“Honestly, it feels really good, but a big credit to my O-line, they got it going today,” Jamal Haynes said. “They worked on it. It all starts in the trenches, it all starts up front and I feel like they did a great job. Tonight they were focused and played hard.”
Even more impressive, and perhaps more importantly, Tech’s defense held the Blue Devils (5-1, 1-1 ACC) to 279 yards of offense and just 74 yards on the ground. Duke was just 3-of-11 on third down.
The Jackets next travel to play North Carolina (3-3, 0-2 ACC) at noon Saturday.
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Once they had the ball and were down 14-10 against Duke in the fourth quarter, Tech made a great play and completed a great drive to take the lead. King found Haynes wide open in the right flat on third down from the Duke 4 and scored an easy touchdown, giving the Jackets a 17-14 advantage. This play ended an 85-yard drive that clocked in at 7:06.
Tech quickly got the ball after a three-and-out and scored on the seventh play of a 70-yard drive (survived by a roughing the passer call), scoring when King connected with Eric Singleton Jr. on the 9th. did. -yard touchdown pass. This gave the Jackets a 24-14 lead with 6 1/2 minutes left.
Duke didn’t have a chance to make a comeback. Cornerback Ahhmari Harvey’s interception with 11 seconds left sealed the victory forever.
“(Tech) coach (Brent) Key talked to us and said they were a second-half team, a fourth-quarter team,” King said. “They played really well in the second half, and we knew we had to step up and play even harder than we have been and lock in and find a way.”
Tech took the first kickoff and put together a crisp 12-play drive of over 60 yards. Backup QB Zach Pyron scored his fourth rushing touchdown of the season, a 2-yard touchdown, making the score 7-0 at the 8:36 mark of the first quarter.
Aidan Bill kicked a 23-yard field goal to extend the lead to 10-0 five minutes into the second quarter.
It looked like Tech could enjoy a 10-0 lead or even more at halftime, but things quickly changed.
With four outs and 8th base at the Tech 48, the Jackets were given a rare delay-of-game penalty by their defense. Duke then went for it on fourth down and completed a 4-yard pass to running back Starr Thomas for a first down.
Two plays later, quarterback Malik Murphy fired a pass down the right sideline that was picked off by Tech defensive back Saeed Gibbs. However, Gibbs was flagged for pass interference. On the next play, from the 20, Murphy hit Eli Pancol on a long crossing route to get the Blue Devils on the board and make the score 10-7.
“I know Duke took a lot of pride in leading the team in the fourth quarter and winning the game in the fourth quarter, but that’s what we have to do,” Key said. “Regardless of the outcome of some of the games this year, I think our players kept playing until the end. And that’s what they did, they kept playing. Certainly at the line of scrimmage. And I thought we were starting to wear down a little bit.”
Duke had just 75 yards of offense in the first half, 30 of which came on a scoring drive before the first half.
The Blue Devils finally started to find their offensive rhythm late in the third quarter, when an 11-play drive went nine plays. Needing a yard on fourth down, Duke chose to go for it, and Thomas stumbled on the handoff, converting two plays. A few yards before the marker.
Tech’s defense wasn’t as lucky in the ensuing series.
Murphy recognized a middle blitz from linebacker Kyle Efford and defensive back Tay Seymour and fired an easy pass over the middle to streaming Sahamir Hagans for a 65-yard touchdown pass. That gave Duke a 14-10 lead and drained all the energy from Bobby Dodd Stadium.
That’s how the scoreboard will look heading into the final 15 minutes.
Murphy threw for 205 yards and two touchdowns for the Blue Devils, while Duke gained just 3.7 yards per carry on 20 attempts.
“After this game, I was as critical as I was two weeks ago (after the loss at Louisville) and challenged everyone to make sure we improve on those same things this week,” Key said. “We have a tough game ahead of us and kick-off on Saturday (noon). We’ll get back to business.”
Precautions
Haynes’ 128 yards rushing tied his career high set in December’s Gasparilla Bowl vs. Central Florida. King finished eighth on Tech’s career passing yards list with 4,283 yards. Jeff Sims is seventh with 4,464. Harvey’s interception in the fourth quarter was Tech’s first of the season and fourth of his career. Tech receiver Malik Rutherford had a career-high eight catches, giving him 111 for his career, 10th most at Tech. history. Rutherford has recorded at least one reception in 22 consecutive games. Key is currently 11-1 with nine straight wins after a loss, but he has won nine straight such opportunities. The Keys are currently 15-12 overall and 11-8 in ACC play. The key reads “BS #71,” which is engraved on the right side of the cap in memory of former Tech University offensive lineman Billy Shaw, who died Friday. The Jackets are 3-0 at home this season, their longest home winning streak at Bobby Dodd Stadium since Oct. 1, when they won eight in a row. November 15, 2016 – November 11, 2017. Tech had three offensive drives of 12 plays or more on Saturday. Attendance was announced at 37,287, bringing Tech’s average after three home games this season to 36,376.
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