DUKE RECORD: 3-4 (1-2 ACC) (L 24-23 to Wake Forest)
VT RECORD: 7-1 (3-1 ACC) (W 30-14 against Boston College)
SCORE: (12) VT 14 – DUKE 10
GAME SUMMARY: It was an overall sloppy performance, but the Hokies held on to win. Clinging to a four point lead in the fourth quarter, Tech was forced to punt, and the Duke return man was able to set up the Blue Devils at the VT 34-yard line. Duke was able to advance to the 15-yard line, but on 4th and 2, Kyle Fuller sacked quarterback Sean Renfree. Duke’s defense was again able to force a punt, but Renfree was intercepted by Barquell Rivers with 55 seconds left to seal the Hokies’ 11th-straight conference road victory (an ACC record).
LOCK IT IN THE LUNCHPAIL: As much as the Miami game demonstrated the importance of Logan Thomas’ effectiveness, so too did this game (albeit in an opposite fashion). Thomas had two early interceptions and was seemingly unable to get into a rhythm as the game progressed. In the second half, the offense was only able to convert two of eight third downs and punted on every drive. Although David Wilson again had an impressive yardage total, it was Josh Oglesby who found the endzone, again providing the points for the offense when they were hard to come by (see: ECU). With a number of starters out defensively, the Hokies relied on turnovers to retain the lead. The three interceptions tied for a season high (Appalachian State) and the Hokies needed every one of them. Former starter Barquell Rivers late interception brought back memories of the 2008 Duke game, which was in doubt until a late pick-six by Macho Harris put it away. These were not the memories Hokie fans wanted to be reminded of heading into the annual Battle of the Techs.
DUKE SEASON RECORD: 3-9 (1-7 ACC), 6th ACC Coastal.
DUKE SEASON SUMMARY: The fact that we have gotten to a point when a 3-9 season in Durham is considered a vast underachievement is a testament to the job David Cutliffe has done since his arrival in 2008 from Knoxville. The season opening loss in beyond bewildering, not only because the Devils let the Spiders rally to win despite outgaining them 379-288, but because Richmond was simply not a good team. Unlike 2007-2010, when the Spiders finished a combined 41-13, this year’s squad only finished with a 3-8 record, and went winless in Colonial Athletic Association league play. After an expected loss to #6 Stanford, the Blue Devils went on a three-game winning streak that included their only conference win (at Boston College) and a win over an Florida International team that finished the regular season 8-4. Duke would not win another game, although had they been able to finished strong in close losses to Wake Forest, VT, and Georgia Tech, Cutliffe would have had the team playing in its first bowl since 1995 (FUN FACT: Duke has played in each BCS bowl sans the Fiesta. Yeah, I wouldn’t have imagined that either). Against Wake, the Blue Devils rallied from 17 down with 23 unanswered before a late Price-to-Givens touchdown gave the Demon Deacons a 1-point win. As stated before, Duke twice had late drives against Tech thwarted by interceptions. And another late interception against Georgia Tech sealed a 7-point loss to the Yellow Jackets. Perhaps more embarrassing than losing to rival North Carolina for the eighth straight year, the Dookies lost to UVA for the first time since 2007.
OFFENSIVE MVP: WR Conner Vernon. 70 REC – 956 YD – 6 TD.
Vernon combined with senior Donovan Varner to form the most prolific wide receiver duo in ACC history. The 2nd team All ACC selection went over 100 yards receiving against Florida international, and keyed the Blue Devils’ lone ACC conference win with 6 catches for 116 yards and 2 touchdowns at Chestnut Hill.
DEFENSIVE MVP: S Matt Daniels. 126 TK – 4 TFL – 2 INT – 1 FF.
The 1st team All ACC selection had 10 or more tackles in 5 games, including 18 in the season-ending loss to rival North Carolina. During his career, Daniels brought his best against Virginia Tech; five of his seven career takeaways came against the Hokies (INT and FR in 2008, FR in 2010, 2 INT in 2011). The Walter Camp 2nd team All American leaves school ranked third all-time in forced fumbles.
POSTSEASON: Duke is not bowl eligible.
