, Drones plays better and better. Saturday marked his fifth start of the season since starter Grant Wells went down with an ankle injury against Purdue in Week 2 and the Baylor transfer appears to have settled in under center and with Bowen’s system.

His biggest play of the day came in the second quarter and it was a throw that the Hokies needed. On the first play from scrimmage following Demond Clairborne’s 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, Drones dropped back, hit Jaylin Lane in the middle of the field and the Middle Tennessee State transfer did the rest, out-racing the Demon Deacons’ defense to the end zone for a touchdown.

Drones finished 20-for-29 through the air for 321 yards and two touchdowns, both to Lane. As the game went on, he showed confidence in wide receiver Stephen Gosnell, who came up with home big catches. He finished with six receptions for 75 yards, but two were receptions on third downs to pick up first downs.

Drones did a good job of reading what the defense was doing and between him, Bhayshul Tuten, Cole Nelson, and Malachi Thomas, they rushed for 141 yards. They put together a key drive late in the fourth quarter leading 23-10 and putting the game away when Lane caught a tunnel screen for a 12-yard touchdown.

Turnovers changed the game

One thing that the Hokies wanted to change heading into the season was creating more turnovers. In their season-opener against Old Dominion, Virginia Tech forced three of them in the second half of a 36-17 victory. Since then, it’s been few and far between, but against Wake Forest, they were big and the offense turned them into points.

In the second quarter, Canteen picked off a pass just inside Virginia Tech territory to end a Demon Deacons drive. In the second quarter, the Tech defense forced a fumble, which was recovered by Powell-Ryland. The Hokies turned that into Tuten’s touchdown run from 3 yards out for a 7-0 lead.

In the fourth quarter, Virginia Tech’s defense forced another fumble, this time with C.J. McCray recovering and the offense turned it into Lane’s second touchdown reception. It’s amazing what can be done when a defense forces turnovers and the offense can capitalize them into points.

Overall, it should be a good bye week for the Hokies, who return to Lane Stadium on Oct. 26 to host Syracuse on a Thursday night ESPN telecast. Sitting at 3-4 at the break feels better than 2-5 and now, Virginia Tech has something to play for following their week off.