Hokies top Wake Forest

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Playing as if completely unaware of No. 14 Wake Forest’s transformation into a top ACC team, No. 19 Virginia Tech took a prompt lead in Groves Stadium and pulled away for a 27-6 conference win — even as top offensive producer Branden Ore went out with an early injury.

A first quarter touchdown pass from Sean Glennon to Eddie Royal gave Virginia Tech a 7-0 lead less than three and a half minutes in.

“It was the perfect pass,” Royal said.

The pass was perfect in the confidence it gave the Hokies to hold up when Ore went out just more than six and a half minutes into the game. The worst scenario for Virginia Tech was almost more stunning for its lack of drama, as the third year sophomore tailback’s all white uniform disappeared under a pair of Wake Forest tacklers, led by free safety Josh Gattis. Ore was down briefly before hobbling off the field with a trainer under each arm. Minutes later it was announced, he was out with an undetermined injury to his left ankle.

Having ridden out 10 games on Ore’s sturdy back, Virginia Tech was forced to hand off to untested true freshman Kenny Lewis Jr. and sophomore George Bell, who has been sidelined since Sept. 9 with knee injuries.

“I wanted to break one but didn’t really get a chance to,” said Bell, a North Carolina native. “But you know, I got the tough yards.”

Lewis Jr. was the Hokies’ leading rusher with 74 yards on 17 carries, and Bell battered out 28 yards on his 10 touches, but the Virginia Tech (9-2, 5-2 ACC) aerial attack came sharply into focus. Glennon took advantage of his small stable of sticky-fingered receivers, finishing with 14 completions on 21 attempts for 252 yards and two touchdowns.

“Although it’s terrible to see Branden get hurt I think maybe it wasn’t a terrible thing in the end,” the sophomore said. “Because it showed not just our offense, it showed our team that we can still put points up on the board without him. And although I don’t ever want [No.] 28 not to be behind me, I think it built a lot of confidence in myself, our receivers, our line. It said, ’Hey, that although we lost one of our stars, we’re still alright.”

With the offense finally functioning on its own, the defense was free wheeling.

“I don’t know how they’re able to get another gear, but they do,” offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring said.

For a second straight game, the Hokies did not allow a touchdown, holding Wake to a pair of Sam Swank field goals. The only serious Wake Forest (9-2, 5-2) touchdown threat ended in a failed fourth and one conversion at the Virginia Tech five yard line as time expired in the fourth quarter.

A 35-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown by opportunistic linebacker Xavier Adibi put Virginia Tech up 24-6.

Wake Forest quarterback Riley Skinner completed a 5-yard pass to redshirt freshman Kevin Harris, who was met and immediately leveled by rover Aaron Rouse, knocking the ball loose.

After the hit, Harris left with a concussion and did not return.

“[Adibi] picked the ball up and started jogging, then it like he’s running and running, then he takes it in for the score,” Rouse said. “It just feels great, just to be a part of that and see the looks on my teammates faces in this great victory down in Wake Forest.”

Despite the loss, the Demon Deacons can win the Atlantic division with a win Saturday over Maryland. And in spite of the win, the Hokies are playing for pride and a potential spot in the Chik-Fil-A Bowl, which had representative at Groves Stadium.

“We still go for the same goal every week,” center Danny McGrath said. “And that’s to win and it just feels good — especially against a good Wake Forest team. You know, I wish we were playing this well the beginning and maybe we could get rid of some of those losses. But we’ll take what we can get.”