Duke Looking To Avoid Their Fourth Straight Loss As They Host Pittsburgh

This weekend Duke hopes they can turn things around when they host Pittsburgh after suffering a tough loss to Florida State a week ago at Brooks Field @ Wallace Wade.

Now in its 105th season of football, Duke hosts Pitt at 12:20 p.m., on Saturday, October 21 ... The game will be broadcast live by the ACC Network with Tom Werme (play-by-play), Dave Archer (analyst) & DJ Shockley (sideline)
• Duke is 4-3 overall and 1-3 in the ACC following last week’s 17-10 loss to Florida State ... Coming off a 35-17 defeat to N.C. State, Pitt is 2-5 overall and 0-3 in league play
• Duke owns an all-time record of 500-514-31 in 104-plus seasons
• Saturday’s game will mark the 22nd on the gridiron between the two schools with Pitt leading the series, 12-9 ... The series began in 1929 with a 52-7 Pitt victory in the first game played in Duke Stadium (now Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium) ... In Durham, the Panthers have won seven of 11 meetings ... A season ago, Pitt posted a 56-14 victory at Heinz Field
• Duke will celebrate Family Weekend and Iron Dukes Day against the Panthers while Bioventus serves as the official game sponsor
• Dating back to the 2013 season, the Blue Devils are 32-19 (.628) in their last 51 regular season games "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211673383
• Duke leads the ACC and ranks tied for second in interceptions with 12, trailing only South Florida (15) ... CB Mark Gilbert leads the Blue Devils with four interceptions and his 0.57 interceptions per game average ranks second in the ACC and tied for ninth nationally
• CB Mark Gilbertand S Jeremy McDuffielead the ACC in passes defended per game (1.71)
• Now in his 10th season as Duke’s head coach, David Cutcliffeis 56-64 with the Blue Devils and 100-92 overall ... Cutcliffe earned ACC Coach of the Year honors in both 2012 & 2013
• During this week’s Duke-Pitt game, former Blue Devil head coach Steve Spurrier will be honored on the field in recognition of his upcoming enshrinement as a coach into the College Football Hall of Fame ... Spurrier served as the head coach of the Blue Devils from 1987-89 and compiled an overall ledger of 20-13-1 ... The ACC Coach of the Year selection in both 1988 and 1989, he guided Duke to the ACC Championship and an All American Bowl appearance in 1989
• The Blue Devils have established a school single-season record with four interception returns for touchdowns in 2017 ... The previous standard of three was set in 1942, 1945 and 1949
• Led by DT Mike Ramsay(4.5 sacks), Duke ranks third in the ACC in sacks per game (3.17), behind only Clemson (3.86) and Miami (3.40)
5 — Total Blue Devils with at least 5.0 stops for lost yardage on the season: Joe Giles Harris (10.5), Tre Hornbuckle(8.5), Mike Ramsay (8.0), Ben Humphreys(7.0) & Victor Dimukeje(5.5)
4 — Duke all-time record of career interception returns for TDs for CB Bryan Fields Junior... The scores came against Tulane (2014), Pittsburgh (2016), N.C. Central (2017) & North Carolina (2017) "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211673383
4 — Seasons with 3+ rushing TDs for RB Shaun Wilson , matching the school record previously set by Tom Davis (1941-42-43-44), George Clark (1944-45-46-47) andJela Duncan (2012-13-15-16)
50-5 — Duke’s record under David Cutcliffe when leading or tied after three quarters of action
470 — Rushing yards this season for RB Brittain Brown to sit 16 yards shy of cracking the school’s top 10 chart for ground yardage by a freshman
149 — Career receptions for WR T.J. Rahmingto rank ninth on the school’s all-time list
4,093 — Career all-purpose yards for RBShaun Wilson, who last week became the eighth player in Duke history to reach the 4,000-yard plateau
6 — Duke record scoring runs of 50+ yards for RB Shaun Wilson... The previous school standard of four was held by George Clark (1944-47) and Jay Wilkinson (1961-63)
13 — Fourth quarter & OT wins for the Blue Devils over the past five seasons (games in which Duke was tied or trailing in the fourth period)
14.35 — Recorded time for S Jeremy McDuffiein the 110-meter hurdles to earn all-league honors at the 2017 ACC Track & Field Championship meet ... McDuffie also garnered All-ACC accolades in the triple jump
10 — Field goals for K Austin Parkerthrough seven games in 2017 ... A season ago, Duke made just three field goals in 12 games
20 & 10 — Daniel Jones is one of three QBs in Duke history to post 20+ passing TDs and 10+ rushing TDs in a career, joining Leo Hart (23 & 13; 1968-70) and Anthony Boone (38 & 16; 2011-14) ... In 19 career games, Jones has 22 passing TDs and 10 rushing TDs
2 — Players in Duke history — Brandon Connette & Daniel Jones — to record 300+ passing yards and 100+ rushing yards in a single game. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211673383

