Wake Forest Stuns Virginia Tech Behind Ashford's Passing
Wake Forest defeated Virginia Tech 30-23 in Week 6, covering the -6 spread in a competitive matchup. The Demon Deacons dominated the second quarter, scoring 21 points to take control early, while the Hokies managed just 14 first-half points. Virginia Tech mounted a third-quarter comeback with 9 points, but Wake Forest's defense held firm in the final frame as the home team was shut out.
Wake Forest quarterback Robby Ashford led the offensive attack with 256 passing yards, including a 62-yard completion to Sawyer Racanelli that set up a first down at the Virginia Tech 15-yard line in the third quarter. Virginia Tech's offense, led by Kyron Drones, had several significant plays including a 43-yard run by Terion Stewart in the second quarter and multiple touchdown drives, but couldn't generate enough offensive production in crucial moments.
The game exceeded the over-under of 51 points, finishing at 53 total. The contest featured 12 lead changes, showcasing a competitive back-and-forth battle throughout the afternoon. Wake Forest's balanced attack and fourth-quarter defensive stop proved decisive.
AI-generated recap · Aug 11, 2026
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Wake Forest | 3 | 21 | 3 | 3 | 30 |
 Virginia Tech | 7 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 23 |
Scoring Timeline
Drive Chart
Box Score
| Statistic | Wake Forest | Virginia Tech |
|---|---|---|
| Passing | 24-40 | 14-28 |
| Pass Yards | 256 | 111 |
| Rush Yards | 91 | 152 |
| Total Yards | 347 | 263 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| 3rd Down | 6-17 | 7-17 |
| Penalties | 11-85 | 6-74 |
| Possession | 32:40 | 27:20 |
Player Leaders
Player Leaders
Play-by-Play
Robby Ashford pass complete to Chris Barnes for 7 yds to the WAKE 32
Robby Ashford pass complete to Eni Falayi for 2 yds to the WAKE 34
Robby Ashford run for 2 yds to the WAKE 36 for a 1ST down
Demond Claiborne run for 5 yds to the WAKE 41
Ty Clark III run for 2 yds to the WAKE 43
Demond Claiborne run for no gain to the WAKE 43
Cal Joseph punt for 38 yds, fair catch by P.J. Prioleau at the VT 19
Terion Stewart run for 5 yds to the VT 24
Kyron Drones pass incomplete to Ayden Greene
Kyron Drones pass intercepted Dallas Afalava return for 3 yds to the VT 13
PENALTY Deacs False Start 5 yards from Hokies13 to Hokies18. NO PLAY.
Robby Ashford pass incomplete to Micah Mays Jr.
Robby Ashford pass complete to Chris Barnes for 2 yds to the VT 16
PENALTY Deacs False Start (Steih,George) 5 yards from Hokies16 to Hokies21. NO PLAY.
Robby Ashford pass complete to Demond Claiborne for 5 yds to the VT 16
Connor Calvert 33 yd FG GOOD
Caleb Carlson kickoff for 64 yds , P.J. Prioleau return for 26 yds to the VT 39 Wake Forest Penalty, (-15 Yards) to the VT 42
Terion Stewart run for 1 yd to the VT 43
Terion Stewart run for no gain to the VT 43
Kyron Drones pass incomplete to Marcellous Hawkins
PENALTY Hokies Delay Of Game 5 yards from Hokies43 to Hokies38. NO PLAY.
Nick Veltsistas punt for 47 yds, punt out-of-bounds at the WAKE 15
PENALTY Deacs False Start (Johnson,Kamrean) 5 yards from Deacs15 to Deacs10. NO PLAY.
Robby Ashford pass complete to Chris Barnes for 10 yds to the WAKE 20
Robby Ashford pass incomplete
Robby Ashford pass incomplete to Sterling Berkhalter
Cal Joseph punt for 23 yds, punt out-of-bounds at the WAKE 43
Kyron Drones pass complete to Donavon Greene for 14 yds to the WAKE 29 for a 1ST down
Marcellous Hawkins run for 12 yds to the WAKE 17 for a 1ST down
Cameron Seldon run for 7 yds to the WAKE 10
Marcellous Hawkins run for 2 yds to the WAKE 8
Kyron Drones run for 2 yds to the WAKE 6 for a 1ST down
Kyron Drones run for 4 yds to the WAKE 2
Kyron Drones run for a loss of 1 yard to the WAKE 3
Marcellous Hawkins run for 3 yds for a TD (John Love KICK)
Demond Claiborne run for 3 yds to the WAKE 28
Demond Claiborne run for 4 yds to the WAKE 32
Ty Clark III run for 13 yds to the WAKE 45 for a 1ST down
Robby Ashford pass incomplete to Micah Mays Jr.
Robby Ashford pass complete to Demond Claiborne for 2 yds to the WAKE 47
(15:00) Shotgun Ashford,Robby pass incomplete deep right to Barnes,Chris thrown to Hokies32 PENALTY Hokies Roughing The Passer (Bell,Ben) 15 yards from Deacs47 to Hokies38, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY.
