Extra Point: Duke football vs. Virginia Tech

After scoring 10 quick points on its first two possessions, No. 19 Duke struggled in the second quarter before finding its footing again briefly in the second half. The Blue Devils (9-2, 4-2 in the ACC) went on to take a 16-7 lead in the third quarter before the Hokies (5-5, 2-4) capitalized on two Duke turnovers to go up 17-16 early in the final quarter. The Blue Devils had a chance to regain the lead, but kicker Ross Martin missed the potential go-ahead field goal from 40 yards out and Virginia Tech held on to stun Duke Saturday afternoon at Wallace Wade Stadium.

Revisiting the three keys to the game:

• Force Michael Brewer to turn the ball over: Brewer had thrown 11 interceptions entering the contest but although cornerback Breon Borders picked him off in the third quarter, the Duke offense squandered the turnover with an interception of its own. The Blue Devils affected Brewer by getting constant pressure on him, but were unable to force the huge turnover late in the game that had doomed Virginia Tech's signal caller so often this season.
• Limit tackles for loss: After racking up more than 100 yards rushing in the first quarter, the Duke running game slowed down dramatically. The Hokies, led by Dadi NIcolas, pinned their ears back and limited the Blue Devils to just 3.4 yards per carry and got after quarterback Anthony Boone to force multiple sacks and intentional grounding penalties with the game on the line, The Duke offensive line had been one of the best in the nation entering the game, but was unable to keep Virginia Tech at bay Saturday afternoon. The Hokies finished with nine tackles for loss on the afternoon.
  
• Win the special teams battle: For perhaps the first time this season, Duke's special teams unit let the team down in a huge way Saturday afternoon. Martin missed his first two field goals of the season—a 51-yard kick at the end of the first half and a potential go-ahead effort late in the fourth quarter—and All-American kickoff returner DeVon Edwards fumbled to set up Virginia Tech's go-ahead score early in the fourth quarter. Punter Will Monday was also not as sharp as he normally is, shanking a punt in the first half and punting at a 40.0 yards-per-punt clip.
  

Three key plays:

• With his team already up 10-0 and off to a great start, Boone forces a throw in the red zone deep down the sideline for running back Shaun Wilson and is intercepted on the first play of the second quarter. Duke looked like it was on its way to blowing the game open early before the redshirt senior's first mistake of the contest
• After Boone was picked off by linebacker Derek DiNardo, who returned it inside the Blue Devils' 10-yard line, defensive end Kyler Brown bursts through the line to sack Brewer on second down. The Duke defense held strong, forcing a field goal and keeping the Blue Devils up 16-10 when the Hokies would have been able to cut the lead to two with a touchdown. The stand came after Boone and the offense squandered Borders' interception and was a huge moment for defensive coordinator Jim Knowles' defense. It was set up by the hustle of receiver Max McCaffrey, who chased down DiNardo from behind.
• On the first play of the fourth quarter, Edwards tried to burst through a crevice in the Virginia Tech kick coverage unit before getting crushed and coughing up the football. The fumble set up the final score of the game, a 15-yard pass from Brewer to redshirt freshman tight end Bucky Hodges. Everyone will remember Martin's miss, but if Duke hadn't turned the ball over, it likely wouldn't have needed a potential go-ahead field goal.

Three key stats:

• Duke defense records six sacks: The Blue Devils entered the contest with just 15 sacks on the season, but got after Brewer all day. Duke took advantage of an injury-ravaged offensive line and got big plays from its front four to keep the Hokie offense at bay for much of the game. The Blue Devil defense was simply unable to continue keeping Virginia Tech out of the end zone after mistakes by the offense and special teams, but needs to continue pressuring opposing quarterbacks to bounce back.
• Blue Devils commit three turnovers, eight penalties: After committing just six turnovers entering the game, including three in its only loss at Miami, Duke struggled once again in the turnover department Saturday. Boone threw two interceptions and Edwards fumbled the kickoff early in the fourth quarter. All three turnovers led to Virginia Tech's 17 points and swung the momentum of the game. The Blue Devils also uncharacteristically shot themselves in the foot with eight penalties. Duke won eight games by staying disciplined but has now lost the two in which it has made the mistakes it normally causes from opponents.
• Duke settles for five field goal attempts: The Blue Devils struggled to score touchdowns when they got the ball on the Hokie side of the field and let Virginia Tech stay in the game. Duke had chances in the third quarter to extend the lead, but both times had to settle for Martin field goals that kept the Hokies within striking distance. Again, Martin will receive plenty of the blame for failing to convert, but if Boone and the offense had kept executing, the Blue Devils would not have needed any late-game heroics.
  

And the Duke game ball goes to... Jeremy Cash

The Hokies also held tough when the Blue Devils got into the red zone to keep their team in the contest before the offense finally made some plays. Foster's in-game adjustments and use of Nicolas on various stunts and blitzes changed the complexion of the game and confused a normally stout Duke offensive line. Nicolas finished with eight tackles and three tackles for loss, two of which were sacks.