As for Duke's last game, they lost their third straight to Florida State,

Being able to stay in a game up against Jimbo Fisher and Florida State is a high task but David Cutcliffe's team was up for the challenge but they just didn't pass the test as they lost their third straight.

 Florida State tailback Cam Akers raced 42 yards down the field into the end zone with 8:23 remaining in the fourth quarter and the Seminoles held off the Blue Devils on a final drive to earn a 17-10 victory over Duke at Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium Saturday afternoon. The Blue Devils tied the game late in the third quarter, but couldn’t find points in the final 15 minutes. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211673006&DB_OEM_ID=4200

The Blue Devils, trailing 17-10 with 1:32 left, drove down to the Florida State 30-yard line, but came up just short in the waning seconds. Jones threw for 61 yards on five completions to keep the comeback effort alive for Duke and finished the day 22-of-35 for 204 yards. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211673006&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Akers finished the game with a game-high 115 yards of rushing to lead a Florida State offense that amassed 425 yards of offense. The 17 points scored by the Seminoles are the second fewest scored in a game by Florida State this season. Senior Alonzo Saxton II was outstanding defensively, making 15 tackles, including six solo stops, while Jordan Hayes had a career-high 10 tackles.

Shaun Wilson paced the Duke rushing attack with 66 yards on 13 carries. Brittain Brown added 43 yards and a touchdown on six touches. Junior T.J. Rahming had eight catches for 111 yards, his sixth game with over 100 yards receiving. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211673006&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Florida State controlled play in the first quarter, outgaining Duke 154-17 in total yards, but only had seven points to show for it as Duke’s defense shut down the Seminoles on their second drive thanks to a Mark Gilbert interception after the Blue Devils forced Florida State into a 3rd-and-20 situation.  The interception was Gilbert’s fourth of the year. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211673006&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Duke’s offense found its rhythm on its second possession of the afternoon, leaning on Shaun Wilson’s ground success to cut the Seminole lead to 7-3 with a 37-yard field goal from Austin Parker. Wilson accounted for 44 of the 66 yards on the drive. Jones added three completions for 22 yards before the drive stalled on the Florida State 19-yard line. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211673006&DB_OEM_ID=4200

The Blue Devils and Seminoles traded possessions to end the second quarter with Duke forcing and 3-and-out and Florida State pulling in an interception on a pass from Wilson after Duke crossed into Seminole territory for the second time of the day. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211673006&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Duke turned the tables on Florida State in the second quarter. The Blue Devils defense held the Seminoles to only 58 yards of offense, while amassing 108 of its own on the other side of the ball. The first quarter yardage totals were 154-17 in favor of Florida State. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211673006&DB_OEM_ID=4200

The third quarter was an even affair, but the play of the period came courtesy of Jones’ arm. The second-year quarterback hit Rhaming in stride for a 57-yard completion to set up the tying touchdown for the Blue Devils. The reception was the longest of Rhaming’s career and the second longest completion of Jones’. Brown finished the drive with a four-yard reception and a nine-yard dash up the middle to the end zone for six points. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211673006&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Prior to Duke’s tying touchdown, the Blue Devils held Florida State to a field goal. The Duke defense continued to come up with big plays as Jeremy McDuffie picked off Blackman for the second Seminoles turnover of the day. It was McDuffie’s second interception in as many games and sent the Blue Devils and Florida State tied heading into the decisive and thrilling fourth quarter. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211673006&DB_OEM_ID=4200

With the loss Duke drops to 4-3 on the season while they're 1-3 in the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference while Florida State improves to 2-3 while they're 2-2 in the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

As for Pittsburgh's last game, they lost to NC State.

