The Duke Blue Devils picked up points on their first three possessions Saturday against Virginia Tech, taking a 20-7 lead after one quarter at Lane Stadium.
Leading 13-0 with just over three minutes remaining, the Duke defense decided to get in on the act, taking a pick-six back to make it 20-0. It was a bit of a fluke play, as Logan Thomas whipped a swing pass out to the right to Tony Gregory. The back bobbled the ball as he turned up field, however, and Duke's Jordan Byas was right there to take the bobbled ball in for a 19-yard score. The turnover further deflated a Lane Stadium crowd that witnessed the Hokies fall into a quick 13-0 hole.
It didn't take long for the Blue Devils to strike, with Sean Renfree connecting on a 62-yard touchdown pass to Jamison Crowder. It was just the fifth play of the game, as Hokie defensive back Kyle Fuller fell down and allowed Crowder to get behind him for the quick strike score.
The Blue Devils added three more points on their second possession, marching 43 yards in just over three minutes. The drive was aided by back-to-back pass interference and roughing the passer penalties on Bud Foster's defense. A career-long for freshman kicker Ross Martin, who snuck it just inside the left upright, made it 10-0 at the mid-point of the quarter.
The Devils continued to add to the their lead on their third possession of the game. This time, it was Anthony Boone under center, and he quickly hit a 39 yarder down the left sideline to Conner Vernon. The big gain set up the second Martin field goal of the game.
The quarter was redeemed slightly in the final minute, with the Hokies finally getting on the board to cut the lead. Thomas hit massive wideout Marcus Davis on a high floater to pick up 40 yards and move VT inside the five. Martin Scales punched it in off left tackle on the very next play to make it 20-7.
Now, the defense just needs to figure out how to keep Duke off the board, something they failed to do on the Devils first three possessions.