Virginia Football falls to Wake Forest, Final Score 27-20

Virginia fell to Wake Forest on the road 27-20 after giving up three turnovers that led to 17 Demon Deacon points. Virginia quarterback Kurt Benkert struggled to get comfortable all day long, and made several questionable throws in key possessions.

Virginia’s Jordan Ellis found the endzone on the game’s opening drive to give the Hoos the 6-0 lead in Winston-Salem after failing on the two-point conversion. The Demon Deacons found the endzone and a field goal to take a 10-6 lead. A Virginia fumble led to another Wake Forest touchdown to give the Deacs a 17-6 lead heading into the locker room at the half.

Virginia came out looking strong in the second half, forcing the Demon Deacons to go three-and-out on their first possession, while going 10 plays for 53 yards to find the endzone, 17-13.

After Wake Forest’s field goal went wide right late in the third quarter, the Cavaliers continued working the field, taking the 20-17 lead on a quick four play, 70-yard possession.

From there, things went downhill for the Hoos. Benkert threw into heavy coverage — a Doni Dowling tip led to an interception that eventually led to three points for the Deacs. On the following Virginia possession, a scrambling Benkert again threw into heavy coverage for a Wake Forest Jessie Bates pick six to give the Deacs a game-winning score.

With the win, Wake Forest earns bowl eligibility on the season, while it’s now mathematically impossible for the Hoos to play in the postseason. Virginia falls to 2-7 on the season, 1-4 in the conference.

Stay tuned to StreakingtheLawn.com for continued coverage and postgame analysis.