Georgia Tech Football: Duke beats Yellow Jackets in Durham 41-23
By Lee Cagle
The Yellow Jackets found some success early in the game but Duke would explode for points on offense and special teams to blow out the Jackets on Blue Devil Homecoming.
Georgia Tech came up short once again on Saturday as they searched for their second win of the season. The Jackets were dominated on defense by Duke’s offense that put up 41 points.
James Graham (15-35, 206 yds 1 TD) would get the start for the Yellow Jackets on Saturday, his second start in a row for the Jackets. The Jackets would strike first in the game on their first drive of the game. The Jackets started the drive on their own 25-yard line and drove 75-yards for a score.
The drive would end on a 19 yard touchdown pass to Jerry Howard Jr marking the first time this season that the offense would score in the first quarter. The offense looked great with the run game and passing attack looking balanced and explosive. Jordan Mason also had his first career 100-yard game rushing for 106 yards on 18 carries.
The defense got off to a hot start as well holding the Blue Devils to a field goal in their first possession and giving a good feeling for the Yellow Jacket faithful. That feeling would be all but extinguished however as Duke would go on to score on every possession in the first half, including a blocked punt for a TD, sprinting to a 38-14 lead at the half.
Big plays had been the story of the day for Duke and the Jackets were left searching for answers going into the second half. The Jackets would find a quick answer with two quick stops to start the half and a 42-yard field goal from Brenton King to bring the score back to 38-17. The offense, however, could not seem to seize on the opportunities as they were held to a turnover on downs on the second possession.
Tobias Oliver would score on a pitch play for his first score as a WR and not as QB. With Graham hurt on the play, Jordan Yates would make his debut on the 2-pt conversion attempt that failed after mishandling the snap and an incomplete pass.
The Jackets are showing flashes of what is to come in the previous two games with James Graham and his impressive play, and the defensive play that while at times will give up big plays also shows its ability to create pressure and big moments in games. The offensive and defensive lines were the big question marks coming into the season and until those positions are filled with the athletes that Geoff Collins is searching for it will continue to be streaky for the Jackets.
The Jackets are on the road next week as they travel to Miami at noon to play the Hurricanes and fellow first-year head coach Manny Diaz.