DURHAM, N.C. — Wide receiver Stephen Hill was sidelined for the second half after suffering a back injury. Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson said he expects Hill, as well as A-back Orwin Smith, who sat out the game with an undisclosed injury, to be available for the Georgia game Saturday.
With Hill out, receivers Jeff Greene and Daniel McKayhan received more playing time. Quarterback Tevin Washington looped a 56-yard pass to Hill in the second quarter, their longest pass play in the past seven games.
Tyler Melton had a career-high three catches for 54 yards, including a diving 17-yard first-down catch on a third-and-13 late in the game.
At A-back, Johnson primarily played Roddy Jones and Embry Peeples, sprinkling in snaps for Tony Zenon and Robert Godhigh. Zenon had three carries for 20 yards, his first carries in five games.
Without Smith, “It was different, because you normally have that power at that position that we usually get from ‘Big O,’” Peeples said. “We still just have to come out and play the same like he was there.”
Playing time for Perkins
After earning playing time through good work in practice, B-back Charles Perkins earned Johnson’s approval with the exception of one late mistake. With Preston Lyons sitting out the game to rest bumps and bruises, Perkins had a career-high 12 carries for 45 yards, including four first-down producing runs. He also caught a 29-yard pass on a wheel route out of the backfield.
“I thought he did some nice things,” Johnson said.
Perkins also fumbled a handoff when a lineman was backed into him late in the game. It gave Duke the ball and a chance to tie the game.
Johnson said he apologized after the game to backup quarterback Synjyn Days, whom he had told before the game that he would play. Like Perkins, Days has worked hard in practice, but hasn’t seen the field in recent weeks.
“I told him I was going to put him in the game, but there was no way to put him in the game,” Johnson said.
Offense performs
Tech finished with 364 rushing yards and 549 yards of offense. It was Tech’s most since the 768-yard output against Kansas in the third game of the season. Duke had allowed an average of 404.8 yards of offense entering the game. The Blue Devils often played with nine men close to the line of scrimmage.
“They did some things in run support that we should have been able to take even more advantage of,” Johnson said. “I’m anxious to see on the tape a couple other times that I felt like we had opportunities that we didn’t hit.”
On special teams
Kicker Justin Moore made his fourth consecutive field goal, hitting from 25 yards in the third quarter. Punter Sean Poole netted 40.5 yards on two kicks, helped by a good tackle by Quayshawn Nealy on his first effort.
Four of Tech’s six kickoff returns didn’t reach the 30-yard line, and the two that did were aided by short kickoffs. With David Scully kicking off, Tech held the Blue Devils inside their 30 four of six times, including his fourth touchback of the season.
Jemea Thomas ran back his only punt return of the day 14 yards, helping Tech score its second touchdown.
Etc.
Jones started his 50th career game, tying him for the school record with former linebacker Ricardo Wimbush. Barring injury, Jones will break the record next Saturday against Georgia. ... Scouts from the Chick-fil-A and Champs Sports bowls, who have the first two picks of ACC teams after the BCS bowls, attended the game. Clemson’s loss to N.C. State on Saturday may slightly improve Tech’s bowl hopes, but the Jackets almost certainly will have to beat Georgia to get into either the Chick-fil-A or Champs Sports.
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