Halftime: Hokies Roar Back to Life, But Trail Duke Blue Devils 21-17

The Virginia Tech Hokies invaded Wallace Wade stadium to face the Duke Blue Devils on Saturday night. The Hokies started as bad as you possibly could on the road. Duke QB1 Maalik Murphy was dropping dimes early. I outlined the importance of limiting explosives in an earlier post, and I’m not sure the Hokies got the memo.

Murphy opened up the scoring with an 86-yard bomb to Eli Pancol. After another 3 and out from the Hokies, Duke answered with another big play to Pancol. 77 yards after a missed tackle, and Duke was up 14-0 early in the first quarter.

The Hokies responded nicely with a big play of their own. Collin Schlee found Ali Jennings for a 65-yard touchdown connection. After trading punts, Dorian Strong came up with his sixth career pick in his Virginia Tech career.

After taking a hard hit, Schlee had to enter the medical tent. Pop Watson III took over the controls and promptly marched the Hokies down the field and Ayden Greene posted his first career rushing touchdown. On Duke’s ensuing possession, Murphy threw his second pick of the night, again to Dorian Strong. Tech left four on the field, settling with a 24-yard John Love field goal.

Maalik Murphy rediscovered his early mojo and connected on a big play with Jordan Moore for a huge 58-yard gainer. The Devils found paydirt and took the lead 21-17. Murphy found Pancol AGAIN for the score, so Pancol 21, Hokies 17.

Murphy has over 240 yards in the first half. This is fine. Tech stopped Murphy with 1:24 left in the half and looked poised to get some points before the half. They ultimately did not and the Hokies did manage to pick off Murphy for the third time of the half. The Hokies couldn’t capitalize, and we ended the half at Duke Blue Devils 21, Hokies 17.