Heartbreak as Duke Falls to Georgia Tech on Late Missed Field Goal, 28-25

In Atlanta, Duke’s unbeaten start ended with a 28-25 loss to Georgia Tech when true freshman kicker Gavin Strange, playing his first game as a Blue Devil, sent a last-second attempt wide left. The snap tipped slightly to his left, and the kick drifted off line. Duke (4-1, 1-1 ACC) was chasing its first win in Atlanta since 2018 and trying to end a five-game skid against the Yellow Jackets (2-3, 1-1 ACC). Rain, wind, defensive penalties, and missed tackles all worked against the visitors.

Head coach Manny Diaz summed up the game this way:

“That’s just a great college football game… It’s a combination of all of the above.”

He added that one team made one more play, or one fewer mistake, than the other.

Slow Start, Strong Run Game

Duke’s offense sputtered early with a three-and-out, but it found its footing on the next series. A pass interference call on a deep shot to Jonah Burton and a big run by Nate Sheppard set up a short touchdown, with Sheppard taking a direct snap into the end zone to tie the game.

Georgia Tech clearly keyed on him. Sheppard was hit hard on his first carry, spent time in the injury tent after a second-quarter tackle, and still returned to gain 27 yards that led to a 35-yard Strange field goal. The score stood at 14-10 at halftime, with Sheppard accounting for 82 of Duke’s 155 all-purpose yards.

Third-Quarter Struggles and a Comeback

Duke opened the second half with two incompletions and a punt as the rain started. Soon after, Trelain Maddox ripped off an untouched 60-yard touchdown, stretching Georgia Tech’s lead to 21-10.

The Blue Devils responded with a drive featuring completions to Jeremiah Hasley, a 14-yard run from CJ Campbell, and an 11-yard scramble from quarterback Walker Eget. Jared Richardson’s goal-line catch and a two-point conversion to Burton cut the gap to 21-18. Eget reflected on the mindset:

“This is Duke, and everyone’s going to come at us.”

A key defensive play followed, as Dylan Flowers blew up a screen pass for an open-field tackle to give the ball back.

The Fourth-Quarter Swing

Duke’s go-ahead drive began with 9:14 left. Sheppard and Eget worked methodically, and Sheppard finished it with a diving touchdown after cutting outside near the 5-yard line. That gave Duke a 25-21 lead and capped a 190-yard, two-touchdown day for Sheppard.

Georgia Tech answered immediately. Returner Jordan Allen delivered his third big kick return of the day, and quarterback Alberto Mendoza then led an eight-play, 61-yard march. A 20-yard completion to Allen and a late-hit penalty on Duke extended the drive, and Mendoza hit Allen at the 1-yard line before a quarterback sneak put the Yellow Jackets up 28-25 with 1:01 left.

The Final Drive

Eget gave Duke a chance with 54 seconds left, and Sheppard’s 42-yard reception moved the Blue Devils into the red zone. The team couldn’t reach the end zone, and with under eight seconds left, Strange came on. After the miss, Diaz still defended his young kicker:

“I thought he was extraordinary. I thought he had tremendous courage.”

Key Takeaways

• Sheppard carried the offense, but defenses are now committed to stopping him.
• Special teams and penalties hurt Duke, including Allen’s returns and the costly late hit.
• Resilience was evident, as Duke rallied from a deficit to briefly lead.
• A freshman kicker took the pressure, and his coach made clear he has full support.

What’s Next

Duke returns home for Parents’ Weekend on Oct. 17, facing 3-2 North Carolina and second-year coach Bill Belichick at 3:30 p.m. in Wallace Wade Stadium. The Tar Heels arrive after an road upset of No. 25 Pittsburgh.

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