Yellow Jacked Up
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Georgia Tech Football: Three quick takeaways from Jackets loss to Duke

ByMatthew Summers|
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - OCTOBER 05: Head coach David Cutcliffe talks with Quentin Harris #18 of the Duke Blue Devils during the second half of their game against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Wallace Wade Stadium on October 05, 2019 in Durham, North Carolina. Pittsburgh won 33-30. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - OCTOBER 05: Head coach David Cutcliffe talks with Quentin Harris #18 of the Duke Blue Devils during the second half of their game against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Wallace Wade Stadium on October 05, 2019 in Durham, North Carolina. Pittsburgh won 33-30. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

It was another tough loss for the Yellow Jackets of Georgia Tech as they fell to the Duke Blue Devils 41-23 on Saturday afternoon.

From the Jackets marching down the field 75 yards on their opening drive and putting up a quick seven points, to the team giving up an astounding 38 points in the first half to the Blue Devils, this was a game that had multiple big plays and a lot of scoring. Nonetheless, it still ended in the Jackets fifth loss of the season.

1) Jackets finally score first quarter points

The Yellow Jackets offense started this game out strong. On the first drive of the game, they marched down the field 75 yards and ended it with a 19 yard touchdown pass from quarterback James Graham to Jerry Howard Jr. This marked the first time that the Jackets made it on the scoreboard in the first quarter this season. It is also the first time that the Jackets scored a first quarter touchdown since the 27-21 victory over Miami on November 10, 2018.

2) Defense struggled mightily in the first half

After the Jackets took a quick 7-0 lead in the game, the defense allowed Duke to march down the field, but held them to a field goal. After the field goal by Duke, the Jackets defense allowed the Blue Devils to score four subsequent touchdowns on four drives, as well as a touchdown on a blocked punt. That put the Blue Devils up 38-14 at the end of the half.

The Jackets defense seems to be struggling more in recent weeks, as they have allowed at least 24 points in the previous three games, including 38 last weekend against North Carolina. The Jackets, however, only gave up three points in the second half, which seems they made some serious adjustments at the half that clearly worked. The first half deficit was just too much to overcome.

3) Jordan Mason had a career rushing game

Yellow Jackets running back Jordan Mason put up career numbers on Saturday as he rushed for 109 yards on 18 carries. This marks Mason’s career high for yards per game as his previous high was earlier in the season against USF when he rushed for 99 yards on 20 carries. Mason continues to produce, and is proving to be a workhorse coming out of the backfield.