Robby Ashford pass complete to Carlos Hernandez for 19 yds to the VT 19 for a 1ST down
Robby Ashford run for 4 yds to the VT 15
Robby Ashford pass complete to Micah Mays Jr. for 4 yds to the VT 11
Demond Claiborne run for 11 yds for a TD (Connor Calvert KICK)
Terion Stewart run for 43 yds to the WAKE 32 for a 1ST down
Kyron Drones pass complete to Cameron Seldon for 5 yds to the WAKE 27
Kyron Drones run for 14 yds to the WAKE 13 for a 1ST down
Terion Stewart run for 1 yd to the WAKE 12
Terion Stewart run for 3 yds to the WAKE 9
Kyron Drones pass complete to Takye Heath for 9 yds for a TD (John Love KICK)
Demond Claiborne run for 4 yds to the WAKE 29
Robby Ashford pass complete to Sawyer Racanelli for 19 yds to the WAKE 48 for a 1ST down
Chris Barnes run for 11 yds to the VT 41 for a 1ST down
Demond Claiborne run for 2 yds to the VT 39
Wake Forest Penalty, (Yards) to the WAKE 44
Robby Ashford pass incomplete to Chris Barnes
Cal Joseph punt for 37 yds , Isaiah Spencer returns for 6 yds to the VT 25
Kyron Drones pass complete to Takye Heath for 2 yds to the VT 23
Kyron Drones pass complete to Donavon Greene for 4 yds to the VT 27
Kyron Drones sacked by Langston Hardy for a loss of 11 yards to the VT 16
Nick Veltsistas punt for 39 yds
Robby Ashford pass complete to Eni Falayi for 26 yds to the VT 29 for a 1ST down
Robby Ashford pass complete to Carlos Hernandez for 5 yds to the VT 24
Robby Ashford pass incomplete to Eni Falayi
(03:59) No Huddle-Shotgun Ashford,Robby pass complete short right to Claiborne,Demond caught at Hokies27, for 2 yards to the Hokies22 (Bass,Jordan) PENALTY Deacs Illegal Block in Back (Berkhalter,Sterling) 10 yards from Hokies24 to Hokies34. NO PLAY.
Robby Ashford run for 6 yds to the VT 28 for a 1ST down Virginia Tech Penalty, (14 Yards) to the VT 14 for a 1ST down
Robby Ashford pass incomplete to Carlos Hernandez
Robby Ashford pass complete to Eni Falayi for 11 yds to the VT 3 for a 1ST down
Ty Clark III run for 3 yds for a TD (Connor Calvert KICK)
(02:35) Shotgun Drones,Kyron rush middle for 17 yards gain to the Hokies42 (Turpin,Myles) PENALTY Hokies Holding (Rimac,Tomas) 10 yards from Hokies25 to Hokies15. NO PLAY.
Terion Stewart run for 1 yd to the VT 16
Kyron Drones pass incomplete to Terion Stewart
Kyron Drones pass complete to Isaiah Spencer for 5 yds to the VT 21
Nick Veltsistas punt for 23 yds, punt out-of-bounds at the VT 44
Chris Barnes run for 5 yds to the VT 39
Robby Ashford pass complete to Ty Clark III for 2 yds to the VT 37
Robby Ashford pass incomplete to Chris Barnes
Robby Ashford pass complete to Carlos Hernandez for 6 yds to the VT 31 for a 1ST down
Robby Ashford pass complete to Micah Mays Jr. for 17 yds to the VT 14 for a 1ST down
Robby Ashford run for 3 yds to the VT 11
Robby Ashford pass complete to Eni Falayi for 11 yds for a TD (Connor Calvert KICK)
Caleb Carlson kickoff for 50 yds , Isaiah Spencer return for 17 yds to the VT 32
K. Drones takes a knee
End of 2nd Quarter
Kyron Drones pass complete to Terion Stewart for 4 yds to the VT 29
Terion Stewart run for 5 yds to the VT 34
Terion Stewart run for 3 yds to the VT 37 for a 1ST down
Kyron Drones pass complete to Ayden Greene for 15 yds to the WAKE 48 for a 1ST down
Marcellous Hawkins run for 16 yds to the WAKE 32 for a 1ST down
Marcellous Hawkins run for 1 yd to the WAKE 31
Kyron Drones pass incomplete to Ayden Greene
Kyron Drones run for 12 yds to the WAKE 19 for a 1ST down
Kyron Drones run for no gain to the WAKE 19
Kyron Drones pass incomplete
Virginia Tech Penalty, (Yards) declined
John Love 32 yd FG GOOD
Ty Clark III run for 4 yds to the WAKE 29
Robby Ashford pass incomplete to Sterling Berkhalter
Robby Ashford pass incomplete
Cal Joseph punt for 39 yds, fair catch by Isaiah Spencer at the VT 47
Kyron Drones pass complete to Donavon Greene for 24 yds to the WAKE 29 for a 1ST down
Marcellous Hawkins run for a loss of 1 yard to the WAKE 30
Kyron Drones run for 6 yds to the WAKE 24
Kyron Drones pass complete to P.J. Prioleau for 3 yds to the WAKE 21
John Love 38 yd FG GOOD
Robby Ashford pass complete to Chris Barnes for 2 yds to the WAKE 23
Robby Ashford pass incomplete to Micah Mays Jr.
