North Carolina at Duke: Gameday Open Thread

Observations and analysis from the Battle of the Blues

It’s rivalry week. Duke and North Carolina clash in the annual “battle of the blues” at Wallace Wade Stadium.

The teams will battle for the Victory Bell, which the Tar Heels took from the Blue Devils last season, sparking a postgame skirmish between the two teams when UNC players rushed the Duke sideline after the victory.

UNC is heavily favored in this year’s game, but the two rivals are headed on opposite trajectories. The Tar Heels opened the season 3-0 and were ranked as high as No. 5 in the country. They’ve lost two of three, however, falling behind at Florida State and Virginia, only to have late rallies fall just short in both games.

Duke lost its first four games but has won two of the last three.

The Blue Devils have been at their best when they’re able to run the ball. Deon Jackson and Mataeo Durant have both rushed for 100 yards in each of Duke’s wins. UNC has struggled with run defense at times and will need to keep Jackson and Durant in check. The Duke offense has struggled with turnovers and will need to keep control of the ball to have a shot against a UNC team that promises to put up plenty of points.

UNC has perhaps the best quarterback in school history in Sam Howell. He has plenty of weapons, including a deep stable of wide receivers led by Dyami Brown, who had 240 yards against Virginia last week. Carolina also has two outstanding backs in Michael Carter and Javonte Williams. Duke’s defense has struggled with giving up explosive plays late in games, when fatigue becomes an issue. The Blue Devils will need to avoid that against a UNC offense that has shown its never out of a game.

Duke has two of the best pass rushers in the league in Chris Rumph and Victor Dimukeje. Howell was sacked five times in last week’s game against Virginia, and the Heels will need to give him time against the Duke rush. 

 UNC will be without several injured players, including DBs Storm Duck and Kyler McMichael and WR Beau Corrales. Game time decisions include OL Jordan Tucker and DB Don Chapman  

Fashion report: Duke wearing black pants, helmets, blue jerseys. UNC has white jerseys and helmets, blue pants.

Duke defers. UNC gets the ball first. Here we go

 Duke kicks it out of bounds and commits a personal foul, giving UNC the ball at the 50 to start.  

UNC goes for it on fourth and goal from the two and Howell hits a wide open Javonte Williams for the score. Very easy opening drive for UNC. Not a good sign for Duke

 Chase Brice pressured on first snap and overthrows. Sacked on next snap. UNC bringing the heat early 

 After Duke's three-and-out, Howell hits Emery Simmons for 51 yards, then carries it in three yards. 14-0 UNC. Duke on the verge of an early TKO  

 Quarterback naked bootleg play worked well for Duke against NC State, but UNC had it scouted. Defender met Brice in the backfield for a 5-yard loss. UNC ball again, up 14-0 and marching  

 Javonte Williams up the middle converts another fourth down for UNC. The drive continues. Next play, Carter runs 27. It's first and goal. Again.

And Williams takes it in. He's now the leading TD scorer in college football

 UNC has run seven plays inside the Duke 10. Duke has run nine plays total  

 And Chase Brice throws an interception. Hollins picks it off and takes it to the Duke 21. Carolina pouring it on.  

 Michael Carter steamrolls his namesake, Michael Carter II to score on a Howell pass. 27-0 Heels pending the PAT  

Mack Brown was all "not our rival" this week, lumping Duke in with State and Wake as important in-state games. Blue Devils are doing nothing to show that viewpoint is incorrect.

Duke needed to be disciplined, needed to be physical, needed to avoid interceptions. None of that has come close to happening.

 Brice sacked on back-to-back plays but UNC's second hands-to-the face personal foul gives the drive new life  

 Duke gets on the board, scoring on a reverse by Eli Pancol to cut the score to 28-7  

 UNC goes for it on fourth down again. Williams goes 32 for his third score of the day. 35-7 Tar Heels.  

 Duke uses a time out, then goes for it on fourth and 11. Brice is hit as he throws. Incomplete.  

 More undisciplined play for Duke. Waters gets flagged for targeting on a 17-yard pass by UNC. Although it gets overturned on replay, so Waters remains in.  

Carolina converts its fourth fourth down play of the game. Heels don't seem concerned that Duke's defense can stop them.

 Javonte Williams goes 33 yards for touchdown number four on the day. He also bulled through several Duke defenders. 42-7. Still first half  

Last Tar Heel to go Gettysburg (four scores) Hakeem Nicks, 2008.

Williams has cracked UNC's top 20 career scorers with 168 points, passing Ethan Horton and TJ Logan. 

 With one second left in the half, Duke kicks a field goal to cut the deficit to 42-10  

Williams also tied the school record with four touchdowns in a half, matching Kelvin Bryant vs. ECU in 1981. 

 First play of second half, Deon Jackson fumbles. UNC ball. Jackson appears to have hurt his arm  

 Howell to Newsome. Touchdown. 49-10 UNC.  

Duke responds with a 46-yard run by Mataeo Durant. 49-17 Heels.

 Michael Carter scores. It's now 56-17. This is the fourth most points UNC has scored against Duke in the history of the series.  

 That'll do it. UNC keeps the bell with a 56-24 win over Duke.