Nov. 18, 2006

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) -Sean Glennon threw two touchdown passes and Xavier Adibi had a 35-yard fumble return for a score to lead No. 19 Virginia Tech past No. 14 Wake Forest 27-6 Saturday night.

Eddie Royal and Josh Morgan each had long touchdown catches for the Hokies (9-2, 5-2 Atlantic Coast Conference), who have won five straight games.

Riley Skinner threw for 195 yards to lead the Demon Deacons (9-2, 5-2), who can still clinch the conference's Atlantic Division title and an appearance in the league championship game by winning at No. 21 Maryland next weekend. Virginia Tech is second in the Coastal Division to No. 18 Georgia Tech, which wrapped up that division last week.

The win came despite losing tailback Branden Ore - the ACC's leading rusher - in the first quarter to an ankle injury. Ore, who came in averaging 109 yards rushing per game, was hurt when he was tackled by Josh Gattis on a 7-yard run that was wiped out due to a penalty midway through the period. Ore's left leg folded awkwardly underneath him as he went down, and he was helped to the sideline where he pounded his fist on a table while being examined by team officials.

He was eventually carted to the locker room. The school said he would be re-evaluated Sunday.

Still, the Hokies controlled the game the entire way, taking advantage of key missed tackles on both of their offensive touchdowns. On Virginia Tech's first possession, Glennon connected with Royal, who bounced off a hit from Kevin Patterson and raced in for a 49-yard touchdown about 3 1/2 minutes in.

The Hokies increased the lead on their first possession of the second half on a similar play. Glennon tossed a high pass downfield to Morgan, who outjumped Riley Swanson and broke free from Josh Gattis for a 53-yard score and a 14-3 lead with 11:58 left in the third.

After the teams traded field goals, the Hokies' defense - which had allowed just 5.8 points per game in the previous four - came up with the clincher. Aaron Rouse jarred the ball loose from Kevin Harris on a screen pass, and Adibi scooped up a fumble and ran down the left sideline for a 24-6 lead with 3:01 left in the third quarter.

The Hokies' defense followed with a key stop of Rich Belton on a fourth-and-1 from the Virginia Tech 5-yard line early in the fourth to maintain that momentum.

Kenny Lewis Jr. ran for 74 yards in relief of Ore and Glennon completed 14 of 21 passes for 252 yards.

The Demon Deacons got little from their running game, finishing with 62 yards on 32 carries. They had 257 yards total. Travo Woods led their injury-depleted backfield with just 35 yards.