By Jimmy Robertson
BLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech is coming off arguably its best overall performance of the season, and the Hokies now are looking to continue that momentum on the road Saturday when they play in Winston-Salem, North Carolina against Wake Forest.
A year ago, the Hokies – ranked No. 19 in the latest Associated Press national poll – overwhelmed the Demon Deacons on Bud Foster Day. The legendary defensive coordinator, who retired at the season's conclusion, reveled in seeing his group hold Wake Forest to just 63 yards rushing and registering two interceptions and three sacks.
But Saturday's matchup is a dangerous one for the Hokies. Wake Forest has won two straight after losing its first two games and has scored at least 40 points in three consecutive games. The Demon Deacons average more than 40 points per game, which ranks third in the ACC and 12th nationally.
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The Demon Deacons' combination of Sam Hartman at quarterback and Kenneth Walker III at tailback will present challenges. Walker has rushed for more than 100 yards in three straight games and has reached the end zone seven times – tied for the most in the ACC. The efficient Hartman ranks in the top five in the league in completion percentage (62.0).
Virginia Tech coach Justin Fuente wasn't as happy with his team's performance against BC – a 40-14 win – as many might have thought. He expects just as tough of a challenge, if not more so of one, Saturday.
"We have a tremendous amount of things to work on in all three areas of the game," Fuente said Monday. "Huge challenge this week against Wake Forest. Can't say enough good things about the job Dave Clawson [Wake Forest coach] has done there. The quarterback's throwing it all over the yards, they have a great running game, they're averaging 40 points per game. Defensively, they've got it seems like every guy back. I know it's not all 11, but it's a bunch. They make very few mistakes – no penalties, no turnovers."
So what will it take for the Hokies to continue their momentum? Well, here are some things to watch:
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GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Saturday, Oct. 24 – 3:30 p.m.
Truist Field; Winston-Salem, N.C.
vs. Wake Forest (2-2, 1-2)
Head Coach: Dave Clawson (8th Season)
Record at school: 38-42; Career: 128-122 (21st season)
Series: Tech leads 25-12-1 Last: Nov. 9, 2019 (W, 36-17)
Live Stats: CLICK HERE
Broadcast: Regional Sports Networks
Play-by-Play: Evan Lepler
Analyst: Brian Jordan
Sideline: Abby Labar
Radio: Virginia Tech Sports Properties
Play-by-Play: Jon Laaser
Analyst: Mike Burnop
Sideline: Wes McElroy
Virginia Tech Game Notes: CLICK HERE
Virginia Tech Press Conference Recap: CLICK HERE
• Tech's running attack – This probably could be a thing to watch for every Virginia Tech game, as the Hokies now own an identity with their rushing attack. They rank first in the ACC and second nationally in rushing at 312 yards per game. Khalil Herbert leads the country at 148 yards per game.
But the running game takes on more of an importance against Wake Forest for two reasons.
First, the Demon Deacons allow nearly 200 yards rushing per game and rank next to last in the ACC in rush defense. Virginia just rushed for more than 200 yards against Wake (and somehow lost by 17). So the stats seem to suggest that this plays in the Hokies' favor.
Second, Wake Forest has scored at least 40 in three consecutive games. Clawson has the offense humming after a 37-13 loss to Clemson in the Demon Deacons' season opener.
So what better way to counteract an offense running at peak efficiency than keeping it on the sideline with a clock-eating ground attack? It makes sense – and it totally plays into the Hokies' strength.
• Basham vs. Tech's tackles – As a follow-up to the part about Tech's running game, the Hokies' offensive line stands as arguably the strongest part of this team, but the Hokies' tackles will be tested Saturday.
Wake Forest features a stout, veteran defensive line, led by Roanoke native Carlos "Boogie" Basham Jr., an All-ACC selection last season. Basham, a 6-foot-5, 285-pound end, wreaked havoc on the Hokies last season, finishing with six tackles and 1.5 sacks and he also forced a fumble. Basham has recorded at least one tackle for a loss in 20 consecutive games, has four sacks already this season, and he anchors a defensive line that also includes 300-pound Sulaiman Kamara, 295-pound Tyler Williams, and 251-pound Jacorey Johns.
