WRAL Sports Fan

Final Score: Georgia Tech 42, Duke 24

Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Tevin Washington matched a career-high with three touchdown passes and rushed for another as the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets outlasted the Duke Blue Devils, 42-24, in ACC action at Bobby Dodd Stadium.

Washington's big day came at the perfect time for the Yellow Jackets (6-5, 5-3 ACC) who become bowl eligible for the 16th consecutive season with the win. Zach Laskey led the Jackets' potent rushing attack with 72 yards on 18 carries. David Sims added 70 yards and a touchdown while Orwin Smith went for 67 yards. Robert Godhigh caught just two passes but both were touchdown receptions.

Sean Renfree threw for 198 yards and two touchdowns for the Blue Devils (6-5, 3-4), who dropped their third consecutive game. Desmond Scott caught 10 passes for 124 yards and a touchdown. Duke rushed for just 77 yards as a team, 253 yards less than Georgia Tech. C.J. France led the defense with 15 tackles.

The Jackets marched 72 yards in 13 plays on their first series to take a 7-0 lead. The key play on the drive was a 16-yard run by Smith on fourth and two from the 50-yard line. After getting denied twice from inside the two-yard line, Washington finally ran it in and broke the all-time ACC rushing TD record for a quarterback in the process. Washington's predecessor, Joshua Nesbitt, previously held both the school and ACC record with 35 rushing scores.

The Blue Devils got on the board late in the first quarter when Renfree connected with Scott for a 24-yard touchdown, tying the score at 7-7.

Sims scored on a 19-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter as the Jackets regained the lead, but Duke marched right back down the field thanks in large part to a 50-yard kickoff return by Lee Butler. Three plays later, Renfree called his own number and tied the score once again with a nine-yard rushing touchdown.

Georgia Tech backup quarterback Vad Lee made it 21-14 midway through the period with a short touchdown run. The score capped a 16-play drive that lasted more than eight minutes. All three of Georgia Tech's first-half scoring drives spanned at least 10 plays and 75 yards.

Duke kicker Ross Martin drilled a 50-yard field goal with a minute left before halftime. Georgia Tech led 21-17 at intermission.

The two teams continued to trade points in the third quarter. Georgia Tech scored first to increase it's lead to double figures when Washington tossed a touchdown pass to Laskey from 28 yards out on the Jackets' first drive.

Duke's next possession also resulted in a score as Renfree found Juwan Thompson from a yard out. After three quarters, Georgia Tech led 28-24.

Washington threw his second touchdown pass of the day early in the fourth quarter to extend the Jackets' lead back to 11. Godhigh was the recipient of Washington's pass, which went for eight yards.

Having played a near flawless game offensively to this point, the Blue Devils' offense was forced to punt on the following drive and turned the ball over on downs later in the fourth. Washington's third and final touchdown pass of the day, a 27-yard effort also to Godhigh, capped off the scoring.

Georgia Tech, which converted 13-of-20 on third down and controlled the ball for more than 38 minutes, leads the all-time series, 49-30-1.