Duke football report card: Grading Blue Devils after loss to Georgia Tech

In a closely contested game, Duke football suffered a 28-25 defeat against Georgia Tech on Saturday, October 10 at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Despite outscoring their opponents by 15-14 in the second half, the Blue Devils were unable to secure the comeback they sought. This marked the sixth consecutive loss for Duke against Georgia Tech. The Blue Devils head to home for a matchup against UNC on Saturday, October 17.

The offense received a C+ grade for the game. Although there were promising moments such as a 75-yard touchdown drive by Walker Eget and a late Nate Sheppard rush, the Blue Devils' offense struggled to establish a consistent rhythm. The defense earned a C grade, managing crucial stops but failing to halt Georgia Tech's final drive after taking the lead.

Penalties played a significant role, with a 15-yard unnecessary roughness call on Bradley Gompers leading to a Georgia Tech automatic first down and a 92-yard touchdown drive by Georgia Tech aided by two 15-yard penalties from Duke. Special teams earned a B grade. Gavin Strange made one successful field goal for the Blue Devils but missed another crucial 33-yard attempt in the final moments.

Kade Reynoldson contributed with four punts, three exceeding 50 yards and landing inside the 20-yard line, while a 33-yard punt return was allowed by Duke's defense. Coaching received a B grade, acknowledging the team's ability to overcome a slow start and make halftime adjustments. However, six penalties totaling 71 yards were a recurring issue.

The game's MVP was Nate Sheppard, who contributed 190 combined rushing and receiving yards along with two touchdowns despite appearing somewhat injured. The overall team grade for the loss was a B-. Duke aims to regain form as they prepare to host UNC next weekend.