College Sports

Duke snaps 6-game skid in 43-20 win over Georgia Tech

Posted November 18, 2017 6:00 am

By KYLE GLASER

Duke's Brittain Brown (22) carries the ball as Georgia Tech's A.J. Gray (5) attempts a tackle during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Durham, N.C., Saturday, Nov. 18, 2017. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown) The Associated Press

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) - Shaun Wilson caught two touchdown passes and threw another, Brittain Brown ran for 116 yards and a score, and Duke kept its bowl hopes alive with a 43-20 victory over Georgia Tech on Saturday night.

The Blue Devils (5-6, 2-5 ACC) fell behind 14-3 early in the second quarter before dominating the rest of the way, including outscoring the Yellow Jackets 23-0 in the second half to snap a six-game losing streak.

Wilson caught swing passes of 11 and 16 yards from Daniel Jones for touchdowns and threw a trick-play, 4-yard touchdown on a jump pass at the line of scrimmage to tight end Daniel Helm.

Jones completed 18 of 26 passes for 177 yards and ran for 91 yards and a score to lead Duke's rally. Brown's contributions on the ground gave the Blue Devils a season-high 319 rushing yards.

TaQuon Marshall carried 20 times for 140 yards and a touchdown for Georgia Tech (5-5, 4-4), which dropped to 0-5 on the road this season. Duke's runaway surge put the Yellow Jackets' triple-option offense in the uncomfortable position of having to pass, and Marshall completed just 3 of 13 attempts for 82 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

THE TAKEAWAY

Georgia Tech: The Yellow Jackets must now beat rival Georgia next week to guarantee bowl-eligibility. They could potentially sneak in with a 5-6 record if not enough teams qualify for a bowl game. The Yellow Jackets are playing only 11 regular season games after their Sept. 16 matchup at Central Florida was cancelled due to Hurricane Irma.

Duke: The Blue Devils snapped a miserable losing streak that took the joy out of their 4-0 start. They lost by a touchdown or less four times during their six-game losing streak, and had the ball on the final drive with a chance to tie before stalling out in all four games.

UP NEXT

Georgia Tech: The Yellow Jackets host No. 7 Georgia in a rivalry showdown to finish the regular season.

Duke: The Blue Devils conclude the regular season at Wake Forest and can clinch a spot in a bowl game with a win.

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More AP college football: http://collegefootball.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP_Top25

Georgia Tech's Qua Searcy, right, catches a touchdown pass ahead of Duke's Jeremy McDuffie during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Durham, N.C., Saturday, Nov. 18, 2017. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown) The Associated Press

Georgia Tech's J.J. Green celebrates as he scores a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Duke in Durham, N.C., Saturday, Nov. 18, 2017. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown) The Associated Press

Georgia Tech quarterback Tobias Oliver (18) looks to pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Duke in Durham, N.C., Saturday, Nov. 18, 2017. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown) The Associated Press

Georgia Tech's Nathan Cottrell (31) carries the ball as Duke's Joe Giles-Harris (44) attempts a tackle during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Durham, N.C., Saturday, Nov. 18, 2017. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown) The Associated Press

Georgia Tech head coach Paul Johnson stands on the sideline prior to an NCAA college football game against Duke in Durham, N.C., Saturday, Nov. 18, 2017. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown) The Associated Press

Duke Head Coach David Cutcliffe speaks with quarterback Daniel Jones prior to an an NCAA college football game against Georgia Tech in Durham, N.C., Saturday, Nov. 18, 2017. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown) The Associated Press

Georgia Tech's TaQuon Marshall (16) carries the ball ahead of Duke's Drew Jordan (86) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Durham, N.C., Saturday, Nov. 18, 2017. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown) The Associated Press

Georgia Tech head coach Paul Johnson shouts to his team during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Duke in Durham, N.C., Saturday, Nov. 18, 2017. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown) The Associated Press

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