Running in-game thread: Georgia Tech at Duke

Pregame

Duke hosts Georgia Tech in its homecoming game, with the kickoff coming at 12:30 PM.

The Blue Devils are 44-50-1 all-time on homecoming and have won two straight and six of seven. This will be just the third time since 2009 that Duke hosted an ACC foe on homecoming, going 1-1 over that span.

This will be the 22 time Georgia Tech has served as homecoming fodder for Duke. The Blue Devils are 9-12 against the Yellow Jackets. Duke’s last homecoming win over Tech came in 1987. They’ve lost four since then, most recently in 2001.

Your pregame fashion report: Duke announced that it will wear its blue helmets with Duke written in script, blue jerseys and white pants and shoes. Tech will wear its gold GT helmets with white jerseys and pants.

Could the future first pick in the NFL Draft be playing in today’s game? It doesn’t seem likely, but the team that appears destined to hold it—the Miami Dolphins—have a scout in the press box today. So do the 3-2 Colts and the 1-3-1 Cardinals.

Weather shouldn't be a major factor. It's partly cloudy and 78 degrees now. Expected to heat up to 84 by the end of the game. Wind is 8 mph. Flags were flat until just recently, now show the wind headed toward the visitor's bench.

For those of you who partake in that sort of thing, the betting line is between 17.5 and 18 points in favor of Duke. It's the second largest spread of the season for the Blue Devils (NC A&T was 27.5). The last time Duke was as heavy a favorite in an ACC game was Nov. 29, 2014, when they covered a 19-point spread against Wake Forest.

Duke missing a key piece on the defensive line today.

Duke will be without senior DE Tre Hornbuckle (upper body injury) vs Georgia Tech today.
— Stephen Wiseman (@stevewisemanNC) October 12, 2019

Upper body injury is the official announcement from Duke on Hornbuckle.

Toss time: Tech picks tails. It's heads. Duke defers. Duke will kick off and defend the open end of the stadium in the first quarter, which starts...NOW

First quarter

11:36 Graham gets loose and runs to the end zone, but it's coming back. Illegal blindside block. Tech is back on the 38 and faces third down.

10:07 No one picks up Jerry Howard, who streaks up the right sideline for a 19-yard touchdown catch. Tech up 7-0 before the online stats feed even knows the game has started. Duke's defense struggled to stop the run and pass on that drive.

7:30 Jalon Calhoun pulls in a 42-yard pass from Harris to set Duke up at the 10.

7:10 Rush gets stuffed, followed by two incompletions and a false start. 33 yard field goal is good. Reed remains perfect (7-7) on the year. Duke cuts the lead to 7-3.

6:26 Former QB Tobias Oliver gets two steps past safety Dylan Singleton at midfield but the pass from Graham is too long. Duke escapes a bullet, then sacks Graham on third down.

5:09 Seemed to be some snarkiness from LB David Curry toward S Juanyeh Thomas on that last Calhoun catch. Pointed emphatically toward a spot where I'm assuming he thought Thomas should have been. Duke is moving and Yellow Jackets are arguing among themselves.

4:59 Harris with 60 passing yards already today. Had 59 in first quarter last week, five in first quarter at Virginia Tech.

2:17 Harris faked out everyone on that play fake keeper, from TV camera people to the Tech defender who tackled the wrong guy. First down inside the five

1:18 Pitch to Eli Pancol on the end around is taken three yard for the touchdown. Duke pulls in front 10-7. That was the first time Pancol has touched the ball since the Middle Tennessee State game on Sept. 14. Playing time has shrunk since Jake Bobo returned from injury.

Clock hits zeroes with Duke up 10-7. Blue Devils had 120 yards in the first quarter. Ran the ball 13 times and threw 10 passes. Also converted two fourth-downs. Tech is 2-of-3 on third down.

Second quarter

13:47 Dimukeje hurries Graham into an incompletion on third down. Josh Blackwell returns the punt to the 41 and Harris finds Harding for 41 yards up the right sideline. Duke in business in the red zone.

DT Ja'Quon Griffin being tended to for Tech.

Duke's average starting position has been its 37. Tech's has been its 23.

12:49 Duke has Julian Santos in at RG on this drive instead of Rak Chambers, the starter. Chambers is watching on the sidelines, not getting treatment, so it could just be a one-drive rest. Chambers and RT Jacob Monk struggled at times against the Pitt rush last week.

