Georgia Tech scrapes past Duke 28-25
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BOBBY DODD STADIUM – For the first time since the Boston College game on November 15, 2025, Georgia Tech defeats a Power 4 opponent, taking down Duke 28-25 on a wet and rainy day in Atlanta, Georgia. Tech moves to 2-3 on the season and 1-1 in ACC play.
After Duke took their first lead of the game with 2:40 left in the 4th quarter, Tech quickly marched down the field with two big catches by Jordan Allen and another by Dalen Penson, setting up Tech at the 1 yard line where running back Trelain Maddox punched it in for his third touchdown of the game to put Tech up 28-25 with one minute left.
Duke nearly forced overtime after back to back plays from running back Nate Sheppard had Duke down at Tech’s 23 yard line. A 34 yard field goal attempt by freshman Gavin Strange went wide left, sealing the game for the Jackets.
In a key change coming into the game, offensive coordinator George Godsey called the game from the coaches box, which had not happened in Tech’s first four games.
Tech quarterback Alberto Mendoza was outgained by Duke quarterback Walker Eget, 259 yards to 218. Both threw for a touchdown. Nate Sheppard finished with 190 all purpose yards, finishing 1 yard shy of 100 rushing yards.
Tech is on the road next week against Virginia Tech.
1st Quarter
Tech did just what they needed coming off a 2 week break, starting with a 12 play, 78 yard drive that culminated in a five yard wide open receiving touchdown for Jordan Allen. Tech implemented two direct snaps to running backs, one to Tre Maddox on a 4th & 1, and another to Justice Haynes for a big gain that put Tech in the red zone. On 3rd & 10 after Haynes’ run, Tech was bailed out by a defensive pass interference call to give them first and goal from the 5, from where Allen got his touchdown one play later for a 7-0 lead.
Aside from one third down onversion, Duke’s’ first drive was hampered by penalties that set them back, ending up in a punt.
Tech’s next drive similarly was derailed by a holding penalty. Tech did have shots to gain five yards for a first down, but Mendoza threw two incompletions on 3rd & 4th downs to hand Duke the ball back on their own 36 yard line.
2nd Quarter
Duke got the board on their next drive following an initial third down conversin by Jeremiah Hasley on the left sideline before a defensive pass interference on Jaylen Mbakwe and long run by Nate Sheppard put the Blue Devils in the red zone. Sheppard tied it on a 5 yard direct snap run.
After punts both ways, Tech looked trapped on 3rd and long inside our own 10 yard line, but got new life on a roughing the passer penalty, followed on the next play by a first down catch to Jordan Allen plus a late hit penalty, giving Tech 30 free penalty yards in two plays. Tech rode that momentum with first downs by Debron Gatling and Gavin Harris before Trelain Maddox scored from five yards out to make it 14-7 GT.
Duke countered immediately with an explosive run by Nate Sheppard and reached field goal range on a defensive facemask penalty, setting up a 35 yard field goal to make it 14-10 GT.
Tech punted again on their next drive, giving Duke a double possession opportunity with two minutes left as they deferred the coin toss. Duke seemed to not be interested in moving the ball, calling two straight run plays without burning a timeout. But after three downfield passes to get to midfield, Duke set themselves up for a hail mary attempt which resulted in an underneath throw to Jayden Moore going for 42 yards.
3rd Quarter
Duke was held easily coming out of the half, converting only one first down. Tech came roaring with 78 yards of chunk rushing between Justice Haynes and Trelain Maddox, the latter scoring on a 60 yard run to put Tech up 21-10 for their highest lead of the season against a P4 opponent.
The Blue Devils found their footing on their next drive as the rain started to fall harder in Bobby Dodd, starting with a long run + late hit penalty on Tech to put Duke at midfield. Tech forced a 4th & 4 on the next set of downs, but allowed a pass up the middle to tight end Jeremiah Hasley. Duke then converted first downs on their next two third downs, one by Sheppard and another by quarterback Walker Eget on a play that he should’ve been sacked at least twice, setting up 1st & goal. Again, Duke had 3rd down, and again converted on an eight yard TD pass to Jared Richardson. Jonah Burton caught an easy two point conversion to make it 21-18 with 3:18 left in the third quarter.
4th Quarter
After punts by both squad, Duke got a scoring drive together where once again they converted on critical third downs early in the drive. A Jonah Burton catch brought them to goal to go from the 10 yard line before Nate Sheppard gave Duke a 25-21 lead with a 5 yard touchdown run with 2:40 left.
For the first time all season, Tech came extremely clutch. Jordan Allen got things going with a catch to Duke’s 40 yard line. Dalen Penson’s lone reception of the game put Tech in the red zone before Allen caught his final ball of the game to put Tech down at the one yard line. Tre Maddox punched it in to make it 28-25 Jackets with :54 left.
Duke put a scare into Tech, getting a 42 yard catch and run from Sheppard that put Duke in field goal range. Good defense stopped an endzone shot, plus Duke lost valuable seconds waiting to spike the ball on 2nd down. A 34 yard field goal on 4th & 3 was hooked wide left, securing Tech’s victory.
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