The Duke Blue Devils lead Virginia Tech, 20-17, after one half in Blacksburg. The Devils jumped out to a quick 20-0 lead in the first quarter, but the Hokie defense joined the game in the second quarter to keep it at 20.
The half was largely dominated by Duke, but a dramatic turn in the final minute put the Hokies right in it as the teams went to the locker room. Duke was driving into VT territory for what looked like a field goal attempt in the final minute. But a Sean Renfree pass went off the hands of Conner Vernon, and Detrick Bonner was there to pick it off and take it the other way into Duke territory. One play later, quarterback Logan Thomas hit Marcus Davis over the top down the right sideline for a 42-yard touchdown that cut the Duke lead to three.
Prior to the last-minute touchdown, the Hokies added a second-quarter field goal with just over two minutes remaining in the half, which cut the lead to 10. Thomas moved the offense to the doorstep of the red zone, but the drive stalled out there and Cody Journell came on to hit a 37-yard field goal. Thomas did most of the work on the ground during the possession.
The biggest second quarter development for Duke was an injury to quarterback Sean Renfree. Virginia Tech middle linebacker Bruce Taylor leveled Renfree when the quarterback went to slide for a first down early in the quarter. Renfree was down on the field for an extended period of time before walking off under his own power. Mike Hogewood of the ACC Network spoke to the Duke training staff, and they said Renfree sustained a shoulder injury. When asked if he would return, the response was "probably not." But Renfree did return for Duke's final series before the half, moving the Devils before the Bonner interception.
With all the momentum on their side, the Hokies will receive the second half kickoff, looking to take their first lead of the game.