Duke Looks To Bounce Back, Become Bowl Eligible As They Take On Pittsburgh

Duke who is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference will look to not only bounce back but also look to become eligible when they take on Pittsburgh on Saturday in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania at Heinz Field that is not only home to their collegiate team but also home to the National Football League’s Pittsburgh Steelers.

Duke comes into the game with a record of 5-2 while they’re 1-2 in the Atlantic Coast Conference and are in fifth place in the Coastal Division. Pittsburgh comes into the game with a record 3-4 while they’re 2-1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference and are in fourth in the Coastal Division. “according to http://www.espn.com/college-football/standings/_/group/1

As for Duke’s previous game, they lost to Virginia last Saturday.

Bryce Perkins rushed for two scores and threw for another as visiting Virginia defeated Duke 28-14 Saturday at Wallace Wade Stadium in Durham, N.C. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211776769&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Perkins scored the game’s first two touchdowns on the ground and his 16-yard pass to Evan Butts helped seal the victory as the Cavaliers improved to 5-2 and 3-1 in the ACC. The Blue Devils fell to 5-2 and 1-2. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211776769&DB_OEM_ID=4200

The Blue Devils trailed 14-0 at the break, but were right back in it on the first drive of the third quarter when Daniel Jones hit Chris Taylor on a slant, and the senior cruised 46 yards untouched for the touchdown. It was the first score of the season for Taylor and his third career receiving touchdown. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211776769&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Taylor finished with a career-high 97 yards on six catches, while Jones was 22-of-40 passing for 240 yards and a touchdown and two interceptions. Jones was Duke’s leading rusher with 15 carries for 64 yards. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211776769&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Brian Delany booted a pair of third-quarter field goals to allow the Cavaliers to keep the Blue Devils at arm’s reach, but Duke used some trickery to pull within six early in the fourth. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211776769&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Trailing 20-7 at the third-quarter break, the Blue Devils forced a punt and Jones did the heavy lifting on the ensuing drive to put Duke on the fringe of the red zone. Jones then handed off on an apparent end-around to T.J. Rahming, who tossed a 22-yard pass to Davis Koppenhaver to make it 20-14 with 10:46 remaining. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211776769&DB_OEM_ID=4200

The senior QB was 4-for-5 on the scoring drive for 29 yards and also ran for eight yards. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211776769&DB_OEM_ID=4200

The teams then traded punts before Virginia sealed its fourth straight win in the series with Butts’ touchdown catch. The Cavaliers capitalized on good field position following a 29-yard punt return from Tavares Kelly, and three plays later it was 28-14 with 3:58 to play. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211776769&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Kelly racked up 72 yards on a pair of punt returns. Olamide Zaccheaus had 10 catches for 66 yards to lead Virginia, while Perkins was 20-of-32 passing for 189 yards. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211776769&DB_OEM_ID=4200

As for Pittsburgh they’re coming off a bye and last played on Saturday October 13th on the road in South Bend Indiana where they lost to Notre Dame who is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference in every sport except for football.

Ian Book threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Miles Boykin with 5:43 remaining and No. 5 Notre Dame remained unbeaten, holding off Pitt 19-14 on Saturday. “according to https://pittsburghpanthers.com/news/2018/10/13/football-panthers-edged-by-no-5-notre-dame-19-14.aspx

The Fighting Irish are 7-0 for the first time since 2012, the year they went to the BCS title game.

Pitt (3-4) led 14-12 thanks to a long first-quarter touchdown drive and Maurice Ffrench's 99-yard kickoff return to start the second half.

Pat Narduzzi's Panthers were looking to upset an Associated Press top-five team for the third straight season after knocking off No. 3 Clemson in Death Valley during the 2016 season and No. 2 Miami last November in Pittsburgh. But the Irish, who were held to 80 yards rushing, prevailed behind Book, who is 4-0 as a starter since replacing Brandon Wimbush. Book threw two interceptions, and had 264 yards passing. “according to https://pittsburghpanthers.com/news/2018/10/13/football-panthers-edged-by-no-5-notre-dame-19-14.aspx

Kenny Pickett was 19 for 28 for 126 yards, and was sacked by Khalid Kareem - Notre Dame's only sack of the game - for a loss of 14 yards on Pitt's final possession to set up a fourth-and-long the Panthers could not convert. Pitt also failed on a fake punt on its second-to-last drive. “according to https://pittsburghpanthers.com/news/2018/10/13/football-panthers-edged-by-no-5-notre-dame-19-14.aspx

TAKEAWAYS

Pitt: The Panthers gained just 12 yards on their last three drives of the first half. Their first, however, was a thing of beauty: 17 plays, 88 yards, six first downs, consuming 9:43 of the clock and ending with Qadree Ollison taking a direct snap, faking an end-around handoff and running into the end zone on second-and-goal from the Irish 9. “according to https://pittsburghpanthers.com/news/2018/10/13/football-panthers-edged-by-no-5-notre-dame-19-14.aspx

Notre Dame: The Irish trailed for the first times after the first quarter (7-0), at halftime (7-6) and after three quarters (14-12), and they were their own worst enemy. Notre Dame allowed three sacks and had just 53 yards rushing in the first three quarters after averaging 195.7 per game. Dexter Williams, who averaged 169.5 yards in his first games since a four-game suspension, had one yard at halftime and 13 yards on eight rushes after three quarters. “according to https://pittsburghpanthers.com/news/2018/10/13/football-panthers-edged-by-no-5-notre-dame-19-14.aspx

Kick-Off is set for 3:30pm from Heinz Field. The game will be televised on RSN. “according to http://www.goduke.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=4200&SPID=1843&SPSID=22666