Duke’s first loss of the season came with a familiar bitter edge: the Blue Devils had chances, stayed in the fight after getting punched in the third quarter, and still watched the game slip away in the kind of game-changing penalty sequence that can tilt an ACC road matchup.
Georgia Tech’s 28-25 win over Duke on the road left Manny Diaz’s team with a short turnaround and a heavier burden this week. The Blue Devils now have to reset quickly for a home game against rival North Carolina, which enters at 3-2 and 1-1 in the ACC. That matchup at Wallace Wade Stadium has turned into a must-win for Duke.
The most damaging stretches of the afternoon came down to penalties, and two flags in particular swung the momentum hard toward the Yellow Jackets.
The first came in the second quarter, when Georgia Tech started a drive at its own eight-yard line with just over 10 minutes left. Duke had the Jackets bottled up and appeared ready to get off the field after three straight stops. Then Tyshon Reed was hit with a roughing-the-passer call on 3rd-and-8.
After that, the situation unraveled fast. DaShawn Stone was then flagged for unnecessary roughness on the next snap, tacking on another 15 yards and giving Georgia Tech fresh life. The drive ended with a touchdown and a 14-7 Yellow Jackets lead.
Duke finished the first half with five penalties and had just one in the second half, but another costly unnecessary roughness call later proved just as damaging. With about two and a half minutes left, Duke was holding a 25-21 lead. Georgia Tech had already been pushed into a 2nd-and-20 at midfield after a holding penalty, putting the Blue Devils in position to force a stop.
Instead, Bradley Gompers was flagged for unnecessary roughness, and that penalty handed Georgia Tech a first down. The Yellow Jackets cashed in with the go-ahead touchdown on the drive.
In all, Duke and Georgia Tech combined for 17 penalties on the day, with the Yellow Jackets responsible for 11. Even with the questionable nature of some of the calls, those flags carried real weight in a game Duke had every chance to win.
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