Nov 16, 2002
By GEORGE HENRY
Associated Press Writer
ATLANTA – Gordon Clinkscale ran for two touchdowns and A.J. Suggs passed for 200 yards as Georgia Tech beat Duke 17-2 Saturday, extending the Blue Devils’ ACC-record losing streak to 24.
Clinkscale, who ran for 71 yards on 22 carries, scored on a 2-yard run on the Yellow Jackets’ first drive. Taking a pitch and running to his left, Clinkscale avoided the Duke rush by turning right and reaching the end zone easily.
Georgia Tech (7-4, 4-4 ACC) had Jonathan Smith at quarterback on the first play of its third possession, when the ball was snapped from the 6 and out of the end zone for the Duke safety.
The Blue Devils (2-9, 0-7) converted only six of 20 third-down opportunities. Adam Smith completed 13 of 33 passes for 146 yards and two interceptions, the first of which linebacker Keyaron Fox returned 35 yards to the Duke 21 with 2:03 left in the first quarter.
Four plays later, Luke Manget’s 32-yard field goal made it 10-2.
Kelly Rhino gains
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On their next drive, the Yellow Jackets had second-and-goal at the Blue Devils 10 when Kenneth Stanford stepped in front of Will Glover and intercepted Suggs’ pass at the 2.
Georgia Tech went ahead 17-2 midway through the second quarter on Clinkscale’s 4-yard run. Kerry Watkins set up the final score by jumping at midfield and turning to catch Suggs’ 31-yard pass over the middle.
Each team blocked a field goal. Jonathan Cox took advantage of a high snap and blocked a 19-yard attempt by Duke’s Brent Garber with 2:15 left before halftime. The Yellow Jackets’ Hal Higgins bobbled the snap on Manget’s 36-yard attempt in the fourth, which allowed Shawn Johnson to make the block.
Chris Douglas rushed for 77 yards on 12 carries for Duke. Alex Wade ran 13 times for 61 yards.
Suggs completed 18 of 28 passes, including a 34-yarder that Jonathan Smith caught in the third. Georgia Tech converted just five of 14 third-down chances.
