Georgia Tech downs Duke 49-10

DURHAM - No. 7 Georgia Tech defeated Duke 49-10 on Saturday at Wallace Wade Stadium. 

The Yellow Jackets (10-1, 7-1), bolstered by the ACC's top rushing offense, rolled on the ground and in the air against the Blue Devils (5-5, 3-3), spoiling the afternoon for the home crowd of 25,899.

The loss places Duke in a must-win situation headed into next week's game against Miami if the Devils hold out any hope of becoming bowl eligible for the first time since 1994.  

The Devils need two victories to become bowl eligible and now need a victory over the 12th-ranked Hurricanes to set up a meaningful contest in their final game of the season against Wake Forest on Nov. 28. 

FOURTH QUARTER:

Georgia Tech back-up running back Richard Watson scored a 7-yard touchdown run to help give the Yellow Jackets a 49-10 lead with 4:48 remaining.

THIRD QUARTER:

The Yellow Jackets continued to dominate the Devils in the third quarter,  effectively mixing the run and pass.

Georgia Tech quarterback Josh Nesbitt connected with go-to receiver Demaryius Thomas, a 6-foot-3, 229-pound wide receiver, late in the third quarter for a 75-yard touchdown. That four-play, 89-yard touchdown drive placed the Yellow Jackets ahead 42-10. 

Duke, meanwhile, struggled to move the ball in any form. Back-up quarterback Sean Renfree came in for a drive to spell senior Thaddeus Lewis, who later returned.

SECOND QUARTER:

Georgia Tech, which owns the ACC's top rushing offense, found its rhythm on the ground in the second quarter. Earlier in the game, Duke controlled the line of scrimmage and limited the option pitches on the corners.

But, as expected, the Yellow Jackets stuck to their script and kept calling for the option, creating misdirection and confusion. Eventually, they struck with thre second-quarter drives that featured the best of their rushing attack and deep passes.

Georgia Tech back Marcus Wright took an option pitch right for a 16-yard touchdown run with 11:22 remaining in the second quarter, giving the Yellow Jackets a 14-10 lead.

Later, the Yellow Jackets needed seven plays to march 66-yards for another touchdown drive, mixing in option runs and deep pass. Junior Back Jonathan Dwyer capped the drive with a 3-yard run to put his team up 21-10 at 5:50.

With less than a minute remaining the quarter, the Yellow Jackets found the end zone again - this time with a 26 second drive. Senior quarterback Josh Nesbitt hit freshman wideout Stephen Hill on a 32-yard touchdown pass.

Hill, covered by Duke senior Leon Wright, sprinted by his coverage and pulled in a catch at the back of the end zone. He beat solid coverage on the play, just getting his foot down in bounds.  

FIRST QUARTER: 10-7

On the game's opening drive, Duke went on a nine-play, 73-yard drive capped by an 18-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Thaddeus Lewis to running back Re'quan Boyette. 

Lewis' pass, lofted to the back of the end zone to Boyette's outstretched arms, placed him in a tie for fifth place in ACC history for career passing touchdowns.

The Devils, with freshman Desmond Scott as the starting running back, were able to mix the run with short screen passes on the drive. For a team averaging just 68.2 yards per game on the ground, they were able to establish a presence out of the backfield.

Three possessions later, Duke forced the Yellow Jackets into a 4th-and-1 from their 31 yardline. Trying a fake punt, the snap was botched and they fumbled. Duke took over on downs.

On their next offensive possession, Georgia Tech responded with a kickoff returned 83 yards by Orwin Smith. From the 2-yardline, Yellow Jackets' quarterback Josh Nesbitt blasted into the end zone for a touchdown.