Duke Edged by No. 23 Virginia Tech 24-21

Saturday, November 5

Durham, N.C.

3:30 p.m.

Duke University

Virginia Tech

Adobe Spark Provides Glimpse into Jones' Season

Duke Edged by No. 23 Virginia Tech 24-21

11/5/2016 10:30:00 PM | Football

DURHAM, N.C. – Duke redshirt freshman quarterback Daniel Jones threw for 148 yards and rushed for another 99 as the Blue Devils' comeback effort came up just short in a 24-21 loss to 23rd-ranked Virginia Tech at Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium.

Jones went 18-of-31 for 148 yards en route to setting the Duke record for completions in a season (182) by a freshman quarterback. He also became the third freshman signal caller in Blue Devil history to surpass the 2,000-yard passing mark.

Ben Humphreys and Joe Giles-Harris once again led the charge for Duke's defensive unit with 16 and 13 tackles, respectively. The 16 by Humphreys was a career-best. Deondre Singleton added 10 stops for his first double-digit performance of the year.

Shaun Wilson and Joseph Ajegibe amassed 76 and 52 yards on the ground, respectively, with Wilson scoring his third rushing touchdown of the year. The final stat sheet was as close as the game with Virginia Tech edging Duke 399-375 in total yards. The Blue Devils won the battle on the ground 227 to 207 and both teams recorded three sacks.

The first-quarter was a back-and-forth affair with Virginia Tech and Duke trading touchdowns and combining for 276 total yards. Virginia Tech opened the scoring with a quick 54-yard drive capped by a 14-yard rush by Travon McMillan up the right hash into the end zone for the 7-0 lead.

The Blue Devils responded with a 10-play, 75-yard drive to even the score. Jones, after Ajeigbe scampered for 13-yards to the Duke 38-yard line, orchestrated the drive accounting for 52 of the 75 yards, including a 22-yard toss to Daniel Helm to get the Blue Devils to the Hokie 3-yard line. Wilson dashed up the middle on the ensuing play for six points.

The tide quickly shifted in the Hokies' favor early in the second quarter as Virginia Tech blocked a Duke 30-yard field goal attempt and ran it back for the touchdown and 14-7 lead. The Hokies tacked on another touchdown after a 3-and-out by the Blue Devils to head into the locker room with a 21-7 lead.

Momentum moved in the Blue Devils' direction in the third quarter with Duke's defense leading the charge in holding Virginia Tech to just 89 yards of offense and no points. The Hokies did manage a field goal to start the fourth quarter after Duke kept its ACC foe out of the end zone from inside the red zone.

On the other side of the ball, the Blue Devils' run game took center stage in pulling Duke within one score 21-14. Wilson and Ajeigbe combined for 54 yards and Jones tacked on 13 more, including a seven-yard dash into the end zone for his fifth rushing score of the year. Wilson had 26 yards on four carries and Ajeigbe broke free for 28 yards to the Virginia Tech 18 where Jones took over.

Trailing 24-21 in the final minutes of the fourth quarter, Duke's defense continued to shine and gave the ball back to Duke's offense with 5:55 left in the period. The Blue Devils crossed into Hokie territory, but good play by Virginia Tech's defense forced a Duke punt and allowed the Hokies to seal the win on the ensuing drive.

Duke has a short week ahead, hosting North Carolina in a Thursday night matchup. The Tobacco Road rivals will kick off Nov. 10 at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN.

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