Duke vs. Georgia Tech Football 2009
Blue Devils Can't Stop Yellow Jackets from Clinching Division Title
Nov 14, 2009
The No. 7-ranked Yellow Jackets wrapped up the ACC Coastal Division title Saturday, breaking away to a 49-10 victory over Duke at Durham, N.C. Josh Nesbitt passed for two touchdowns and ran for another, and Jonathan Dwyer ran for 110 yards and two TDs on 14 carries for Georgia Tech.
The Yellow Jackets (10-1) finished ACC play with a 7-1 record, and will meet either Clemson or Boston College for the conference championship Saturday, Dec. 5, in Tampa, Fla. Before that, they'll close out the regular season vs. Georgia on Nov. 28.
Coach Paul Johnson's Yellow Jackets have won eight consecutive games, their last defeat being a 33-17 loss at Miami on Sept. 17. The Ramblin' Wreck has been tested severely during its streak, including last week when the Yellow Jackets needed overtime to beat visiting Wake Forest, 30-27.
Another tough battle seemed in store Saturday, when Duke (5-5 overall, 3-3 ACC) took an early 10-0 lead. But Georgia Tech closed the first half with 28 unanswered points, then outscored the Blue Devils 21-0 in the second.
Duke's Fast Start Doesn't Demoralize Yellow Jackets
Duke started in impressive fashion, marching 73 yards on its opening drive and taking a 7-0 lead when Thaddeus Lewis lofted a 18-yard touchdown pass to running back Re'quan Boyette.
The Blue Devils seemed poised for another first quarter score when a botched snap on a fake punt by Georgia Tech gave them possession on the Yellow Jackets' 14-yard line. But the Tech defense held, and Duke settled for a 31-yard field goal by Will Snyderwine — and a 10-0 lead with 1 minute, 30 seconds left in the first period.
Georgia Tech's Orwin Smith bobbled the ensuing kickoff, but ended up returning it 84 yards to the Duke 2-yard-line. Nesbitt scored on the next play to put the Yellow Jackets on the board.
Tech took the lead when Marcus Wright took a pitch from Nesbitt on an option play and scored on a 16-yard run with 11:22 left in the second quarter. Dwyer extended the lead to 21-10 with a 2-yard run, Nesbitt hit Stephen Hill with a 32-yard TD pass just 32 seconds before halftime, and the rout was on.
Third Quarter TDs Put Game Away
Georgia Tech moved 73 yards on its first drive of the second half, with Dwyer bolting in for 12-yard score and a 35-10 lead. A 75-yard touchdown pass from Nesbitt to Demaryius Thomas hiked the advantage to 42-10 with 2:43 left in the third period, and gave Johnson a rare opportunity to give reserves extended playing time.
Backup quarterback Jaybo Shaw engineered a 61-yard fourth quarter march, which ended in a 7-yard TD run by Richard Watson.
Georgia Tech's spread option attack produced 519 yards — including 306 on the ground. But the passing game – rarely utilized as usual — came up big as well.
Georgia Tech Statistical Leaders
Nesbiitt completed six of 10 passes for 195 yards. Thomas finished with two catches for 89 yards, and Hill had two receptions for 38 yards. Running backs Embry Peeples and Anthony Allen also caught big passes from Nesbitt, with Peeples making a 37-yard grab, and Allen coming up with a 31-yarder.
Nine different players ran the ball for Georgia Tech. Peeples, Wright and Allen rushed five times apiece, gaining 48, 47 and 37 yards, respectively. Nesbitt carried nine times for 30 yards.
Georgia Tech's defense gave up only 281 yards and came up with four sacks – including two by tackle Ben Anderson. Linebacker Brad Jefferson led Tech with nine tackles, safety Mario Edwards and rover Julian Burnett had seven apiece, and DB Martin Frierson made the game's only interception.
Duke Statistical Leaders
Lewis was 22-of-35 passing for 212 yards with the lone interception. Reserve QB Sean Renfree went 5-for-6 for 29 yards.
Boyette finished six catches for 65 yards and freshman running back Desmond Scott had five receptions for 45 yards. Scott was also Duke's leading rusher with 20 yards on six attempts.
The Blue Devils rushing offense entered the game ranked 119th of 120 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision teams. It managed only 25 yards on 24 attempts Saturday.
Safety Catron Gainey led the Duke defense with 10 tackles. Linebacker Adam Banks added seven
