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Ball, Choice lead Georgia Tech past Duke

Nov 18, 2006 - 9:46 PM ATLANTA (Ticker) -- Reggie Ball had a ball on Senior Day.Ball threw for three first-half touchdowns as No. 18 Georgia Tech cruised to a 49-21 victory over winless Duke in an Atlantic Coast Conference matchup.

Already having secured a spot in the conference title game on December 2, the Yellow Jackets (9-2, 7-1 Coastal) got to use this contest and next week's game at Georgia to fine-tune things.

Ball, playing his final home game, showed he was plenty sharp as he threw touchdown passes of 10 and 20 yards to Calvin Johnson around a 37-yard connection to James Johnson during a 21-point second quarter, which gave the Yellow Jackets a 28-7 lead.

With the game in hand, Yellow Jackets coach Chan Gailey elected to give Ball most of second half off. Ball completed 7-of-13 passes for 122 yards and an interception.

"I thought he felt good out there today," Gailey said. "He took a shot on the sideline and got back up with no ill effects."

Tashard Choice carried things on the ground for the Yellow Jackets, rushing for 118 yards and a touchdown. The junior surpassed 1,000 yards on the season in the first half.

Calvin Johnson had five receptions for 78 yards.

"They protected Reggie," Duke coach Ted Roof said. "He threw some balls that only one person could catch. Calvin certainly made a couple of great plays. He just went up and got them."

Thaddeus Lewis passed for two touchdowns for Duke (0-11, 0-7 Coastal), which saw its national-worst losing streak reach 19 games. The Blue Devils close the regular season next weekend at home against North Carolina.

"We're disappointed right now," Roof said. "We've got one opportunity left and have to devote everything to get ready to play UNC. This is it. There's no more after this."