BLACKSBURG – Duke quarterback Quentin Harris threw two touchdown passes and ran for a score, lifting the Blue Devils to a 45-10 victory over Virginia Tech in an ACC game played Friday night at Lane Stadium.
With the loss, the Hokies fell to 2-2 on the season, 0-2 in the ACC. Duke moved to 3-1 overall, 1-0 in league play.
The Hokies led 3-0 at the end of the first quarter after a 20-yard field goal by Brian Johnson, but the Blue Devils converted a Tech fumble into a Harris touchdown pass to Noah Gray with a little more than 11 minutes left in the half. That started a string in which Duke scored touchdowns on three straight possessions to end the first half.
Duke added to its lead in the third quarter with a 32-yard field goal from AJ Reed and a 42-yard touchdown run by Harris.
Tech's lone score in the second half came on a 72-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ryan Willis to Damon Hazelton with 2:31 remaining in the third quarter.
Deshawn McClease rushed for 102 yards on 17 carries. Willis completed 7 of 18 for 112 yards, with a touchdown and an interception, as the Hokies finished with just 259 yards.
Harris led the Blue Devils, completing 20 of 27 for 163 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 100 yards on 17 carries on a night when Duke wound up with 422 yards.
KEY PLAY
With a 3-0 lead, Tech faced a second-and-3 from its own 40. Hendon Hooker, who had been inserted into the game at the start of the drive, attempted a handoff to Keshawn King, but the two of them never connected, and Duke's Koby Quansah recovered the fumble at the Tech 16. On the next play, Duke's Quentin Harris threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Noah Gray to give the Blue Devils a 7-3 with 11:20 left in the half. The Blue Devils did not trail again.
GAME NOTES
• The Hokies extended their scoring streak to 313 games – the fifth longest streak in NCAA history and currently the third longest active streak nationally.
• McClease's 102-yard rushing performance marked his third career 100-yard rushing performance. He had rushed for more than 100 yards in the Hokies' bowl games against Oklahoma State (124) and Cincinnati (102).
• Willis eclipsed the 6,000-yard mark for passing in his career with his 112-yard performance.
• Damon Hazelton's 72-yard touchdown reception tied for the longest of his career. He also hauled in a 72-yard reception in the Hokies' 49-35 loss to ODU last season.
• Brian Johnson connected on a 20-yard field goal in the first quarter, and he remained perfect in his career on field goals from 20-29 yards (7-of-7).
• Deshawn McClease's 45-yard run in the second quarter was the second longest of the season for the Hokies and the longest of his career. His previous career long of 27 yards came last season in the Hokies' 49-35 loss to ODU.
UP NEXT
The Hokies hit the road for the first time since their season opener when they travel to Coral Gables, Florida to take on Miami. Tech will be looking to end its recent struggles against the 'Canes, as it has lost two straight and four of the past five. The game kicks off at 3:30 p.m.Gallery: (9/27/2019) 2019 FOOTBALL vs. DUKE
