Hokies Lose Tight One vs. Duke (11-23-24)

By: Joey Raymond

Headline Photo Credit: Katie Raymond-LMS Network

Durham, NC –The stage was set for a thrilling ACC showdown at Wallace Wade Stadium as the Duke Blue Devils hosted the Virginia Tech Hokies. With both teams eager to prove their mettle, the night promised fireworks—and it delivered. These 2 squads came in with a chip on their shoulder and something to prove. Duke, trying to prove that they’re a legit team to contend with, and Virginia Tech trying to become bowl-eligible. From explosive plays to game-changing turnovers, the opening kickoff set the tone for a rollercoaster of momentum swings. Duke’s dynamic duo of Maalik Murphy and Eli Pancol wasted no time igniting the home crowd, but Virginia Tech showed a ton of resilience, clawing their way back into contention. It was a contest where every play mattered, and both fan bases were kept on the edge of their seats until the final whistle. Let’s get into what happened on Saturday in Durham. 

First Quarter: Explosive Start for Duke

The game began with Duke kicking off to Virginia Tech, and it looked like the Hokies were off to a strong start when Thomas Williams returned the kickoff 61 yards. However, a holding penalty negated the big play, setting the tone for a mistake-prone start by Virginia Tech. Despite a quick 14-yard completion to Jaylin Lane, the Hokies’ opening drive stalled, forcing them to punt.

On the other side, Duke wasted no time making an impact. Starting at their 14-yard line, it took just one play for Maalik Murphy to connect with Eli Pancol on a stunning 86-yard touchdown pass, electrifying the Wallace Wade Stadium crowd and putting Duke up 7-0 early.

Virginia Tech’s response began at their 25-yard line, and after a 7-yard run and a facemask penalty against Duke, they managed to reach close to midfield. But penalties plagued the Hokies once more—a holding call on a fourth-down conversion attempt and a subsequent false start forced them to punt. Duke took over at their 20-yard line and, after two quick plays, found magic again. Murphy hit Pancol for another long touchdown, this time for 77 yards, doubling Duke’s lead to 14-0.

The Hokies’ next drive faltered with a three-and-out, and Duke capitalized on a strong punt return to start near midfield. This time, Virginia Tech’s defense held firm, forcing a Blue Devils punt. Starting deep in their own territory, the Hokies got a boost from another facemask penalty and finally broke through. Colin Schlee launched a 65-yard touchdown pass to Ali Jennings, narrowing the gap to 14-7.

Duke’s next drive ended in a quick three-and-out thanks to a stout Hokies defense, giving Virginia Tech a chance to swing the momentum. The Hokies reached midfield but faltered on fourth down, turning the ball over on downs. On the next play, Murphy forced a pass into coverage, and Dorian Strong grabbed his sixth interception of the season to give the Hokies new life. As the first quarter ended, Virginia Tech was looking to capitalize, setting up at the Duke 43-yard line.

Second Quarter: A Game of Momentum Swings

The Hokies opened the quarter with Pop Watson stepping in at quarterback after an apparent injury to Colin Schlee. After a holding penalty backed them up, Watson delivered his first career completion—a 17-yard pass to Ali Jennings for a first down. Two plays later, he found Jennings again for 27 yards, setting up a creative play that saw Ayden Greene take a handoff on a series of end-around and sprint 21 yards into the end zone to tie the game at 14-14.

Duke’s ensuing drive ended quickly when Murphy targeted Dorian Strong again and paid the price, as Strong grabbed his second interception of the night. Virginia Tech took over at Duke’s 36-yard line and moved efficiently into the red zone but couldn’t find the end zone. John Love drilled a field goal to give the Hokies their first lead, 17-14.

Duke responded with a quick strike, aided by a Hokies pass interference penalty. Murphy capped the drive with a 7-yard touchdown pass to Pancol, reclaiming the lead for Duke, 21-17. Virginia Tech tried to answer before halftime, with Watson connecting on a big pass to Stephen Gosnell and driving into the red zone. However, a sack and a fumble squandered the opportunity. Duke threw a late interception, giving the Hokies yet another chance to strike before the end of the half, but the Hokies couldn’t capitalize as time ran out. Duke led 21-17 at halftime.

Third Quarter: Duke Extends Their Lead

Duke opened the second half with a methodical drive. Murphy connected with Que’Sean Brown on back-to-back completions, and Sahmir Hagans added a 15-yard run to set up Star Thomas, who powered into the end zone for a touchdown, extending Duke’s lead to 28-17.

Virginia Tech’s offensive struggles continued as they went three-and-out, and Duke’s next drive stalled after a failed fourth-down attempt, giving the Hokies a solid field position. But Watson threw an interception, handing Duke another opportunity. The Blue Devils converted the turnover into a field goal, stretching their lead to 31-17.

The Hokies would manage to show life late in the quarter and get some momentum back. Watson broke free for a 15-yard run and found Jennings for a 21-yard pass before the clock expired with Duke still leading by two scores.

Fourth Quarter: Final Stand and Narrow Escape

Virginia Tech began the final quarter with a spark. A defensive pass interference penalty set up John Love’s second field goal of the game, narrowing the deficit to 31-20. After a Duke three-and-out, the Hokies capitalized with a 29-yard touchdown run by Bhayshul Tuten and a successful two-point conversion, making it a one-possession game at 31-28.

Duke aimed to burn the clock but fumbled late, giving the Hokies a chance with under two minutes left. Facing a critical fourth-and-13, Virginia Tech’s offense came up short, turning the ball over on downs. Duke ran out most of the clock before punting, leaving the Hokies only seconds to mount a miracle drive from their own 13-yard line. A final desperation pass fell incomplete, followed by a sad attempt to throw some laterals, sealing a hard-fought 31-28 victory for Duke.

Final Thoughts

As the dust settled on a hard-fought battle, the Duke Blue Devils emerged victorious, holding on for a 31-28 win in front of an electric home crowd. Both teams had their moments of brilliance, from Pancol’s jaw-dropping touchdowns to Dorian Strong’s defensive heroics for Virginia Tech. In the end, Duke’s ability to capitalize on key opportunities—and their late defensive stand—made the difference. For the Hokies, it was a night of missed chances and glimpses of promise. For Duke, it was a statement win that keeps their season alive and buzzing with potential. This was college football at its finest—full of heart, grit, and unforgettable drama.