WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- The worst thing that could happen to Virginia Tech's offense happened against Wake Forest on Saturday night.

Tailback Branden Ore, who has almost single-handedly carried the Hokies' offense most of the season, suffered a sprained left ankle midway in the first quarter and never returned to the game.

Ore was hurt when his left leg appeared to get caught and twisted underneath a Wake tackler on his second carry of the night. The play was wiped out by an illegal-shift penalty on Tech's offense.

After writhing in pain for close to a minute on the ground, Ore was helped off the field. He was seen a few minutes later sitting on the bench on the visitors' sideline with a white towel draped over his head.

Ore, who entered the night leading the ACC in rushing (109 yards per game), never returned to the game. His status for Saturday's regular-season finale against Virginia at Lane Stadium was not immediately known as no X-rays were taken. His status will be determined today by Tech's medical staff.

With Ore sidelined, the Hokies were forced to turn to freshman Kenny Lewis and redshirt sophomore George Bell for the running game.

Personnel Dept.

Left tackle Brandon Frye, who missed last week's game against Kent State, was back in the starter's role Saturday. Victor "Macho" Harris, who suffered a dislocated shoulder last Saturday, also started. Redshirt freshman Sam Wheeler of Blacksburg made his fourth career start in place of injured Greg Boone (sprained ankle). ... Aaron Rouse made his second straight start at strong safety. Rouse had alternated as the starter in the past four games with fellow senior Cary Wade. ... Beamer confirmed this week that freshman linebacker Matt Wright withdrew from school recently for "personal reasons." Wright, a 6-foot-2, 215-pound linebacker from Hampton's Phoebus High, was scheduled to redshirt this season.

One-time Wake fan

Tech coach Frank Beamer is quite familiar with the Wake Forest program. During his football days at old Hillsville High School, Beamer recalled going to several Wake Forest games. The Demon Deacons then played at old Bowman Gray Stadium. They moved into Groves Stadium in 1968.

"Yeah, I was a Wake fan," Beamer said. "Wake Forest was about an hour and 15 minutes from my home [Fancy Gap, Va.], and it was about the same distance over here [to Blacksburg], so I grew up watching a lot of Wake Forest. And back when I was playing at Tech [1966-68], we always played Wake Forest."

Early nod

Beamer said he cast his vote last week for Wake's Jim Grobe in "early" voting for the ACC's Coach of the Year award.

"I think it's between him and Ralph [Friedgen, Maryland coach], and probably what happens with Georgia Tech because Chan Gailey has done a good job, too," Beamer said.

There will be a final vote at the end of the season.

Not much reaction

Tech kicker Brandon Pace said he hasn't heard much on campus about the school-record streak of 19 consecutive field goals he took into Saturday's game. Well, there's one good reason for that. The guy doesn't have to leave his apartment to go to class.

"All my classes are online now," said Pace, who is in Tech's master's program. "Basically, I just wake up about 11 [a.m.], watch a little bit of 'Cold Pizza' and 'SportsCenter,' then I come over here and practice."

Odds and ends

Ore, who ranked 10th in the nation in rushing entering Saturday, saw his per-game average fall from 109 to 99.5 yards per game. ... Tech's touchdown on its opening drive of the game marked the first time that it has produced a TD on its first series since the third game of the season against Duke. ... Scouts representing three bowls -- Chick-fil-A, Champs Sports and Music City -- were on hand for the game. ... Atlantic Division teams had won 11 of the ACC's 16 inter-divisional games going into the Tech-Wake contest.

On deck

The Hokies close out the 12-game regular season Saturday, when arch-rival Virginia visits Lane Stadium. The game kicks off at noon and will be televised by WDBJ.

Virginia (5-6, 4-3), which beat Miami 17-7 on Saturday, needs to beat Tech in order to qualify for a bowl game.

The Hokies have won six of the past seven meetings with the Cavaliers.

Tech hammered UVa 52-14 last year in Charlottesville. Tech leads the all-time series 45-37-5.