courtesy GoDuke.com
ATLANTA – In what started out as a back-and-forth affair, Duke ultimately dropped a 56-33 decision to Georgia Tech on Saturday night at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta.
The high scoring first half saw the Yellow Jackets take a slim 28-26 edge into the break. Duke’s first half was highlighted by a redshirt sophomore Shaka Heyward recovered muffed punt for a touchdown, a defensive safety, and a 30-yard touchdown reception by junior running back Mataeo Durant from redshirt junior quarterback Chase Brice.
The Blue Devils started the second half with three-straight turnovers before settling in with a six play, 63-yard drive that saw Brice connect with redshirt freshman wide receiver Jarett Garner from 28-yards out to make it a 35-33 ballgame. Unfortunately, the Yellow Jackets responded with a four play, 65-yard drive to extend their lead to 42-33 just before the end of the third quarter. The home side added two scores in the fourth quarter to put the game away.
Brice finished the night 19-of-40 for 273 yards and two touchdowns. Sophomore wide receiver Jalon Calhoun led the receiving corps with four catches for 50 yards. Durant and Garner both added a receiving touchdown, while Durant also punched one in via the ground game. Durant’s two scores marked the first time a Duke player scored a receiving and rushing touchdown in the same game since senior running back Deon Jackson did so against Pittsburgh in 2019.
Durant closed out his night with 50 yards on 15 attempts, while fellow running back Jackson chipped in with 54 yards on nine rushes.
On the defensive side of the ball senior safety Marquis Waters recorded a team-best nine tackles, including two tackles for loss. Redshirt junior defensive end Chris Rumph II led the team with 2.5 tackles for loss, while senior safety Michael Carter II registered his second interception of the season.
Redshirt freshman Porter Wilson booted a career-long 70-yard punt in the first quarter that was downed inside the Georgia Tech 10-yard line. He finished his night with six punts for 264 yards for an average of 44.0.
Duke’s next outing is against Florida State on Dec. 5. The Seminoles had their game against Virginia, originally scheduled for Saturday, postponed due to positive tests, subsequent quarantining, and contact tracing within their program. Game details for the Duke-Florida State contest have yet to be determined.
