Duke at Syracuse: Gameday Open Thread

Blue Devils head north, looking for first win of season

Duke travels to Syracuse on Saturday, looking to turn around its 0-4 start to the 2020 season. Kickoff is at 12:30 ET on Regional Sports Networks.

The Blue Devils are favored in the road contest against the 1-2 Orange.

Duke’s offense has struggled early in the season, although it showed signs of clicking during the second half of last week’s loss to Virginia Tech. Duke limited turnovers to one Chase Brice interception, although the Blue Devils still need to improve on an offensive line that allowed seven sacks of Brice by the Hokies. Syracuse runs a 3-3-5 defense, which will take an adjustment by Blue Devil blockers as well as Brice. The Cuse also has 10 takeaways, which ranks second in FBS.

The Blue Devils increased the tempo on its offense, which seemed to help it emerge from the doldrums. Brice seemed comfortable and in rhythm with the up-tempo attack.

Duke’s two-headed running attack also showed signs of emerging from an early slump. Deon Jackson and Mataeo Durant will need to run the ball effectively to help keep Duke keep its time of possession high in the up-tempo, avoiding wear and tear on a defense that has shown signs of struggling with conditioning all season.

Syracuse runs a no-huddle offense which will further pressure Duke’s defense. The Blue Devils will need to limit possession time by the Orange, and the defense will need to hold up and avoid some of the big breakdowns that have resulted in explosive plays, especially late in games. Duke has also struggled with run defense. The Blue Devils will need to stop freshman running back Sean Tucker, who produced the eleventh 100-yard game by a true freshman in school history.

Syracuse wins the toss and defers. Duke gets the ball first.

We've got a change on the line. Rak Chambers will start at guard instead of Maurice McIntyre.

Dennis Smith also gets a start at receiver.

Deon Jackson gashing the Syracuse defense early with some long runs.

Brice to Calhoun from 26 yards out for the early score. First touchdown pass to a wide receiver in Brice's Duke career.

Another change to Duke's lineup. Veteran Jack Driggers handling the kickoffs instead of freshman Charlie Ham.

Nate Thompson getting a start at safety for Duke with Lummie Young IV injured.

Duke defense continues to allow big plays. 76-yard pass ties the score.

Brice throws incomplete on fourth down. Blue Devils surrender the ball at the Syracuse 31

Mataeo Durant gets loose for 48 yards to take Duke into the red zone. Next three plays get a total of one yard. Ham knocks through a field goal to put Duke back on top 10-7.

Syracuse gets a 27-yard kickoff return. Then Michael Carter gets flagged for pass interference. Orange taking advantage of Duke weaknesses to move downfield.

Duke rushing game is on point today. Deon Jackson with a 50 yard run to the Syracuse 39.

Jackson fumbles on the next snap. Syracuse ball. Duke has made it to the 31, 18 and 39 on the last three drives, have three points to show for it.

First quarter comes to an end with Duke on its sixth drive of the game. Blue Devils lead 10-7. They've dominated the game far more than the score indicates. Syracuse has one 79-yard pass. 14 yards on its other 16 snaps.

And Syracuse immediately makes Duke pay for wasting its opportunities in the first quarter. Brice hit, fumbles, Syracuse returns it 28 yards for a touchdown. Orange leads 14-10.

Duke leads time of possession 9:51 to 5:48, leads in yards 239 to 95, 10 first downs to 2. And Syracuse leads based on two plays.

Gunnar Holmberg replacing Chase Brice at quarterback. Not sure if its injury related after the sack and fumble or if Coach Cut has finally pulled the plug based on ball security. It's been better in the last two weeks, so that would seem like odd timing.

Brice not getting treatment. He has his helmet. So it doesn't appear to be a serous injury.

And Holmberg fumbles on a bad exchange with Deon Jackson. Syracuse ball.

Duke holds on fourth down to stop Syracuse in the red zone. And Brice returns at quarterback for the Blue Devils.

Syracuse drops its second interception of the game. Things could be worse for the Blue Devils.

Jackson already has 118 rushing yards. Durant has 80. Duke finding holes just about every time it runs the ball.

Charlie Ham misses a 48-yard kick but Syracuse roughed him. First down Blue Devils.

Durant takes it 15 yards for a touchdown. Duke back on top, 17-14. Blue Devils should just keep running until Syracuse does something to stop it.

Last time Duke had 200 rushing yards was last year's blowout win at Virginia Tech. Durant is five yards away from joining Jackson with 100 for the game. Last time Duke had two 100-yard rushers: The 2015 Pinstripe Bowl win over Indiana when Thomas Sirk, Jela Duncan and Shaun Wilson all did it.

And Durant hits the century mark. Both Durant and Jackson have moved the pile to fight for extra yards on this drive right before the half. Just bullying the Syracuse defensive front.

Jarrett Garner, who had a coming-out game last week, breaks a tackle to go 52 yards for a touchdown on a Chase Brice pass. Duke up 24-14 just before half.

Duke shook off some extremely shaky mistakes early to give itself some cushion at half. Blue Devils lead 24-14.

Charlie Ham hits from 45 yards to give Duke a 27-14 lead.

Duke secondary hit again. Syracuse gets a 53-yard pass to Harris for a score. It's now 27-21.

Wide receiver screen to Bobo gains 26. Duke back in the red zone. And then Chase Brice is picked off over the middle at the 13. Syracuse ball trailing by six.

Duke should have wrapped this game up long ago. Now, they're another defensive bust away from trailing.

Defense holds, though. Duke gets the ball back, up six and on the move.

Duke gets to first and goal on the one, but after three plays lose a total of two yards, Ham knocks in a short field goal to put Duke up 30-21 with seconds left in the third.

Duke sacks Tommy DeVito for the fifth time today, and he stays down this time, holding his leg. Rex Culpepper coming in.

Syracuse gets a field goal to cut Duke's lead to 30-24. Just over 10 minutes left.

Mataeo Durant with the dagger. Runs it in from three yards out for his second score of the game. Brice keeper for two, and Duke now up 38-24 with 5:26 left to play.

And Duke runs out the clock to earn its first win of the year: 38-24 over Syracuse