Robby Ashford threw for a touchdown and Wake Forest’s defense kept host Virginia Tech out of the end zone for the entire second half in a 30-23 victory, snapping a two-game skid Saturday afternoon at Blacksburg, Va.
The Demon Deacons (3-2, 1-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) won in their first game away from home under first-year coach Jake Dickert.
Ashford completed 24 of 39 passes for 256 yards, the TD and an interception. Demond Claiborne and Ty Clark II ran for Wake Forest touchdowns and Connor Calvert went 3-for-3 on field goal attempts.
The Demon Deacons won in Blacksburg for the first time since 1983.
Kyron Drones was 14-for-28 for 111 yards and a touchdown and an interception for the Hokies. Virginia Tech (2-4, 1-1), which won its first two games under interim coach Philip Montgomery following the firing of Brent Pry, couldn’t add to the momentum.
Wake Forest led 24-14 at the half for its third consecutive halftime lead against an ACC opponent, though it lost to North Carolina State and Georgia Tech.
Wake Forest played the second half without injured Claiborne.
The Demon Deacons scored two touchdowns in the final three minutes of the first half. Clark ran in for a 3-yard score and Ashford threw to Eni Falayi for an 11-yard TD play with 10 seconds to play in the half.
Virginia Tech’s John Lowe, who kicked the winning field goal a week earlier at North Carolina State, booted field goals from 32 and 38 yards in the first eight minutes of the third quarter as the Hokies closed within 24-20.
Calvert countered from 29 yards out for Wake Forest before Lowe’s 34-yarder in the final minute of the third quarter. But Lowe missed from 49 yards away with 8:44 to play.
Wake Forest then chewed up 6½ minutes and Virginia Tech used two timeouts before Calvert’s 27-yard field goal pushed the lead to 30-23 with 2:14 to play.
Virginia Tech gained only 4 yards on the ensuing possessions and turned the ball over on downs.
Marcellous Hawkins scored on a 3-yard run and Drones threw to Takye Heath for 9 yards for Virginia Tech’s first-half touchdowns.
