DURHAM, N.C. – Virginia Tech falls to Duke 31-28 to close out the road slate of the 2024 regular season, as the Blue Devils pulled away in the second half after a tightly contested matchup.
The first half featured a mix of strong plays on both sides of the ball. After trailing behind 0-14 early, the Hokies fought back with a 65-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Colin Schlee to wide receiver Ali Jennings, marking the longest pass of the season.
Redshirt freshman William “Pop” Watson III entered the game to start the second quarter, seeing his first extended action of his career. Offensive coordinator Tyler Bowen wasted no time, calling for a reverse play that saw Watson hand off to receiver Jaylin Lane, who tossed it to Ayden Greene who rushed in for a 21-yard touchdown, tying the game at 14-14.
Jennings ended the game as the clear offensive leader with six receptions for 158 yards, posting his highest yardage total as a Hokie.
On defense, cornerback Dorian Strong recorded two interceptions—his first of the season—and returned the first for seven yards. Linebacker Caleb Woodson capped off the first half with a third interception.
Duke carried its slim lead from the first half into the second, extending it to 31-17. Virginia Tech responded with a 38-yard field goal from kicker John Love, cutting the deficit to 31-20 and swinging the momentum in the Hokies’ favor.
Running back Bhayshul Tuten, who already racked up 44 yards in the first half, had a breakaway run for a 29-yard touchdown on the following drive. The score brought the Hokies back within 31-26. Tuten also became the first Hokie to rush for 1,000 yards in a season since Khalil Herbert in 2020. With this milestone, Tuten joined an exclusive group of 16 other players who have reached 1,000 yards in Virginia Tech history, marking the 20th instance of such a feat.
Tuten’s touchdown was followed by a two-point conversion, as quarterback William “Pop” Watson III rushed into the end zone for his first career score, pulling the Hokies to within 31-28.
On Duke’s next drive, the Hokies’ defense delivered another key moment. STAR player Kenota Jenkins forced his second fumble of the season, and defensive lineman Cole Nelson recovered the loose ball. Jenkins finished with five tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss (TFLs) that resulted in a total loss of 20 yards.
Despite the strong defensive plays and a solid effort from Tuten, the Hokies couldn’t capitalize on the turnovers. Linebacker Caleb Woodson led the defense with six tackles and a TFL, while linebacker Keli Lawson added four tackles and a TFL for a three-yard loss. Up front, defensive linemen Kelvin Gilliam Jr. and Antwaun Powell-Ryland were active, with Powell-Ryland recording three tackles and 1.5 TFLs.
Next up: Virginia Tech will face Virginia for the first time at home since 2020 for the Smithfield Commonwealth clash. Bowl eligibility is still on the line for the Hokies, so this is a matchup you won’t want to miss.
While this game is sold out, fans eager to secure their spot for this matchup can still explore single-game ticket options on SeatGeek, the official fan-to-fan ticket marketplace for Virginia Tech Athletics.
