2011 Virginia Tech Hokies Football: Va. Tech @ Duke

It was ugly as sin on the field, but it was virtuous in the standings. A very poor performance by a credentialed college football program did not lead to a loss – that’s hoe championship seasons emerge for the boys from Blacksburg, Virginia.

The Virginia Tech Hokies were fortunate to escape Durham, North Carolina, with a win. The Hokies generally outplayed the Duke Blue Devils, but both teams’ offenses were not able to perform effectively on offense throughout the course of the game. What must be really frustrating to the Hokies is that they were able to run at will on the soft Blue Devils defense, but they only managed two first half touchdowns.

Duke on the other hand has not run the ball well all year, and this game was no exception. The Blue Devils managed only 100 rushing yards on 28 attempts, which is only 3.6 yards per attempt. The normally high-performing passing game was ineffective, with only 226 passing yards on 19-40 passing. Starting QB Sean Renfree was only 17-35 for 204 yards with no TDs and 3 INTs. The Blue Devils’ four turnovers were not the difference one might imagine them to be, as both of the first half interceptions were followed by Virginia Tech interceptions on the subsequent possession. The killer turnover for the Blue Devils was a first quarter fumble near the red zone, which Virginia Tech took advantage of, driving the length of the field to score its first touchdown.

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Virginia Tech’s next touchdown was on its next drive, a 90 yard drive to begin the second quarter. After that drive, the Hokies managed only one other drive of more than 44 yards, and that was a 77 yard drive that ended with a missed 29 yard Tyler Weiss field goal. Every second half Virginia Tech possession ended in a punt, with the exception of the final plays of the game after Barquell Rivers intercepted Sean Renfree on Duke’s last-ditch effort to score.

Logan Thomas started out the game well, but was not able to move the ball at all in the second half. He finished 17 of 28 for 190 yards with 1 TD and 2 INTs. The Hokies relied on David Wilson running the ball for much of the game, and Wilson had success against the Blue Devils’ defense, gaining 148 yards on 23 carries. Otherwise, there was not much positive from Virginia Tech in this game on the offensive side of the ball. The Hokies, at 8-1 overall, 4-1 in the ACC, are on top of the Coastal division and control their own destiny to Charlotte, but Georgia Tech’s surprise win over Clemson means that the Yellow Jackets also control their own destiny, with the winner of the November 10th game between the two likely deciding the division. The Georgia Tech game follows a bye next week, and then VT closes with North Carolina and Virginia. Duke finds itself with an uphill battle for bowl eligibility at 3-5. The Blue Devils can only afford one more loss with a trip to Miami coming next week, followed by Virginia, Georgia Tech, and North Carolina.

Virginia Tech Hokies @ Duke Blue Devils Football Recap