Duke To Host Georgia Tech On Senior Day
The last home game of the 2017 season is Saturday as Duke will host Georgia Tech on senior day where they hope they can send their senior class out on a high note.
Now in its 105th season of football, Duke hosts Georgia Tech on Saturday, November 18
• Coming off a 21-16 loss at Army West Point, Duke is 4-6 overall and 1-6 in the ACC ... Georgia Tech is 5-5 overall and 4-3 in league play after defeating No. 17 Virginia Tech, 28-22, last week in Atlanta "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211685384&DB_OEM_ID=4200
• In addition to the annual Military Appreciation Day, Duke will celebrate Senior Day this week and the following 21 players will be honored on the field prior to kickoff: Tinashe Bere, Parker Boehme, Gabe Brandner, Bronson Bruneau, Zavier Carmichael, Quay Chambers, Austin Davis, Danny Doyle, Colin Duffy, Bryon Fields Jr., William Holmquist, Will Kline, Sterling Korona, Evan Lisle, Franklin McNeill III, Zach Muniz, Mike Ramsay, Alonzo Saxton II, Taariq Shabazz, Collin Wareham and Shaun Wilson.
• Dating back to the 2013 season, the Blue Devils are 32-22 (.593) in their last 54 regular season games
• Georgia Tech leads the all-time series over Duke, 51-32-1 ... The series dates back to 1933 when the Yellow Jackets posted a 6-0 win ... Last year, Georgia Tech earned a 38-35 victory in Atlanta ... The last meeting in Durham came in 2015 with Duke posting a 34-20 victory
• LB Joe Giles-Harris is one of 18 semifinalists for the Chuck Bednarik Award, an honor presented annually to the nation’s top defensive player ... Through 10 games, Giles-Harris has compiled 96 tackles, 14.0 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, one INT, one caused fumble, four PBUs and five quarterback pressures
• S Jeremy McDuffie is one of 13 semifinalists for the 2017 Jim Thorpe Award, an honor presented annually to the nation’s top defensive back ... McDuffie has totaled 56 tackles, three INTs and nine PBUs on the season
• The Blue Devils have established a school single-season record with four interception returns for touchdowns in 2017 ... The previous standard of three was set in 1942, 1945 and 1949
• Georgia Tech leads the ACC and ranks fourth nationally in rushing offense by averaging 324.0 ground yards per game ... Duke ranks sixth in the ACC and 48th nationally in rushing defense, allowing an average of 150.5 yards per contest ... Last week, Duke limited Army West Point, which had entered the week with a nation’s best 365.4 rushing yards per game, to 226 net ground yards on 57 attempts
• Duke WR T.J. Rahming is 68 receiving yards shy of becoming the 10th player in school history to reach the 2,000-yard plateau ... In 34 career games, Rahming has 163 catches for 1,932 yards
• CB Mark Gilbert leads the ACC in pass defended per game (1.50) ... Gilbert has 15 total passes defended on the year with four INTs and 11 PBUs ... Duke’s single-season record for passes defended is 19 set by Erwin Sampson with four INTs and 15 PBUs in 1989
• Led by DT Mike Ramsay (4.5 sacks), Duke ranks tied third in the ACC in sacks per game (2.50)
40+ & 500+ — Pass receptions and receiving yards for the third consecutive season for WR T.J. Rahming
133.5 — All-purpose yards per game average for RB Shaun Wilson to rank third in the ACC
3 — Team-leading TD receptions for TE Davis Koppenhaver this season
5 — Total Blue Devils with at least 7.5 stops for lost yardage on the season: Joe Giles-Harris (14.0), Tre Hornbuckle (9.0), Ben Humphreys (8.5), Mike Ramsay (8.5), & Victor Dimukeje (7.5)
6 — Duke record scoring runs of 50+ yards for RB Shaun Wilson ... The previous school standard of four was held by George Clark (1944-47) and Jay Wilkinson (1961-63)
6 — Duke players with one TD reception of 20+ yards: TE Davis Koppenhaver (28 yards vs. North Carolina), WR Johnathan Lloyd (24 yards vs. N.C. Central), WR T.J. Rahming (39 yards vs. Pitt), WR Chris Taylor (52 yards vs. Northwestern), RB Shaun Wilson (58 yards vs. Pitt) and WR Aaron Young (54 yards vs. N.C. Central)
4 — Duke all-time record of career interception returns for TDs for CB Bryon Fields Jr. ... The scores came against Tulane (2014), Pittsburgh (2016), N.C. Central (2017) & North Carolina (2017)
4 — Seasons with 3+ rushing TDs for RB Shaun Wilson, matching the school record previously set by Tom Davis (1941-42-43-44), George Clark (1944-45-46-47) and Jela Duncan (2012-13-15-16)
23.5 — Career TFL in 22 games for LB Joe Giles-Harris
50-6 — Duke’s record under David Cutcliffe when leading or tied after three quarters of action
14.35 — Recorded time for S Jeremy McDuffie in the 110-meter hurdles to earn all-league honors at the 2017 ACC Track & Field Championship meet ... McDuffie also garnered All-ACC accolades in the triple jump
20 & 10 — Daniel Jones is one of three QBs in Duke history to post 20+ passing TDs and 10+ rushing TDs in a career, joining Leo Hart (23 & 13; 1968-70) and Anthony Boone (38 & 16; 2011-14) ... In 22 career games, Jones has 24 passing TDs and 11 rushing TDs "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211685384&DB_OEM_ID=4200
The last six games though for Duke who has a record of 4-6 1-5 in the ACC haven't gone their way as they have lost all of them. With their most recent defeat coming on the road at Army last Saturday.