Nyheim Hines ran for an 83-yard touchdown and returned a punt 92 yards for another score on his way to 249 total yards to help No. 20 North Carolina State win its sixth straight game with a 35-17 victory over Pittsburgh on Saturday. "according to http://www.pittsburghpanthers.com/news/2017/10/14/football-no-20-nc-state-pulls-away-at-pitt-35-17.aspx?path=football

Jaylen Samuels added a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown runs for the Wolfpack (6-1, 4-0 Atlantic Coast Conference), who matched their best ACC start since 2002 by relying on Hines early and Samuels late. "according to http://www.pittsburghpanthers.com/news/2017/10/14/football-no-20-nc-state-pulls-away-at-pitt-35-17.aspx?path=football

Ryan Finley completed 14 of 25 passes for 198 yards and a 3-yard touchdown pass to Jakobi Meyers late in the third quarter to put N.C. State ahead to stay. Finley extended his streak of consecutive passes without an interception to 313, the second-longest in ACC history. "according to http://www.pittsburghpanthers.com/news/2017/10/14/football-no-20-nc-state-pulls-away-at-pitt-35-17.aspx?path=football

Ben Dinucci threw for 170 yards and a touchdown for Pitt (2-5, 0-3) before being replaced in the third quarter by freshman KennyPickett completed 5 of 13 for 61 yards and ran for 18 yards in the first extended action of his career before DiNucci returned in the final minutes. "according to http://www.pittsburghpanthers.com/news/2017/10/14/football-no-20-nc-state-pulls-away-at-pitt-35-17.aspx?path=football

It wasn't enough for the Panthers. "according to http://www.pittsburghpanthers.com/news/2017/10/14/football-no-20-nc-state-pulls-away-at-pitt-35-17.aspx?path=football

Pitt is trying to follow the blueprint laid out by the Wolfpack, who are making serious inroads in the ACC Atlantic Division in coach Dave Doeren's fifth season. N.C State has relied heavily on its defensive front seven and smart decision making by Finley to their highest spot in the polls in 14 years. "according to http://www.pittsburghpanthers.com/news/2017/10/14/football-no-20-nc-state-pulls-away-at-pitt-35-17.aspx?path=football

The Panthers took an early lead on a 33-yard strike from DiNucci to Jester Weahputting the Wolfpack behind for the first time since Furman scored the opening field goal a month ago. "according to http://www.pittsburghpanthers.com/news/2017/10/14/football-no-20-nc-state-pulls-away-at-pitt-35-17.aspx?path=football

The deficit lasted all of two plays. Hines stepped through a tackle at the line of scrimmage and raced to the end zone to tie it. Following a three-and-out by Pitt, Hines fielded Ryan Winslow's punt and raced untouched to the end zone, the longest punt return for a score for N.C. State since 1926."according to http://www.pittsburghpanthers.com/news/2017/10/14/football-no-20-nc-state-pulls-away-at-pitt-35-17.aspx?path=football

Pitt tied it on a 1-yard touchdown by Darrin Hallwith 2:38 left in the half but the Wolfpack erased any chance of an upset by controlling the final two quarters. "according to http://www.pittsburghpanthers.com/news/2017/10/14/football-no-20-nc-state-pulls-away-at-pitt-35-17.aspx?path=football

When Samuels broke free for a 40-yard run with 2:01 left, N.C. State was up 18 and firmly in control of its destiny in the Atlantic. "according to http://www.pittsburghpanthers.com/news/2017/10/14/football-no-20-nc-state-pulls-away-at-pitt-35-17.aspx?path=football

THE TAKEAWAY
N.C. State: The Wolfpack are mentally tough. Given a chance to move into sole possession of first in the Atlantic after defending national champion Clemson lost in Syracuse on Friday, N.C. State was outplayed for a large part of the first half but got it going in the second to win going away. If Hines can become consistent, he can take some of the pressure off the ''do everything'' Samuels. "according to http://www.pittsburghpanthers.com/news/2017/10/14/football-no-20-nc-state-pulls-away-at-pitt-35-17.aspx?path=football

Pitt: The Panthers don't have a quarterback or a running game. Pitt has played two quarterbacks in each of its seven games and its leading rushers on Saturday were Pickett and safety Jordan Whitehead."according to http://www.pittsburghpanthers.com/news/2017/10/14/football-no-20-nc-state-pulls-away-at-pitt-35-17.aspx?path=football

Kick-off is set for 12:20pm. The game will be televised on the ACC Network. "according to http://www.goduke.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=4200&SPID=1843&SPSID=22666