Defense helps Duke top No. 20 Georgia Tech 34-20

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Shaquille Powell rushed for three touchdowns and Duke's defense dominated No. 20 Georgia Tech in a 34-20 victory Saturday

DeVon Edwards returned a kickoff 100 yards for a score while Powell scored on runs of 1, 4 and 30 yards for Duke (3-1, 1-0 Atlantic Coast Conference).

Thomas Sirk was 17 of 25 for 114 yards with an 11-yard touchdown pass to T.J. Rahming.

Justin Thomas pulled Tech to 26-20 with his 12-yard TD run with 8:02 left, and the Yellow Jackets (2-2, 0-1) had two chances after that to reclaim the lead.

They were stuffed on four downs deep inside Duke territory, a series before Thomas fumbled at his own 39 after a hit from Jeremy Cash with 2:12 left.

Powell then took a fourth-and-1 handoff up the middle for the 30-yard touchdown run that iced Duke’s second straight win over a ranked Georgia Tech team.

Duke managed 75 total yards and two first downs in the second half, but its improved defense shut down a rushing offense that’s typically one of the toughest to stop.

Tech averages 377 yards rushing — second-best in the FBS — but managed just 173 against the Blue Devils, who allow only 93 yards rushing per game.

Some consolation for the Yellow Jackets: In each of the past two years, the loser of this matchup has rebounded to win the Coastal Division.

Thomas finished 6 of 21 for 143 yards with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Ricky Jeune for Georgia Tech, which forced three Duke turnovers but only converted them into 52- and 48-yard field goals by Harrison Butker. The shorter of those pulled Tech to 19-13 with 7:07 left in the third.

Edwards took the ensuing kickoff at the goal line and burst through the right side for his fifth career score on a kick-return. Only one active player — UTEP’s Autrey Golden (six) — has more.

The Blue Devils led 19-3 after one quarter after holding Tech to 14 total yards and scoring on three straight drives in the opening 15 minutes.

Powell’s two shorter touchdowns — including one on the final play of the quarter — sandwiched Sirk’s quick-strike pass to Rahming. Ryan Smith’s 69-yard punt return to the 1 set up Powell’s second TD.

Thomas’ scoring pass to Jeune with 30 seconds left in the half trimmed Tech’s deficit to 19-10 at the half.

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