Duke Looks To Bounce Back As They Host Georgia Tech

A week ago Duke came back from a twenty three point deficit against Pittsburgh in their Atlantic Coast Conference home opener but it wasn’t enough as they lost by a score of 33-30..

On Saturday they will have a chance to bounce back from that devastating defeat when they host Georgia Tech a team who has a new head coach in Geoff Collins who previously was the head coach at Temple.

Unlike past seasons under the direction of Paul Johnson the Georgia Tech offense will look different as the new head coach has opted to abandon the triple-option in favor of a more traditional offense. To put it nicely, Georgia Tech has experienced some growing pains in Collins’ first year at the helm. “according to https://www.dukechronicle.com/article/2019/10/duke-football-georgia-tech-triple-option

Duke comes into the game with a record of 3-2 while they’re 1-1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference and fourth in the Coastal Division while Georgia Tech comes into the game with a record of 1-4 while they're 0-2 in the Atlantic Coast Conference and last in the Coastal Division. “according to http://theacc.com/standings.aspx?standings=35

As for last season’s meeting down in Atlanta,

Daniel Jones threw a 48-yard touchdown pass to T.J. Rahming to give Duke the lead and the Blue Devils turned three Georgia Tech fumbles into touchdowns in the final three minutes of the third quarter to beat the Yellow Jackets 28-14 on Saturday. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2018/10/13/211775858.aspx

Jones threw for 206 yards and three touchdowns for Duke (5-1, 1-1 Atlantic Coast Conference). “according to https://goduke.com/news/2018/10/13/211775858.aspx

The three touchdowns off Georgia Tech's lost fumbles gave Duke a 28-7 lead. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2018/10/13/211775858.aspx

Georgia Tech (3-4, 1-3) couldn't maintain its offensive momentum after scoring more than 60 points in back-to-back wins over Bowling Green and Louisville. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2018/10/13/211775858.aspx

The Yellow Jackets were held to 229 yards rushing, 144 below their nation-leading average. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2018/10/13/211775858.aspx

Deon Jackson, starting for Brittain Brown, who was held out with an injury, ran for 98 yards, including a 12-yard touchdown run to cap Duke's opening drive.”according

Jones' scoring pass to Rahming followed the first of Georgia Tech's rapid-fire lost fumbles, this one by running back Jerry Howard. Officials ruled Howard down before the fumble, but the call was overturned in a video review. The fumble was forced by Axel Nyembwe and recovered by Chris Rumph II.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2018/10/13/211775858.aspx

Only 3 seconds after Rahming's TD catch, Georgia Tech quarterback TaQuon Marshall's fumble was recovered by Duke's Derrick Tangelo. The turnover set up Jones' 1-yard scoring pass to Davis Koppenhaver. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2018/10/13/211775858.aspx

On following kickoff, Juanyeh Thomas lost the ball when hit by Mataeo Durant. Brandon Hill recovered at the Georgia Tech 6. Jones' scoring pass to Jonathan Lloyd gave Duke a 28-7 lead.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2018/10/13/211775858.aspx

Georgia Tech's only first-half touchdown, a 32-yard pass from Marshall to Malachi Carter, was set up by Lamont Simmons' interception. Jones was pressured and appeared to be trying to just throw the ball away. The turnover gave the Yellow Jackets the ball at the Duke 31.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2018/10/13/211775858.aspx

On second down from the 32, Marshall threw into the end zone where Carter made the catch after he appeared to push off cornerback Josh Blackwell, who fell. An official threw a flag before announcing there was no offensive pass interference on the play.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2018/10/13/211775858.aspx

Howard's 2-yard scoring run midway through the fourth quarter cut Duke's lead to 28-14.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2018/10/13/211775858.aspx

Duke comes into the game with a record of 3-2 while they’re in 1-1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference Coastal Division while Georgia Tech comes into the game with a record of 1-4 while they’re 0-2 in the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Conference. “according to http://theacc.com/standings.aspx?standings=35

As for Duke’s previous game,

As stated above,

They lost to Pittsburgh despite coming back from a twenty three point deficit.

After getting out to a slow start offensively, the Blue Devils found their footing after halftime, responding with 183 yards and four touchdowns over the final two periods. Pitt put together a final scoring drive to hand Duke its second loss of the season. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/10/6/football-duke-comeback-stymied-in-33-30-loss-to-pitt.aspx

Redshirt senior quarterback Quentin Harris accounted for two touchdowns on the ground and one through the air while junior running back Deon Jackson had two scores – one rushing and one receiving – and wrapped up the evening with 60 yards on 19 carries. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/10/6/football-duke-comeback-stymied-in-33-30-loss-to-pitt.aspx

Defensively Duke was led by Koby Quansah's 11 tackles, while Brandon Hill added 10. Junior Marquis Waters and redshirt senior Edgar Cerenord both recorded interceptions in a game plagued by turnovers.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/10/6/football-duke-comeback-stymied-in-33-30-loss-to-pitt.aspx