10:29 Deon Jackson runs it straight up the middle on fourth and goal from the one to put Duke up 17-7. Duke has run the triple option on both of its touchdown runs, which must be disappointing for Georgia Tech.

Freshman RB Jaylen Coleman came into the game for that fourth-and goal play, at one of the end spots. Cutcliffe said he wanted to get Coleman and freshman Jordan Waters ready to contribute with Brittain Brown out for the year. Coleman had 13 snaps this season headed into today.

9:03 After a long punt return last time, Blackwell muffs the punt this time. Duke keeps it after Jeremiah Lewis jumps on it.

Tech gained 75 yards on its first drive. Has gained two on the three drives since.

8:04 Kaleb Oliver falls down, leaving Jalon Calhoun wide open. LB David Curry flagged for targeting at the end of the play. He's ejected. He's their leading tackler, so that loss will be felt.

6:34 Mataeo Durant gets loose up the middle, breaking two ankle tackle for a 39-yard touchdown. They're reviewing to see if he got the tip of the ball to the line before he went down.

Replay determines Durant was down six inches shy. Harris follows lead blocker Jordan Waters (9 snaps entering today) in to vulture Durant's touchdown. 24-7 Duke and Tech needs a spark fast.

5:06 Tech goes for that spark, leaving the offense on the field on fourth-and-one at its own 34. Koby Quansah reaches the ball carrier four yards behind the line. Duke ball.

3:35 The rout is on. Deon Jackson takes it around the left end for a seven-yard touchdown. Duke up 31-7, Cascada is playing over the loudspeaker. A small crowd who will likely be headed for the exits soon is celebrating.

Chambers is back in at RG by the way.

3:10 Three and not quite out for GT. Punt is blocked by Xander Gagnon. Javon Jackson recovers and takes it 14 yards to the house. 38-7 Duke.

3️⃣8️⃣ 👏 Straight 👏 Points 👏#GoDuke pic.twitter.com/BldLvOBXS7
— Duke Football (@DukeFOOTBALL) October 12, 2019

First punt block for TD for Duke since 12/27/12 vs. Cincinnati in the Belk Bowl. Tony Foster did the honors then.

1:08 Down 31, Georgia Tech finally moves the ball on offense. A 40-yard pass sets up an 8-yard keeper by Graham to cut the Duke lead to 38-14.

Halftime

Third quarter

12:07 Two minor victories for Tech. The Yellow Jackets force Duke to punt for the first time today, then get a 42-yard field goal to cut Duke's lead to 38-17.

11:23 Spin move by Harris turns a sack into a six-yard gain. Duke approaching midfield.

5:20 Chris Rumph shaken up on a pass breakup. He goes to the bench, not the tent and is quickly cleared. Standing on the sideline now.

4:11 Coleman gets his seventh carry on the season and first since Middle Tennessee. Pancol gets another carry on the triple option to convert third down.

1:10 Reed is good again, from 36 yards. He's 8/8 on the year. Duke now up 41-17

Another Duke defender is done for the day.

Duke defense not having its best day even though Blue Devils lead 38-17. Safety Dylan Singleton is done for the day with a lower body injury
— Stephen Wiseman (@stevewisemanNC) October 12, 2019

Fourth quarter

Tech facing fourth-and-18 as the final quarter begins. Duke up 41-17.

Between quarters, they play "Don't Stop Believin'" at Wallace Wade, an interesting choice, considering Duke is currently up by 24.

14:49 Blackwell with another good punt return, 21 yards to just past midfield.

13:34 And Duke gets a punt blocked. Jerry Howard with the swat for Tech.

11:56 Tech gets a first down near the 10 and Duke safety Marquis Waters gets flagged for targeting. It's under review, but he'd be gone for the rest of today and first half against UVA if it stands.

Waters avoids the targeting ejection. GT setting up at Duke's 12.

10:39 Razzle dazzle from Tech. Oliver gets it on a reverse and scores untouched from four yards out. True freshman Jordan Yates fumbles the snap (his first of the game) on the 2-point try, and it's 41-23 Duke.

Victor Dimukeje has three sacks today. First Blue Devil with as many since AJ Wolf in 2016. First against ACC foe since Philip Alexander in 2003.

That's a wrap. Duke moves into a tie for first in the Coastal with a 41-23 win over Tech.

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