"I can't say enough about Basham," Fuente said. "He's just all over the place. He caused at least one fumble I can remember in the game last year. He chases the ball. Obviously, he's a big, strong player. They do a good job with him in terms of what they're asking him to do. He loves to rush the passer, plays very well against the run, and then they've created a little more movement up front than maybe in the past that have caused some people some problems in the run game.
"When you watch the film and you start to see a team on either side of the ball that clearly has answers, you know that they're well coached and they're being put in good situations. Wake is certainly that. They've got pressures. They've got movement. They've got calls in their base defense that can give you problems. It's hard to have a perfect call against everything they've got going on right now."
It's hard to fathom why Wake Forest gives up nearly 200 yards rushing per game with that defensive front, but Basham certainly possesses the ability to make big plays and change a game, and the Hokies need to account for him. He figures to be lined up on the left side of Wake's line – a spot where he will be facing either Tech's Silas Dzansi or Luke Tenuta, provided Tenuta returns to play this week.
Neutralizing Basham is simply a big key for the Hokies.
• Tech's pass rush (again) – This was something to watch in the Boston College game, and while the Hokies finished with just one sack, they did record eight hurries on the stat sheet, making life difficult for Phil Jurkovec and the Eagles.
Now they face an even better quarterback in Hartman, who comes into the game completing 62% of his passes and not having thrown an interception this season. Hartman just torched Virginia, throwing for 309 yards and three scores.
"He can really throw the ball, and you know Coach Clawson is going to find ways to be productive on the offensive side of the ball," Fuente said. "He's been doing it for so long. He's just really, really good at it. Between their scheme and personnel, they provide tons of issues, being able to run the ball and throw the ball down the field.
"I've been really impressed the Hartman kid. He's taken care of the football. He gets on the move and makes plays with his arm. He can push the ball down the field. I mean, they've got the ball at the minus-1 yard line, and they're taking shots. I feel like just watching the film – Dave hasn't told me this – but he's got complete confidence in Sam Hartman to go operate whatever he calls and execute it at a pretty high level."
Hartman likes to spread the ball around. Four different receivers have at least 10 catches through four games this season, and 12 different players have caught passes. He likes to use all of his weapons, and the Demon Deacons' staff lets him.
"They have solid receivers – 83 [Taylor Morin], I think he's a freshman actually, is a really good slot receiver," Tech safety Divine Deablo agreed. "No. 5 [Jaquarii Roberson] is a big target, not as fast, but still pretty good. We've just got to do a good job of creating turnovers because Sam Hartman, I don't remember the last time he's had a turnover. He's done a really good job of taking care of the ball. We've just got to do a good job of creating turnovers."
The Hokies rank fifth in the ACC with 15 sacks – more than six ACC teams that have actually played at least one more game than the Hokies. But they need to add to that total Saturday.
• Turnovers – Speaking of turnovers, the Hokies beat Boston College last Saturday because the defense forced five turnovers – and the offense scored 20 points off of those turnovers. Nothing swings the outcome of a game more than turnovers, as many who read these pieces have come to learn.
Now the Hokies face a team that is the Secret Service of the football. Wake Forest has turned the ball over just once in four games, and the Demon Deacons have yet to throw an interception, making them just one of three FBS schools (Air Force and Florida Atlantic) not to have thrown an interception this season.
Complicating matters for the Hokies, they face a team that also excels at taking away the football. Wake Forest enters the game having forced a turnover in 13 consecutive games. The Demon Deacons' six interceptions – by six different players, no less – ranks seventh nationally among FBS schools.
As a result of these numbers, Wake Forest sports a gaudy plus-8 in turnover margin, which ranks second nationally.
Hokie Nation hopes that the Hokies protect the ball and retain the ball-hawking ways that they displayed against BC – they finished plus-5 in turnover margin for the game. That has been their key to success under Fuente, as the Hokies are 22-4 under him when winning the turnover battle.
In closing: Tech and Wake Forest kick off at 3:30 p.m., and the game can be watched on the RSN (affliliates list can be found here).