Trailing 26-3 early in the third quarter, the Blue Devils swung momentum their way late in the period, as redshirt freshman linebacker Shaka Heyward recovered a muffed punt return by Pitt and Harris sealed the scoring drive with a four-yard dash to the end zone. Senior safety Dylan Singleton forced a second fumble, which was recovered by Leonard Johnson, setting up a nine-play, 43-yard scoring series. Jackson ran the ball in from two yards out and freshman Jalon Calhoun secured the two-point conversion to cut it to 26-18 with 13:09 left on the clock. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/10/6/football-duke-comeback-stymied-in-33-30-loss-to-pitt.aspx

Duke kept it rolling on the Panthers' next possession, with Cerenord rising to the moment to record his first career interception. Harris keyed a seven-play, 25-yard scoring drive, taking off on a 17-yard run before finishing off the series with a three-yard touchdown rush. The Blue Devils attempted a two-point conversion that was initially ruled successful but retried due to an inadvertent signal. The second attempt was unsuccessful, keeping Pitt in front at 26-24. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/10/6/football-duke-comeback-stymied-in-33-30-loss-to-pitt.aspx

Duke's defense forced a punt with just over three minutes remaining and Harris again orchestrated a score. The Blue Devils went 86 yards, with Harris finding Jackson for a 44-yard touchdown reception. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/10/6/football-duke-comeback-stymied-in-33-30-loss-to-pitt.aspx

Pickett strung together five consecutive passes, including a 26-yard touchdown reception to V'Lique Carter, to regain the lead for Pitt. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/10/6/football-duke-comeback-stymied-in-33-30-loss-to-pitt.aspx

The Blue Devils struck first Saturday evening on an AJ Reed field goal, keeping him a perfect 6-for-6 on the year, capping a 14-play, 65-yard opening offensive drive. Pitt responded with back-to-back interceptions, capitalizing on both turnovers to swing the score to 10-3 in the visitors' favor late in the first quarter. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/10/6/football-duke-comeback-stymied-in-33-30-loss-to-pitt.aspx

Waters picked off a pass by the Panthers' Kenny Pickett in the Pitt end zone, denying the visitors on a 68-yard march down the field. However, Pickett would lead the Panthers to two more scores – a field goal and a touchdown pass that followed a 50-yard punt return by Maurice Ffrench. Pitt would take the 19-3 advantage into the locker room at the intermission. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/10/6/football-duke-comeback-stymied-in-33-30-loss-to-pitt.aspx

In this game Duke isn’t the only the team that will look to bounce back as Georgia Tech will as well after being defeated by Duke’s tobacco road rival North Carolina last Saturday in Atlanta.

Georgia Tech exploded for 227 yards of offense and 22 points in the second half but it wasn’t enough to overcome a slow offensive start and an inefficient third-down defense, as the Yellow Jackets dropped a 38-22 decision to North Carolina on Saturday afternoon at Bobby Dodd Stadium. “according to https://ramblinwreck.com/jackets-fall-to-carolina-38-22/

After being limited to 94 yards of offense in a scoreless first half, Georgia Tech put together one of its best offensive halves of the season after the break. In addition to racking up 227 of their 321 total yards, the Yellow Jackets scored touchdowns on three of their first six possessions after the break. “according to https://ramblinwreck.com/jackets-fall-to-carolina-38-22/

However, Georgia Tech’s offensive outburst was offset by an inability to get off the field defensively, as North Carolina converted 12-of-20 third- and fourth-down attempts. Five of UNC’s 12 conversions came with nine yards or more to go for a first down. Conversely, Tech converted just 4-of-11 third downs. “according to https://ramblinwreck.com/jackets-fall-to-carolina-38-22/

Both the Yellow Jackets and the Tar Heels averaged 6.1 yards per play for the game, but UNC’s ability to convert third downs led to the Heels running 44 more plays than the Jackets (97 to 53). “according to https://ramblinwreck.com/jackets-fall-to-carolina-38-22/

Making his first-career start, redshirt freshman quarterback James Graham accounted for 219 yards of total offense for Georgia Tech — 171 yards and two touchdowns through the air and 48 yards on the ground. Running back Jordan Mason led the Yellow Jackets with 62 rushing yards on just eight carries (7.8 avg.) and, also making the first start of his career, sophomore wideout Adonicas Sanders led Tech with three receptions for 67 yards.”according to https://ramblinwreck.com/jackets-fall-to-carolina-38-22/

Mason (2-yard run), Malachi Carter (28-yard reception) and Ahmarean Brown (32-yard reception) scored the Jackets’ three touchdowns.”according to https://ramblinwreck.com/jackets-fall-to-carolina-38-22/

Defensively, junior linebacker David Curry led Tech with a career-high 16 tackles. As a team, the Jackets accounted for seven tackles for loss. “according to https://ramblinwreck.com/jackets-fall-to-carolina-38-22/

Kick-off is set for 12:30pm from Brooks Field @ Wallace Wade Stadium. The game will be televised on the Regional Sports Network.