Nov. 15, 2010
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Georgia Tech Closes Out ACC Play, Looks For Sixth Win, vs. Duke Saturday
Georgia Tech, attempting to stop a three-game losing skid and become bowl-eligible for the 14th consecutive season, hosts Duke Saturday in the final ACC game and the final home game of the 2010 season (1:30 p.m./ESPN3.com).
The Yellow Jackets, 5-5 overall and 3-4 in the ACC, are coming off a 35-10 loss to visiting Miami last Saturday. Sophomore quarterback Tevin Washington, in his first career start, ran for 122 yards and passed for 101 yards, but Miami rolled up 507 yards of total offense. Tech played without senior QB Joshua Nesbitt, who is out for the rest of the regular season with a broken right forearm suffered at Virginia Tech.
Georgia Tech leads the nation in rushing offense (319.3 ypg), paced by senior Anthony Allen (89.4 ypg), who ranks second in the ACC.
Duke, 3-7 and 1-5, saw its two-game winning streak end last Saturday with a 21-16 loss to visiting Boston College. On their final possession, Duke drove all the way to the BC four-yard line before the drive stalled in the final minute of the game. Blue Devil quarterback Sean Renfree completed 35-of-49 passes for 285 yards and Conner Vernon hauled in 12 catches for 134 yards in the loss.
Renfree (255.5 ypg) ranks second in the ACC in passing yardage, Vernon leads the ACC in receptions per game (6.1) and linebacker Abraham Kromah ranks second in the league in tackles (96).
Georgia Tech leads the all-time series, 46-30-1. The Yellow Jackets have won the last six and 14 of the last 15 meetings with the Blue Devils.
Quick Notes On The Yellow Jackets
– Saturday is the final game in Bobby Dodd Stadium for 20 seniors, including eight Yellow Jacket starters.
– Georgia Tech is one win shy of becoming bowl-eligible for the 14th consecutive season. The Yellow Jackets are currently tied with rival Georgia for the fourth-longest active bowl streak nationally.
– The Yellow Jackets need a win Saturday to extend their streak of finishing .500 or better in ACC play for the conference-record 16th consecutive season. They also need a win to produce a winning record at home for the sixth straight year.
– Sophomore Tevin Washington is coming off his first career start in which he ran (122 yards) and passed (101 yards) for more than 100 yards. No QB in Tech history, making his first career start, rushed for more yards in a debut.
– Tech ranks first nationally in rushing offense (319.3 ypg). The Yellow Jackets finished in the top five nationally in rushing in 2008 and 2009. Tech owns the second-highest rushing average in school history.
– The Yellow Jackets are 11-2 under head coach Paul Johnson in games decided by five points or less.
– At least six different Yellow Jackets should receive consideration for All-ACC honors: RB Anthony Allen, OL Sean Bedford, OL Omoregie Uzzi, LB Julian Burnett, LB Brad Jefferson, and kicker Scott Blair.
– This weekend will be one of the busiest on the Tech home sports calendar with men’s and women’s basketball games Friday, a football game Saturday, a swim meet Friday through Sunday, and the Tech women’s basketball team hosts UConn Sunday.
Georgia Tech-Duke Series History
Overall series record: GT leads 46-30-1
Current streak: GT 6
At Georgia Tech: GT leads 26-12-1
At Duke: GT leads 20-18
At Neutral Sites: 0-0
Under Paul Johnson: 2-0
– Georgia Tech leads the all-time series, 46-30-1.
– The Yellow Jackets have won the last six meetings and 14 of the last 15 meetings.
– Tech’s 49-10 win at Duke last season (Nov. 14, 2009) clinched the ACC Coastal Division title for the Yellow Jackets.
– The Yellow Jackets are 26-12-1 against Duke when playing in Atlanta, including a current streak of seven consecutive wins. The Blue Devils’ last win in Bobby Dodd Stadium was a 27-12 decision on Sept. 24, 1994.
– Tech has scored at least 35 points in four of the last five meetings.
– The last time the Yellow Jackets shut out an opponent came against Duke in Bobby Dodd Stadium on Oct. 4, 2008 (27-0). True freshman Jaybo Shaw (now at Georgia Southern) started at quarterback that day and passed for 230 yards — all of them to receiver Demaryius Thomas (now with the Denver Broncos).
– Georgia Tech has played Duke more frequently (77 meetings) than any other opponent except Georgia (104 meetings) and Auburn (92).
– Tech and Duke have played every year since first meeting on the gridiron in 1933.
– The Yellow Jackets are 19-9 against ACC Coastal Division opponents, including 10-2 at home, since divisional play began in 2005.
– Georgia Tech head coach Paul Johnson is 2-0 all-time against Duke.
– Tech is 215-137-8 all-time against ACC opponents, and 127-68-4 all-time against teams from the Old North State.
