Kyron Drones guides Virginia Tech past slumping Wake Forest

Kyron Drones threw for 321 yards and two touchdowns and Virginia Tech's defense stood firm in a 30-13 victory against visiting Wake Forest on Saturday at Blacksburg, Va.

Virginia Tech (3-4, 2-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) held Wake Forest to 262 yards of total offense to win for the second time in three weeks.

Drones, who completed 20 of 29 passes, was also the game's top rusher with 59 yards. Both of his TD passes went to Jaylin Lane, who had 102 receiving yards.

Starting quarterback Mitch Griffis of Wake Forest was 6-for-11 for 27 yards with an interception before being replaced by Michael Kern, though Griffis returned late in the game. Griffis finished 8 of 17 for 77 yards and the pick.

The Demon Deacons (3-3, 0-3) have lost three games in a row despite Kern's 166 passing yards on 14-for-22 accuracy.

After a dizzying second-quarter stretch of offense, there were no second-half touchdowns for either team until Drones threw for a 12-yard score to Lane with 2:47 remaining.

The Hokies held a 20-10 lead on John Love's 26-yard field goal in the final minute of the third quarter.

Wake Forest countered on Matthew Dennis' 34-yarder at the end of a 60-yard drive. Love's 36-yarder re-established a 10-point cushion with 8:06 remaining in regulation.

Kerns lost a fumble when sacked before the Hokies drove 53 yards for the clinching touchdown.

The Demon Deacons had only 184 yards of total offense through three quarters. They finished with 19 rushing yards.

Neither team scored in the first quarter and then they combined for 27 points in the second quarter. That included 17 points in a 24-second span.

The Hokies went up on Bhayshul Tuten's 3-yard run. It was 10-0 after Love's 37-yard field goal.

Wake Forest responded right way on Demond Claiborne's 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

Virginia Tech was just about as efficient because on the next snap, Drones threw to Jaylin Lane for a 75-yard touchdown play.

Wake Forest capped the first-half scoring on Dennis' 28-yard field goal with 20 seconds left in the half.