Duke Comes Back But Falls To Pittsburgh In Home Atlantic Coast Conference Opener

The good news is Duke was able to come back from a twenty three point deficit the bad news is it wasn’t enough against Pittsburgh as they dropped a 33-30 decision.

After getting out to a slow start offensively, the Blue Devils found their footing after halftime, responding with 183 yards and four touchdowns over the final two periods. Pitt put together a final scoring drive to hand Duke its second loss of the season. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/10/6/football-duke-comeback-stymied-in-33-30-loss-to-pitt.aspx

Redshirt senior quarterback Quentin Harris accounted for two touchdowns on the ground and one through the air while junior running back Deon Jackson had two scores – one rushing and one receiving – and wrapped up the evening with 60 yards on 19 carries. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/10/6/football-duke-comeback-stymied-in-33-30-loss-to-pitt.aspx

Defensively Duke was led by Koby Quansah's 11 tackles, while Brandon Hill added 10. Junior Marquis Waters and redshirt senior Edgar Cerenord both recorded interceptions in a game plagued by turnovers.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/10/6/football-duke-comeback-stymied-in-33-30-loss-to-pitt.aspx

Trailing 26-3 early in the third quarter, the Blue Devils swung momentum their way late in the period, as redshirt freshman linebacker Shaka Heyward recovered a muffed punt return by Pitt and Harris sealed the scoring drive with a four-yard dash to the end zone. Senior safety Dylan Singleton forced a second fumble, which was recovered by Leonard Johnson, setting up a nine-play, 43-yard scoring series. Jackson ran the ball in from two yards out and freshman Jalon Calhoun secured the two-point conversion to cut it to 26-18 with 13:09 left on the clock. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/10/6/football-duke-comeback-stymied-in-33-30-loss-to-pitt.aspx

Duke kept it rolling on the Panthers' next possession, with Cerenord rising to the moment to record his first career interception. Harris keyed a seven-play, 25-yard scoring drive, taking off on a 17-yard run before finishing off the series with a three-yard touchdown rush. The Blue Devils attempted a two-point conversion that was initially ruled successful but retried due to an inadvertent signal. The second attempt was unsuccessful, keeping Pitt in front at 26-24. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/10/6/football-duke-comeback-stymied-in-33-30-loss-to-pitt.aspx

Duke's defense forced a punt with just over three minutes remaining and Harris again orchestrated a score. The Blue Devils went 86 yards, with Harris finding Jackson for a 44-yard touchdown reception. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/10/6/football-duke-comeback-stymied-in-33-30-loss-to-pitt.aspx

Pickett strung together five consecutive passes, including a 26-yard touchdown reception to V'Lique Carter, to regain the lead for Pitt. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/10/6/football-duke-comeback-stymied-in-33-30-loss-to-pitt.aspx

The Blue Devils struck first Saturday evening on an AJ Reed field goal, keeping him a perfect 6-for-6 on the year, capping a 14-play, 65-yard opening offensive drive. Pitt responded with back-to-back interceptions, capitalizing on both turnovers to swing the score to 10-3 in the visitors' favor late in the first quarter. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/10/6/football-duke-comeback-stymied-in-33-30-loss-to-pitt.aspx

Waters picked off a pass by the Panthers' Kenny Pickett in the Pitt end zone, denying the visitors on a 68-yard march down the field. However, Pickett would lead the Panthers to two more scores – a field goal and a touchdown pass that followed a 50-yard punt return by Maurice Ffrench. Pitt would take the 19-3 advantage into the locker room at the intermission. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/10/6/football-duke-comeback-stymied-in-33-30-loss-to-pitt.aspx

Meanwhile Pittsburgh got their first win in the Atlantic Coast Conference Coastal Division.

Kenny Pickett threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to V'Lique Carter with 38 seconds remaining, and Pitt rallied to beat Duke 33-30 on Saturday night after losing a 23-point lead. “according to https://pittsburghpanthers.com/news/2019/10/6/football-panthers-win-wild-acc-contest-at-duke-33-30.aspx

Pickett finished 29 of 48 for 268 yards with three touchdown passes to help the Panthers (4-2, 1-1 ACC) claim a wild victory - their fifth straight in this Coastal Division series - after the teams combined for 10 total turnovers with each scoring TDs in the final 90 seconds.”according to https://pittsburghpanthers.com/news/2019/10/6/football-panthers-win-wild-acc-contest-at-duke-33-30.aspx

''Just shows character, our guys going on the road to get a victory,'' Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi said. “according to https://pittsburghpanthers.com/news/2019/10/6/football-panthers-win-wild-acc-contest-at-duke-33-30.aspx

Pitt led 26-3 with less than 3 minutes left in the third quarter, only to have the Blue Devils turn three straight turnovers into touchdowns and then take a 30-26 lead on Quentin Harris' 44-yard touchdown pass to Deon Jackson with 1:30 remaining. “according to https://pittsburghpanthers.com/news/2019/10/6/football-panthers-win-wild-acc-contest-at-duke-33-30.aspx

Pickett needed just four plays to put the Panthers back in front. He found Carter over the middle and the Pitt running back got past defensive back Marquis Waters with a spin move on his way to the end zone. “according to https://pittsburghpanthers.com/news/2019/10/6/football-panthers-win-wild-acc-contest-at-duke-33-30.aspx

Patrick Jones II then sacked Harris on the third play of Duke's next drive, jarring the ball loose, and Phil Campbell III recovered it with 22 seconds to play. “according to https://pittsburghpanthers.com/news/2019/10/6/football-panthers-win-wild-acc-contest-at-duke-33-30.aspx

Harris finished 18 of 43 for 165 yards with two rushing touchdowns for the Blue Devils (3-2, 1-1). But he had five of Duke's six turnovers - two interceptions and a fumble during a four-play span of the first quarter, plus a third-quarter fumble in addition to the game-sealer. “according to https://pittsburghpanthers.com/news/2019/10/6/football-panthers-win-wild-acc-contest-at-duke-33-30.aspx

Pickett threw TDs covering 19 yards to Taysir Mack and 4 yards to Nakia Griffin-Stewart for the Panthers, and Paris Ford returned one of his two interceptions 26 yards for a touchdown before he was ejected for targeting. “according to https://pittsburghpanthers.com/news/2019/10/6/football-panthers-win-wild-acc-contest-at-duke-33-30.aspx

Duke will look to bounce back next Saturday when they host Georgia Tech.