In just a few short hours, Virginia Tech will be looking to get to 2-0 in the ACC and .500 on the season for the first time all year. They are touchdown favorites against the Demon Deacons in a very interesting matchup between the two schools. Here's what to watch for the game.
Kyron Drones vs Robby Ashford
Kyron Drones had a shaky start to the season, but has really been able to right the ship in these last two weeks. In that time, he has thrown for 484 yards and four touchdowns. He's also had two rushing touchdowns in that time. He will be facing up against a strong Wake Forest defense that is allowing just over 20 points per game and has done a very good job defending the pass. As Drones goes, the offense goes.
Robby Ashford has also had an impressive start to the season. He has eclipsed 200 yards in all four games, but has only thrown for one touchdown. He has thrown three interceptions, including two against NC State. Ashford's value isn't as a passer, though. He is one of the best rushing quarterbacks in the country, totaling 211 yards on 4.8 yards per carry and four touchdowns, one in each game so far. He is averaging 4.8 yards per carry. He's been sacked just five times in four games.
In their last matchup against Georgia Tech, though, he did come down with an injury and missed about a quarter of play. He eventually came back in with a knee brace and heavy tape underneath. There is not guarantee that he is healthy for this game. Wake Forest listed him as probable for the game.
Wake's backup quarterback is DeShawn Purdie, who is not nearly as much of a rushing threat compared to Ashford. He transferred in from Charlotte last year, where he threw for 1,800 yards and completed just 50% of his passes. He threw for ten touchdowns and six interceptions. Last week against Georgia Tech, he threw seven times for four completions and 56 yards and a touchdown.
Terion Stewart’s workload & effectiveness
Terion Stewart is coming off of a career game against NC State where he rushed for 174 yards on 15 carries. Stewart has been nicked up for most of the season so far, and last week was the first time that the Hokies got to utilize a fully healthy Terion Stewart. The Hokies will need the run game to be successful in order for the passing game to be effective, so his role, along with Marcellous Hawkins' will be critical for the Virginia Tech offense.
Wake Forest has graded out with a 75.5 run defense so far on the season, but that number is slightly hurt by a 62.9 run defense grade against Nc State. They had a strong 71.8 grade against Georgia Tech, who is averaging 6.1 yards per carry on the season, even after a poor performance against Wake Forest.
Wake Forest's run defense has been pretty solid overall so far, allowing just 3.5 yards per carry and four touchdowns. Nc State was able to gash them for over 200 yards on the ground on 44 carries. I think that the Hokies will need to do something similar to be able to have success against this Wake Forest defense.
Explosive plays and big gains
Explosive plays have been at the heart of both Wake Forest’s and Virginia Tech’s early-season identities. The Demon Deacons have surrendered only a handful of gains over 20 yards through their first four games, a mark that places them among the ACC’s more disciplined defenses. That has forced opponents to sustain long drives, often stalling before the red zone. On offense, Wake has relied on bursts to change momentum, highlighted by Robby Ashford’s 41-yard touchdown run against Western Carolina and Demond Claiborne’s 25-yard score versus Georgia Tech in overtime. In a season where efficiency has been inconsistent, those plays have often been the spark that keeps Wake in games.
Virginia Tech’s path has been more volatile. The Hokies have leaned on Kyron Drones’ deep connections with Donavon Greene and Terion Stewart’s ability to break tackles for long gains to ignite an offense still searching for rhythm. But for every highlight, there has been a breakdown on the other side of the ball. South Carolina gashed Tech for a 30-yard run, and Old Dominion moved the chains repeatedly with chunk plays, turning short possessions into long, deflating drives. The Hokies’ margin for error shrinks when they give away the same type of explosive gains they rely on to score.
That tug-of-war makes Saturday’s matchup hinge on who blinks first. Can Wake Forest’s secondary prevent the Greene's from slipping behind coverage? Will Virginia Tech’s linebackers keep Claiborne bottled up? In a game that figures to feature swings in field position and tempo, one long run or deep strike could prove decisive. For two teams still piecing together consistency, big plays may be the deciding factor.
