ACC Football Week 12: How Boston College’s Associates Did
By Joe Micik
Nov 15, 2014; Durham, NC, USA; The Virginia Tech Hokies players greet fans after defeating the Duke Blue Devils 17-16 at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Dolejs-USA TODAY Sports
ACC Football Week 12: Hokie Salvation
Virginia Tech entered their game at Duke in grave danger of their first losing season since 1992.
By picking up a big win over #21 Duke, not only did they put the Blue Devils in a precarious position with regards to winning the ACC Coastal, but they took a major step towards becoming bowl-eligible.
Duke had the better of the play for enough of the game, but it was three turnovers that did them in.
This one was on the Duke offense and special teams, which put their defense in some unenviable positions. The Blue Devils led 16-7 late in the third, but shortly after Virginia Tech’s Michael Brewer threw an interception, Duke’s Anthony Boone gave it back deep inside the Duke 10. The defense held, but a field goal made it 16-10.
At the start of the fourth quarter, Duke fumbled the kickoff and Virginia Tech recovered. Their game-winning drive was just 31 yards. Throw in a Ross Martin missed field goal to retake the lead late in the fourth quarter and an intentional grounding on Boone in the final drive, and the Blue Devils’ luck ran out.
Georgia Tech may now be the team facing the Seminoles in Charlotte, and for Duke, this one has to hurt because they blew it, big time.