Duke vs Northwestern: Gameday Live Blog
Duke attempts to win its second straight game and move to 2-1 on the season when the Blue Devils host Northwestern at Wallace Wade.
Duke has won two straight over the Big Ten private school that is a frequent non-conference opponent. The all-time series between the two is tied 10-10.
Duke will be playing its first Power Five opponent of the year, and it’s all Power Five the rest of the way as Kansas from the Big 12 wraps up the non-conference schedule next week, then Duke heads into the ACC schedule.
The Blue Devils got well against NC A&T last week after a season-opening loss against Charlotte. David Cutcliffe emphasized that the Blue Devils need to be aggressive and lived up to his advice by going for an onside kick and passing up a short field goal to run the ball into the end zone with seconds left in the half in the half.
Northwestern is 1-1, opening with a home conference loss to Michigan State, 38-21, then beating Indiana State, 24-6. This is the Wildcats first road game of the year.
The temperature is in the 80s with high humidity, and the stadium has implemented heat advisory precautions for fans. That could make it tough on the field for the two teams.
There are no NFL scouts seated in the pressbox (they may be located elsewhere) although a pair of scouts from the Cheez-It Bowl are present.
Duke is wearing all blue—shirts, pants and helmets. Northwestern has white shirts and helmets, purple pants.
Northwestern calls tails. It's heads. Duke defers. Northwestern will get the ball first
Duke with the early heat. Forces a three & out for Northwestern with pressure on all three snaps. Then a 50-yard pass to Harding, followed by an 11-yard screen to Durant puts the Blue Devils on top 7-0, 1:43 into the game.
The touchdown was cleared with a fierce block by Graham Barton
More Durant. 20 yard rush takes Duke into scoring territory. 19 yard run puts them in the end zone. Quickly 14-0, 11:07 to go in the first.
Northwestern gets its first non-three and out of the game. Advances to inside the Duke 5. Then Lummie Young IV comes unblocked and levels the QB. Fumble, recovered by Ben Frye. Duke ball, up 14-0.
Duke rolling again, was about to get its third Durant touchdown, but he was hit at the two and fumbled into the end zone. NW ball.
Horrendous overthrow by NW quarterback Hunter Johnson, picked six for Duke by Jeremiah Lewis, but it's coming back due to a blindside block. Christian Rorie gets the penalty.
Freshman Jordan Moore comes in for a first-and-goal play from the nine, keeps it around left end for the score. 21-0 Duke, 12 seconds left in the first.
Second snap of the second quarter, Lummie Young IV makes his IInd big play on defense (Roman Numeral humor). Picks off NW QB's overthrow. Duke ball at midfield.
Jordan Moore still in at QB. Hits Cole Finney wide open over the middle for 36 yards. Duke into the red zone. Holmberg had Dalmolin just as open earlier but overthrew him. NW losing track of Duke tight ends.
Drive stalls at the five. Ham hits a 23-yarder, and it's 24-0, 12:08 in the half.
Duke ready to go for it on fourth and one with Moore at QB, but Cutcliffe thinks twice about it and calls TO. Kicks a field goal instead, 27-0.
Northwestern makes Cut pay for not being aggressive, hits a 31-yard touchdown pass (from new QB Andrew Marty) to cut the lead to 27-7. 1:25 left in the half.
Some rough clock management in the final minute, but Duke still manages a 50-yard kick, which Charlie Ham puts through, to end the half up 30-7.
Duke's first drive of second half derailed by an unsportsmanlike penalty on C Jack Wohlabaugh, Duke's second conduct-related penalty of the game.
Andrew Marty trying to make a game of this. Throws a 20-yard touchdown and it's now 30-13. 11:44 in the third.
Another Durant fumble and Northwestern gets a quick TD on the short field. Suddenly, it's 30-20.
Wheels coming off. Holmberg throws his first interception of the season. NW is in Duke territory. Still not halfway through the third.
Northwestern goes for it on fourth and eight from Duke's 41. Incomplete. Duke takes over.
Cut again plays it safe. Passes up a fourth and three from the 34 to kick. No good! NW ball.
Northwestern punts from the Duke 35 and downs it at the one. Everything coming up Wildcats right now.
Duke gets to the three as the third quarter ends. Still holding a 30-20 lead, but things are getting tight in Durham.
Northwestern calls time on fourth and four with 4:40 left. Coming back, Duke goes for it and gets the first. Gutty call by Cutcliffe that pays off. Assuming this review doesn't reverse it...
And it does reverse it. Northwestern ball. Coming down to the wire in this one...
Boom. Josh Blackwell interception on NW's first snap, returns it to the four. But then that gets wiped out due to pass interference. Still NW ball. Duke now with 10 penalties for 104 yards, most of them crippling ones.
Good time to point out this is a Big Ten officiating crew.
Northwestern takes the field goal first, kicking with 2:48 left. 30-23 Duke.
No on-side attempt. NW kicks it through end zone. Interesting call.
Duke gains four yards on two rushes, using up the last two NW times out. Third and six, 2:40 left.
Cut with another gamble. 16-yarder to Pancol to get the first and seal the game. Duke kneeling for a 30-23 win.