Army West Point quarterback Ahmad Bradshaw rushed for 96 yards and one touchdown to lead the Black Knights to a 21-16 win over Duke at Michie Stadium on Saturday. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211684917&DB_OEM_ID=4200
After trailing 21-10 at halftime, Duke (4-6) pulled within five points on a 1-yard scoring run by Brittain Brown early in the fourth period. After a failed two point PAT attempt, Army West Point drove to the Duke 3 yard line but Mike Ramsay blocked a field goal attempt to keep the margin at five points. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211684917&DB_OEM_ID=4200
The Blue Devils, however, managed just three yards on the ensuing drive and were forced to punt with 2:24 remaining on the clock. The Black Knights (8-2) were able to run out the clock to secure their sixth straight win."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211684917&DB_OEM_ID=4200
For Duke, Daniel Jones threw for 164 yards and added one rushing touchdown. The defense was led by Koby Quansah's 13 tackles."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211684917&DB_OEM_ID=4200
As for Georgia Tech's last game, they beat Virginia Tech last Saturday.http://www.ramblinwreck.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/111117aaa.html
TaQon Marshall made the most of his only two completions. "according to http://www.ramblinwreck.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/111117aaa.html
And, finally, Georgia Tech won a close game . according to http://www.ramblinwreck.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/111117aaa.html
Marshall threw a pair of long scoring passes, including an 80-yarder to Ricky Jeune with 6 1/2 minutes remaining , and AJani Kerr swatted away a fourth-down pass in the end zone to preserve Georgia Tech's 28-22 upset of No. 17 Virginia Tech on Saturday. "according to http://www.ramblinwreck.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/111117aaa.html
This one felt especially good for the Yellow Jackets (5-4, 4-3 Atlantic Coast Conference), who had lost three games by a total of six points . "according to http://www.ramblinwreck.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/111117aaa.html
''Proud of our guys,'' coach Paul Johnson said. ''They showed a lot of grit and determination.'' "according to http://www.ramblinwreck.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/111117aaa.html
It looked as though Georgia Tech was heading for another excruciating defeat when Virginia Tech rallied from a 21-9 deficit in the second half. "according to http://www.ramblinwreck.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/111117aaa.html
The Hokies (7-3, 3-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) went ahead 22-21 when Greg Stroman returned an interception 24 yards for a touchdown off a terrible pass by Marshall with 7:27 left."according to http://www.ramblinwreck.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/111117aaa.html
The Georgia Tech quarterback made up for his mistake just two snaps later, after the Yellow Jackets fumbled the kickoff but fortuitously managed to recover after a wild scramble. Jeune got loose behind the secondary, hauled in the long throw and just managed to stick the ball inside the pylon before tumbling out of bounds. "according to http://www.ramblinwreck.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/111117aaa.html
It was the longest touchdown pass of the season for the Yellow Jackets (5-4, 4-3), surpassing Marshall's 60-yard scoring play to Brad Stewart early in the second half . The quarterback finished 2 of 8 passing out of the triple-option. "according to http://www.ramblinwreck.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/111117aaa.html
''He made, what, two completions and they were both for touchdowns and it ended up being 140 yards?'' Johnson said. ''We'll live with that. That's a pretty good average.'' "according to http://www.ramblinwreck.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/111117aaa.html
Marshall also had a pair of short touchdown runs. "according to http://www.ramblinwreck.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/111117aaa.html
On its final possession, Virginia Tech converted a pair of fourth-down plays and faced third-and-1 at the Georgia Tech 32 with plenty of time to deal the home team another tough loss."according http://www.ramblinwreck.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/111117aaa.html
But, on a day when he made a number of curious decisions, Virginia Tech coach Justin Fuente called a pair of passes rather than running for the first down. Both were incomplete, including a deep pass down the middle for Cam Phillips that Kerr knocked away. "according to http://www.ramblinwreck.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/111117aaa.html
''We got the best matchup we could possibly get,'' Fuente said. ''That was as good a look as we were going to get.'' "according to http://www.ramblinwreck.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/111117aaa.html
