Virginia Tech at Duke: Gameday Open Thread

Blue Devils host Hokies in an empty Wallace Wade Stadium

Duke returns to Wallace Wade Stadium at 4:00 on Saturday, looking to get its first win of the season against Virginia Tech.

The Blue Devils have dropped games at Notre Dame and Virginia, sandwiched around a home loss to Boston College to start the season 0-3.

The offense has struggled to finish drives this year, often settling for field goals after reaching the red zone. In the last two games, the Blue Devils have been plagued by turnovers, including seven last week in Virginia.

Chase Brice has six interceptions on the year, but according to the game week depth chart, he will remain the starter for the Hokies game. Gunnar Holmberg fumbled late in the Virginia game, and Chris Katrenick was tackled for a sack or loss on three straight plays to lose the ball on downs, so the other quarterbacks also had a rough outing. A key storyline will be to monitor Brice’s leash. If he struggles early, will David Cutcliffe give one of the backups an extended look before the game is out of reach?

The Hokies have plenty of storylines on their own side. After having a game postponed due to a COVID outbreak, Virginia Tech had 23 players and two assistants quarantined for last week’s win over NC State. It was still up in the air how many of those players would return for the trip to Duke.

A third storyline will swirl around the empty stadium on Duke’s campus. The state of North Carolina is allowing teams to let in fans up to seven percent of stadium capacity starting this week, but Duke chose not to take advantage and will leave Wallace Wade Stadium closed to all but essential gameday and broadcast personnel. Family members of players, as well as some players themselves, took to Twitter to protest the decision near the end of the week.

Virginia Tech is coming out onto the field to warm up, giving hints on who made the trip and who's available for today. Among the players spotted so far who missed last week:

QB Herndon Hooker is participating in warmups and is looking ready to step back into his starting role.

DB Ny'Quee Hawkins is back on the field for the Hokies.So is long snapper Oscar Shadley.

Running back Keshawn King spotted.

Va Tech beat writer Andy BItter is giving a play-by-play of warmups. The offensive line looks intact.

Pretty much every offensive lineman is here. Silas Dzansi is back after missing last week. #Hokies

— Andy Bitter (@AndyBitterVT) October 3, 2020

Fashion update: Duke going with white helmets and black D logo, white shoes, blue jerseys and pants.

While the Hokes seem solid on offense, getting back most key contributors, the secondary is still ravaged. According to Bitter, Tech will be without their top four corners in starters Jermaine Waller and Armani Chatman and backups Brion Murray and Devin Taylor. Starting safety Divine Deablo is also out, along with two assistant coaches from that unit.

Duke loses the toss but will get the ball first after VT defers. Time to play some ball.

As expected, Chase Brice starts the game for Duke

First look at the offense doesn't give hope that much has been fixed. Run attempt fixed, dumpoff pass, sack, punt.

Next Duke drive starts with a pre-snap penalty. Illegal procedure.

A break for Duke: After a three-and-out, the Hokies muff a punt. Duke recovers for a special teams touchdown. A little Beamer Ball for Duke: 7-0 Blue Devils

Same old problems popping up for Duke. Tech gets an interception. Then a late hit by Duke keeps the drive alive. Tech scores to tie

Brice sacked you end a Duke drive. Blue Devils get another big special teams play, downing punt on the one, big pass interference loses the field position 

Tech gets first and goal but Duke defense holds. Field goal makes it 10-7 Hokies

Another self inflicted wound for Duke. Third and short stop gets wiped out by offsides on Victor Dimukeje 

Jeremiah Lewis with an interception. Duke has a shot with just over a minute to go in the half

Instead, a sack ends any chance of a Duke drive. 10-7 VT at the half 

Strong drive from Duke to open the second half. Deon Jackson goes 10 yards for the touchdown. 14-10 Duke 

And Tech brings back the kickoff. He may have stepped out. Refs are reviewing 

Comes back to the Duke 16. Still not a good spot for Blue Devils 

Tech finishes off the abbreviated drive to retake the lead, 17-14

Brice misses and open receiver on third down. Duke punts. Long completion for Tech. Danger zone for Duke 

Tech scores. 24-14. Duke seems a step slow. Conditioning issues are a long way from being fixed 

Penalties aren’t fixed either. Matao Durant called for offensive face mask

Tech gets the ball back. 42 yard run of third down. Defense seems spent 

Offense clicked for Duke to start the fourth. Noah Gray catches a pass in the end zone to cut deficit  to 24-21

Touchdowns for everyone in the fourth. Tech responds with a score, then Deon Jackson takes one in. 31-28 Hokies with 6:44 to go 

Tech moved into the red zone but a bad exchange ends up on the ground and in the arms of Victor Dimukeje. Duke ball down 3.

Whatever has been clicking for the offense this quarter left Duke on that drive. Rush loses one. Dropped pass. Sack. Punt. 

Tech gets a first down. 2:36 left 

Defense blows an assignment giving Tech a long TD run for the dagger. 38-28. 2:20 left 

Duke kicks a field goal at the gun to cut the final score to 38-31. A few promising drives but otherwise more of the same for a team that shows very little sign of escaping this spiral.