Duke edges Virginia Tech 45-43 in historic four overtimes
Duke prevailed in the longest game in ACC history, knocking off Virginia Tech 45-43 in four overtimes. A 25-yard touchdown pass from Thomas Sirk to Erich Schneider, followed by a run by Sirk on the mandatory 2-point conversion try, sealed the win for the No. 23 Blue Devils.
Six straight running plays made up Virginia Tech’s touchdown drive in the fourth OT, but a pass attempt by Michael Brewer fell incomplete.
The two teams traded 38- and 37-yard field goals in the first overtime. Virginia Tech tight end Bucky Hodges hauled in an 11-yard touchdown pass, in traffic and in the back of the end zone, to open up the scoring in the second overtime. Anthony Nash answered with a four-yard touchdown catch to make it a 34-34 game headed to the third overtime. Ross Martin made a 20-yard field goal in the third overtime, and Joey Slye answered with a 41-yard make of his own, setting up the first four-overtime game in ACC history.
Virginia Tech cut the deficit to 21-16 with a 20-play, 95-yard drive that took 9:46 off the clock in the third quarter – the Hokies’ longest drive under head coach Frank Beamer. The two-point conversion attempt failed, setting up a point-chasing scenario that would last until late in the fourth quarter. Martin made a 41-yard field goal to extend Duke’s lead to 24-16 with 11:48 left in the game, but the Hokies tied it up on a fourth-down play that resulted in a 23-yard catch by Bucky Hodges through Deondre Singleton’s pass interference. The Blue Devils would be flagged two more times for pass interference – Alonzo Saxton II and Breon Borders drew the penalties – on the Hokies’ first two attempts at the two-point conversion. On attempt No. 3, from the 1/2-yard line, Travon McMillian went up the middle for the score, tying the game. Ross Martin missed a 46-yard field goal attempt that could have won the game in regulation.
Turning point
Virginia Tech got three tries at the game-tying 2-point conversion attempt, thanks to pass interference calls on Alonzo Saxton II and Breon Borders on tries No. 1 and 2. From the 1/2-yard line, Hokies running back Travon McMillian ran up the middle to the end zone to tie the game at 24-24.
Three who mattered
Thomas Sirk: Career-high 109 rushing yards and four touchdown passes won it for Duke.
Travon McMillian: Career-high 146 yards rushing kept Virginia Tech’s offense moving.
Max McCaffrey: Hauled in two touchdown passes of 1 and 16 yards in the first quarter.
Two key numbers
56 Percent of third downs converted by Virginia Tech in regulation (10-of-18)
1:04 Time left in regulation when Virginia Tech managed to run just two plays and miss a 67-yard field goal
Highlight reel
Duke running back Shaun Wilson took an option pitch 58 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter, making two Virginia Tech defenders miss along the right sideline. Prior to that run, the Blue Devils’ running backs had recorded just four total rushing yards.
This story was originally published October 24, 2015 at 7:38 PM with the headline "Duke edges Virginia Tech 45-43 in historic four overtimes."