Duke: 10
Georgia Tech: 7

After rebounding from their first loss of the season with a 21-13 victory at Tulane, Georgia Tech would return home to face a Duke team that had managed just two wins in six attempts on the year. The Jackets won the previous four meetings and six of the last seven between the two schools with Duke’s last victory coming in a 21-20 decision in Durham in 1954.

After punting on the game’s opening possession, the Jackets caught a break when Maxie Baughan recovered Mike McGee’s fumble to halt a promising Duke drive at the Ramblin’ Wreck 39 yard line. But Tech quickly punted back and fell behind when Joel Arrington returned the boot 82 yards down the left sideline for a 7-0 lead with just 2:37 left in the opening quarter.

The lone notable action for the remainder of the half occurred with about 10 minutes left in the second quarter. Duke had advanced to Tech’s 21 on another promising drive, but turned the ball over on downs to put an end to the drive. The remainder of the quarter passed scoreless and the Blue Devil lead stood at seven at intermission.

After the break, Duke began from its own 28 following the kickoff. On the first play from scrimmage, Baughan hit Withrow in the backfield to force a fumble and John Reed recovered for Tech at the Blue Devil 25 yard line. Floyd Faucette then raced 25 yards to the end zone on Tech’s first play of the half to knot the contest at 7-all.

The Jackets threatened again late in the third, driving all the way to Duke’s 11 yard line. Tech would come away empty however, when Fred Braselton’s pass to the end zone was picked off at the goal line and returned to the Duke 41 by Jack Wilson.

As play carried into the fourth quarter, Duke gained excellent field position when Arrington returned a punt to the Yellow Jacket 46 yard line. Jacob Harris found Wilson for 17 yards to the Tech 29 on first down and three consecutive runs pushed the drive to the Ramblin’ Wreck 17. Arthur Browning would eventually enter to hit a 28 yard field goal for a 10-7 lead in what proved to be the final points of the afternoon.

The remainder of the contest saw no further scoring threats and the Jackets would fall by a three point margin in a stunning upset. Duke would win just one more game on the year to finish the season at 4-6.

Statistics:

First downs:
DUKE – 12
GT – 9

Rushing yards:
DUKE – 214
GT – 54

Passing (Comp-Att-Yds):
DUKE – 2-5-35
GT – 5-16-61

Interceptions thrown:
DUKE – 0
GT – 1

Fumbles lost:
DUKE – 2
GT – 0

Penalty yards:
DUKE – 15
GT – 50

References:
Outlar, Jesse. “Duke Plays Devil At Jacket Party.” The Atlanta Journal Constitution. 1959 Nov. 1

Ticket courtesy of Tom Brakefield, Birmingham, Alabama