Thomas has 459 yards, 4 TDs as Georgia Tech edges Duke 38-35
ATLANTA (AP) — Justin Thomas weaved through the Duke defense on a 50-yard run, finally clinching a Georgia Tech win with less than 2 minutes remaining.
After ending the crucial run with a slide, Thomas rose to walk back to his teammates with the added swagger that showed he knew this had been a special day.
Thomas ran and threw for a combined 459 yards with four touchdowns and Georgia Tech recovered after blowing a three-touchdown lead to beat Duke 38-35 on Saturday.
"I'm out there trying to have fun, just enjoying the moment, embracing it," Thomas said.
Thomas ran for a career-high 195 yards with two touchdowns and threw for 264 yards and two touchdowns. He became the first Georgia Tech player with 400 yards of total offense since George Godsey's school-record 477 yards against Virginia in 2001.
"Hats off to Justin Thomas," said Duke linebacker Ben Humphreys. "It's probably the best game he's had in his career. Watching on film, he's a different player in person."
Duke coach David Cutcliffe said he told Thomas after the game "'Young man, you played like a senior.'"
Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson said Duke's defense forced Thomas to keep the ball on option plays.
"I thought he played very well today," Johnson said. "He made plays."
Said Thomas: "It's just me trying to be aggressive."
Georgia Tech ( 5- 3, 2- 3 Atlantic Coast Conference) snapped a streak of two straight losses to Duke (3-5, 0-4).
Duke running back Jela Duncan, who ran for two touchdowns, suffered a lower leg injury that Cutcliffe said "appears to be season-ending."
Cutcliffe called the injury news "really just gut-wrenching."
After trailing 28- 7 at halftime, Duke took advantage of two Georgia Tech turnovers and a fourth-down stop to score 28 of the next 31 points for a 35-31 lead midway through the fourth quarter. Daniel Jones' 7-yard touchdown pass to tight end Daniel Helm gave the Blue Devils the lead. It was Helm's second touchdown catch.
Thomas and the Yellow Jackets had a quick answer. Thomas was chased out of the Georgia Tech end zone for a 46-yard run before completing a 21-yard touchdown pass to Clinton Lynch.