Virginia Tech 17, Wake Forest 10

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) _ Mike Imoh ran for 100 yards and the winning touchdown Saturday to lead Virginia Tech to a 17-10 victory over Wake Forest in the Hokies' first Atlantic Coast Conference road

Saturday, October 9th 2004, 2:52 pm

By: News On 6

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) _ Mike Imoh ran for 100 yards and the winning touchdown Saturday to lead Virginia Tech to a 17-10 victory over Wake Forest in the Hokies' first Atlantic Coast Conference road game.

Bryan Randall set up the go-ahead score for Virginia Tech (4-2, 2-1 ACC). After being stifled for most of the game, the quarterback broke free on consecutive 12-yard runs, then scrambled for another 21 to put the Hokies on the 11.

Imoh scored two plays later on a 7-yard run to put Virginia Tech on top with 2:10 to play.

Wake Forest (3-3, 0-3) nearly tied it again, but was stopped on the Virginia Tech 5. One of Cory Randolph's passes into the end zone was nearly intercepted, and the next one sailed through receiver Jimmy Williams' hands.

Randolph's fourth-down attempt was dropped short of the end zone, sealing another heartbreaking defeat for the Demon Deacons. They lost in overtime at both Clemson and North Carolina State.

Imoh, who ran for 115 yards on 30 carries last week in a victory over then-No. 6 West Virginia, had 100 yards on 29 carries. He scored on his final run of the game.

Randall ended with 119 yards passing, including a 5-yard touchdown pass to Jeff King, and 46 yards rushing.

Randolph threw for 180 yards for Wake Forest. Chris Barclay ran for 84 yards, including a 1-yard scoring run.

The game could have been lopsided, but Wake Forest's Josh Gattis ended two potential Virginia Tech scoring drives with fumble recoveries.

The first was in the second quarter when he tackled Cedric Humes at the Wake Forest 19 and knocked the ball loose, then pounced on it.

Humes' second recovery was much bigger, taking the ball away from Justin Hamilton at the Wake Forest 1 as Virginia Tech was going in for a third-quarter touchdown.

The Hokies' defense was swarming early, ratting Wake Forest into consecutive false starts on its first possession followed by a sack of Randolph.

Virginia Tech dominated the first half, but gave up just enough plays to keep the game tight.

Randall was sacked twice late in the second quarter, forcing Virginia Tech to punt from its own 1. That gave the Deacons the ball on Tech's 45, and Randolph moved them into scoring range with a 30-yard pass to Kevin Marion.

Barclay scored five plays later to cut Virginia Tech's lead to three at 10-7 with 25 seconds to play before halftime.

The game might have been tied, but kicker Matt Wisnosky injured his knee on the opening kickoff and the Deacons had to use punter Ryan Plackemeier on field goals. His 38-yard attempt in the first quarter bounced off the right upright. He later made a 20-yarder that tied it at 10 with 6:15 to play.

Virginia Tech also missed a field goal, with Brandon Pace's 47-yard attempt falling short.