This year the Blue Zone will be running a series looking back on important moments in the Duke football team’s history. Today, we take you back to November 19, 2011.
After scoring three fourth quarter touchdowns to win last weekend’s matchup against North Carolina State, the Blue Devils achieved their first winning season since 1994. Now, the team has its sights set on ACC Championship Game. Duke can inch closer to its first-ever ACC championship berth with a win over No. 24 Miami this Saturday. This week, we will go back to week 12 of 2011 season, when a fourth quarter comeback fell short against Georgia Tech, losing 38-31.
The Blue Devils were searching for their fourth win of the season when they welcomed the Yellow Jackets to Wallace Wade Stadium late in the season. Georgia Tech already had eight wins under its belt and was on the way to an appearance in the Sun Bowl.
Duke started the game strong, holding the Yellow Jacket triple-option to a three-and-out, and capitalized on the momentum on offense. Quarterback Sean Renfree led the offense on a quick four-play, 59-yard drive that resulted in a 15-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Connor Vernon.
But the Blue Devils had trouble moving the ball during the next three drives, and watched quarterback Tevin Washington and the Yellow Jacket offense drive up and down the field for 21 unanswered points.
It looked as if Georgia Tech might run away from Duke, but the Blue Devils put together a long drive that put them deep in Yellow Jacket territory mid-way through the second quarter. After the drive stalled at the Georgia Tech 12-yard line, head coach David Cutcliffe elected to go for it.
His gamble paid off. Renfree looked over the middle and found wide receiver Donovan Varner on a crossing pattern for a touchdown. However, the Yellow Jackets would score a touchdown just before halftime, giving them a 28-14 lead heading into the intermission.
On the first drive after the half, a Will Synderwine field goal cut the lead to 28-17. The defense seemed much improved after giving up 28 points in the first half, only giving up three points in the third quarter and forcing Georgia Tech runningback Embry Peeples to fumble.
Trailing by two touchdowns early in the fourth quarter, Duke once again drove deep into Yellow Jacket territory and faced a fourth down in the red zone. Cutcliffe, being consistent with his earlier decision, chose to go for it again, and Renfree rewarded his coach's decision with a three-yard touchdown pass to tight end Cooper Helfelt.
But even with Duke closing in, Washington, who holds the ACC all-time record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback, broke a 39-yard touchdown run that gave Georgia Tech a comfortable 38-24 lead.
The Blue Devil offense did not go away. On its next drive, Renfree threw a 41-yard bomb to receiver Brandon Braxton, which set up another touchdown pass to Helfet in the redzone.
Now it was the defense’s turn to make a play. The Yellow Jackets used the triple-option to pound the ball into the Duke defense and eat up the remaining time on the clock. But Georgia Tech running back Charles Perkins bobbled a handoff from Washington and fumbled it. Blue Devil nose tackle Charlie Hatcher jumping on the ball, giving Duke possession with 3:44 to play.
Duke, now with an opportunity to tie the game, began driving down the field. Renfree hit Helfet and Varner on back-back throws for first downs and Duke had the ball at midfield.
Renfree saw Helfet in one-on-one coverage and decided to take a shot downfield, but Yellow Jacket defensive back Jamea Thomas undercut the throw and made the game-sealing interception.
The attitudes about Duke football are much different than they were two years ago. With a record of 3-8, the Blue Devils were on their way to another underperforming season in 2011. But two years later, the team is 7-2 with a chance to win the ACC Coastal Division. To do that, Duke must win its final three games, something it has never done under head coach David Cutcliffe.
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