The Yellow Jackets rushed for 261 yards, led by Kirvonte Benson with 86 yards on 22 carries. Nathan Contrell had a 69-yard run, setting up Georgia Tech's first touchdown, a 3-yard run by Marshall. The quarterback also punched it over from the 1. "according to http://www.ramblinwreck.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/111117aaa.html
Georgia Tech appeared to be driving for a clinching touchdown late in the third quarter. But a chop-block penalty against center Kenny Cooper knocked the Yellow Jackets back 15 yards, and Brenton King missed a 43-yard field goal attempt. "according to http://www.ramblinwreck.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/111117aaa.html
The Hokies took advantage - with a big helping hand from Georgia Tech."according to http://www.ramblinwreck.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/111117aaa.html
On third-and-14, Josh Jackson threw a pass into heavy coverage. A.J Gray and Lamont Simmions both had a shot at picking it off, but wound up tipping the ball to Eric Kumah for a 26-yard completion - eerily similar to a play that led to a 25-24 loss to Miami . "according to http://www.ramblinwreck.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/111117aaa.html
Jalen Holston's 8-yard touchdown run on the final play of the third quarter brought the Hokies within 21-16. "according to http://www.ramblinwreck.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/111117aaa.html
THE TAKEAWAY
Virginia Tech: Any hopes of landing a major bowl bid faded away with the Hokies' second straight loss. A 28-10 setback at Miami the previous week knocked them out of contention for the ACC title. ''Mad, upset, disappointing,'' Kumah said. ''We felt like we should have won.'' "according to http://www.ramblinwreck.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/111117aaa.html
Georgia Tech: By knocking off a ranked team, the Yellow Jackets gave their bowl prospects a huge boost. One more win will ensure postseason eligibility. "according to http://www.ramblinwreck.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/111117aaa.html
SECOND-GUESSING FUENTE
A couple of questionable decisions by Fuente cost the Hokies crucial points in the first half. "according to http://www.ramblinwreck.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/111117aaa.html
Trailing 7-3 in the second quarter, the Virginia Tech decided to go for it on fourth-and-2 at the 8, instead of taking a chip-shot field. Backup quarterback AJ Bush attempted to run right, spun back to the left and was thrown for a 3-yard loss. "according to http://www.ramblinwreck.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/111117aaa.html
Later in the period, after Sean Savoy scored on a 14-yard run to pull the Hokies within 14-9, Fuente passed on the extra point and strangely decided to go for a 2-point conversion. Again, Virginia Tech was stopped, leaving Georgia Tech with a 14-9 halftime lead."according to http://www.ramblinwreck.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/111117aaa.html
''I didn't feel like we were going to have tons of opportunities to score,'' Fuente said. "according to http://www.ramblinwreck.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/111117aaa.html
Georgia Tech junior quarterback TaQuon Marshall scored two rushing touchdowns (1 and 3 yards), giving him 16 for the season and 17 for his career. His 16 rushing touchdowns this season are the third-most by a quarterback in Georgia Tech single-season history and his 17 rushing touchdowns in his career are the tied-sixth-most by a quarterback all-time at Georgia Tech."according to http://www.ramblinwreck.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/111117aaa.html
- Georgia Tech junior wide receiver Brad Stewart's 60-yard touchdown reception was the first touchdown catch of his 34-game career, which includes 25 starts at wideout.
- Georgia Tech senior wide receiver Ricky Jeune 80-yard touchdown reception was the longest of his career (prev.: 58 yds. vs. Virginia Tech, Nov. 12, 2015).
- Brenton King's missed field goal on a 43-yard attempt in the third quarter was the first missed attempt of his career. He entered the game 5-for-5 in his career.
- Georgia Tech sophomore left tackle Bailey Ivemeyer made the first start of his career
- Georgia Tech senior wide receiver Ricky Jeune's 80-yard touchdown reception was the longest of his career (prev.: 58 yds. vs. Virginia Tech, Nov. 12, 2015).
- Brenton King's missed field goal on a 43-yard attempt in the third quarter was the first missed attempt of his career. He entered the game 5-for-5 in his career.
Georgia Tech sophomore left tackle Bailey Ivemeyer made the first start of his career. "according to http://www.ramblinwreck.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/111117aaa.html
Kick-off is set for 3:30pm from Brooks Field @Wallace Wade Stadium. The game will be televised on the Regional Sports Network. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211685384&DB_OEM_ID=4200