Robby Ashford pass complete to Sawyer Racanelli for 62 yds to the VT 15 for a 1ST down
Robby Ashford run for 3 yds to the VT 12
Deshawn Purdie pass incomplete to Eni Falayi
Wake Forest Penalty, (Yards) declined
Connor Calvert 29 yd FG GOOD
Marcellous Hawkins run for 11 yds to the VT 36 for a 1ST down
Kyron Drones pass incomplete to Ayden Greene
Kyron Drones pass incomplete
Kyron Drones run for 11 yds to the VT 47 for a 1ST down Wake Forest Penalty, (Yards) declined for a 1ST down
Marcellous Hawkins run for a loss of 1 yard to the VT 46
Kyron Drones pass incomplete to Isaiah Spencer
Kyron Drones pass incomplete to Ayden Greene
Nick Veltsistas punt for 52 yds
Robby Ashford run for 1 yd to the WAKE 3
Robby Ashford pass intercepted Isaiah Brown-Murray return for 11 yds to the WAKE 4
Marcellous Hawkins run for 3 yds to the WAKE 1
Kyron Drones run for no gain to the WAKE 1
Virginia Tech Penalty, (-15 Yards) to the WAKE 17
John Love 34 yd FG GOOD Wake Forest Penalty, (Yards) declined
JaMario Clements run for 1 yd to the WAKE 26
Robby Ashford pass complete to Carlos Hernandez for 17 yds to the WAKE 43 for a 1ST down
JaMario Clements run for 1 yd to the WAKE 44
Robby Ashford pass incomplete to Carlos Hernandez
Robby Ashford pass complete to Sawyer Racanelli for 7 yds to the VT 49
(12:54) Joseph,Cal punt 33 yards to the Hokies16 fair catch by Spencer,Isaiah at Hokies16 PENALTY Deacs Illegal Formation 5 yards from Hokies49 to Deacs46. NO PLAY.
PENALTY Deacs Illegal Snap 5 yards from Deacs46 to Deacs41. NO PLAY.
Cal Joseph punt for 36 yds , Isaiah Spencer returns for 7 yds to the VT 30
Kyron Drones pass complete to Donavon Greene for 10 yds to the VT 40 for a 1ST down
Marcellous Hawkins run for 3 yds to the VT 43
Kyron Drones pass incomplete to Benji Gosnell
Kyron Drones pass complete to Takye Heath for 16 yds to the WAKE 41 for a 1ST down
(10:52) Shotgun Drones,Kyron pass incomplete deep left to Greene,Donavon thrown to Deacs05 PENALTY Deacs Pass Interference (Prunty,Karon) 15 yards from Deacs41 to Deacs26, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY.
Kyron Drones pass complete to Ayden Greene for no gain to the WAKE 26
Kyron Drones run for 3 yds to the WAKE 23
Kyron Drones sacked by Nuer Gatkuoth for a loss of 8 yards to the WAKE 31
John Love 49 yd FG MISSED
Robby Ashford run for 8 yds to the WAKE 39
Robby Ashford pass complete to Chris Barnes for 4 yds to the WAKE 43 for a 1ST down
Robby Ashford pass incomplete to Carlos Hernandez
Robby Ashford pass complete to Ty Clark III for 9 yds to the VT 48
Robby Ashford run for 2 yds to the VT 46 for a 1ST down
Robby Ashford run for 5 yds to the VT 41
(05:20) Shotgun Ashford,Robby pass incomplete short left to Falayi,Eni thrown to Hokies24 PENALTY Hokies Pass Interference (Bass,Jordan) 15 yards from Hokies41 to Hokies26, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY.
(05:15) PENALTY Deacs False Start (Falayi,Eni) 5 yards from Hokies26 to Hokies31. NO PLAY.
Chris Barnes run for 5 yds to the VT 26
Robby Ashford pass complete to Carlos Hernandez for 4 yds to the VT 22
Robby Ashford pass complete to Ty Clark III for 7 yds to the VT 15 for a 1ST down
Robby Ashford run for 1 yd to the VT 14
Robby Ashford run for 3 yds to the VT 11
Robby Ashford run for 1 yd to the VT 10
Connor Calvert 27 yd FG GOOD
Kyron Drones run for 4 yds to the VT 29
Kyron Drones pass incomplete to P.J. Prioleau
Kyron Drones pass incomplete to Benji Gosnell
Kyron Drones pass incomplete to Takye Heath
D. Purdie takes a knee
D. Purdie takes a knee
D. Purdie takes a knee