Duke returned home to take on Virginia Tech, still looking for its first win of the season. It's been another close affair over the first 30 minutes, with the Hokies holding a narrow 10-7 edge.
Five observations:
1. COVID-19 absences for Virginia Tech not exposed
Despite the Hokies’ top four cornerbacks and their starting safety out due to COVID-19 concerns, the sputtering Duke offense couldn’t take advantage of any openings downfield. Quarterback Chase Brice had just 67 yards in the first half. The Blue Devils will need to keep the up-tempo offense going, and hope that Virginia Tech's replacements are slightly less conditioned than the starters.
2. Inexperienced Duke corners targeted
It’s no secret that Duke is missing some key pieces on the defensive end, and it seemed like the Hokies did their homework. Though it took a bit for the Virginia Tech offense to get going with backup quarterback Braxton Burmeister in the game for injured starter Hendon Hooker, it wasn’t too long before back-to-back passes found their way through redshirt sophomore cornerback Jeremiah Lewis and into Hokie hands for a total of 41 yards and a score late in the first quarter.
3. Duke turns it over, again
After handing over the pigskin seven times in 60 minutes last week, Duke didn’t keep nearly the same egregious pace—but that didn’t prevent the Blue Devils from handing the ball away in their own territory midway through the first quarter today. Brice stepped up in the pocket with a receiver over the middle, sending it a tad high and off the hands of sophomore wideout Eli Pancol and right into the waiting arms of the Hokie standing just five yards back. Virginia Tech was gifted good field position and converted quickly, tying the game at seven.
4. The Blue Devil defense holds
Despite being banged up, the Duke defense is the reason why the Blue Devils are still in this football game. Consistent pressure on Burmeister has caused hurried throws, with the junior completing just seven of his 18 pass attempts.
5. Hokies utilize rushing attack
Despite what many may have thought about the game plan coming into the game for the Hokies, they have used a significant ground presence to make progress into Duke territory. While Virginia Tech worked to expose the Blue Devils' young corners on their first scoring drive, the visiting squad continued to hammer the ground game as well, racking up 85 yards on 22 carries.
By the numbers:
- 241 punt yards for Porter Wilson: Wilson has turned into a weapon on the special teams side of the equation, averaging 40.2 on each of his six kicks. This locked Virginia Tech deep in its own territory more than once, even pinning them inside the one-yard line on one occasion.
- 3-of-9 on third down for the Hokies: Despite facing a Blue Devil defense who gave up 38 points to Virginia just seven days ago, Virginia Tech could not seem to convert on third down, a big reason for the tight margin in the score.
- 1.94 yards per rush for Duke: The Blue Devils just can’t find a way to punch holes large enough for their backs, who often got hit behind the line before they could get any kind of momentum going.
A moment that mattered:
Special teams strike again: After the Blue Devil offense recorded their second three-and-out to start the game, punter Porter Wilson sent a booming kick deep into Hokie territory, where Tayvion Robinson felt the pigskin go off his hands after some frantic backpedaling. Duke jumped on the loose ball, with freshman Jaylen Stinson falling across the goal line to notch the first touchdown of the game for the Blue Devils, putting them up 7-0. Without a 55-yard missile off the leg of Wilson, or the heads-up play of the Duke coverage, this game likely looks a lot different.
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