Duke's Losing Streak Continues With Their Loss To Notre Dame

Duke’s losing streak grew to three in their most recent game against Notre Dame who is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference in every sport with the exception coming on the grid iron where Notre Dame is independent.

Fifteenth-ranked Notre Dame amassed 469 yards of offense and held Duke to 197 en route to a 38-7 victory at Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium on Saturday night. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/11/9/football-duke-falls-to-no-15-notre-dame-38-7.aspx

The 197 yards are the fewest by the Blue Devils this season, while the 469 allowed by Duke are the most since the season opener against then ranked No. 2 Alabama. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/11/9/football-duke-falls-to-no-15-notre-dame-38-7.aspx

Blue Devil quarterback Quentin Harris finished 16-of-28 with 102 yards through the air and a touchdown. Notre Dame's Ian Book was 18-of-32 for 181 yards and four touchdowns. Book also picked up 139 yards rushing to lead a potent Irish ground game. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/11/9/football-duke-falls-to-no-15-notre-dame-38-7.aspx

Notre Dame (7-2) jumped out to a 14-0 lead after the first quarter, scoring on consecutive 85 and 65-yard scoring drives. The Fighting Irish defense kept the Blue Devil offense in check by holding them to just 26 yards throughout the period. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/11/9/football-duke-falls-to-no-15-notre-dame-38-7.aspx

Duke (4-5) broke through for its first score with 2:55 left in the second quarter. Sparked by a defensive stand by the Blue Devils and a 22-yard punt from the Irish, Duke found itself with outstanding field position on the Notre Dame 39-yard line. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/11/9/football-duke-falls-to-no-15-notre-dame-38-7.aspx

Mataeo Durant dashed up the field for 10 yards to put Duke just inside the 30-yard line, which set up Harris for a 29-yard strike to Aaron Young. The touchdown was Harris' 14th through the air this season and sent Duke into the locker room trailing, 21-7. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/11/9/football-duke-falls-to-no-15-notre-dame-38-7.aspx

The Blue Devils had a chance to pull within a score before the break as Shaka Heyward intercepted Book and ran it back to the Duke 49-yard line with 2:09 remaining in the half. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/11/9/football-duke-falls-to-no-15-notre-dame-38-7.aspx

Duke, behind efforts from Deon Jackson and Harris, advanced the ball to the Notre Dame 26-yard line before being halted and forced to attempt a 43-yard field goal, which AJ Reed missed wide right. Jackson finished the game with 52 yards “according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/11/9/football-duke-falls-to-no-15-notre-dame-38-7.aspx

After being held to 26 yards of offense in the first quarter, Duke gained 97 yards in the second quarter. Notre Dame, however, had 273 yards, including 175 on the ground in the first two quarters.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/11/9/football-duke-falls-to-no-15-notre-dame-38-7.aspx

The offensive woes continued in the second half for the Blue Devils as they managed just 76 yards of offense against an inspired Irish defense. Notre Dame tacked on 17 points in the second half to pull away and ice the victory. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/11/9/football-duke-falls-to-no-15-notre-dame-38-7.aspx

Senior middle linebacker Koby Quansah led Duke's defensive effort with 11 tackles, his fifth game this season with double-digit stops. Junior Michael Carter II had seven tackles and two tackles for loss.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/11/9/football-duke-falls-to-no-15-notre-dame-38-7.aspx

Arguably, Duke's top performer of the night was redshirt senior punter Austin Parker who compiled 450 yards on nine punts for a 50 yards-per-punt average. Three landed inside the 20, while his fifth of the night went for 56 yards. His 450 total yards are a career best and moved him to sixth all-time in Duke history in punting yards.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/11/9/football-duke-falls-to-no-15-notre-dame-38-7.aspx

While Duke lost their third consecutive game Notre Dame meanwhile picked up their seventh win of the season.

On a night of explosive offense, No. 15 Notre Dame came away with a 38-7 win over Duke on Saturday at Wallace Wade Stadium. “according to https://und.com/15-irish-offense-erupts-for-38-7-win-over-duke/

The Irish (7-2) controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides, outgaining the Blue Devils (4-5) 469-197, including 288-95 yards rushing. The Irish recorded nine offensive plays of at least 15 yards, averaging 6.9 yards per play while limiting Duke to just 3.2 yards per play. “according to https://und.com/15-irish-offense-erupts-for-38-7-win-over-duke/

Senior quarterback Ian Book went 18-of-32 for 181 yards and four touchdowns, in addition to a career-best 139 rushing yards. His four-score performance made him one of just two Notre Dame quarterbacks to throw at least four touchdown passes on four occasions, joining Brady Quinn, who accomplished the feat seven times. “according to https://und.com/15-irish-offense-erupts-for-38-7-win-over-duke/

Senior receiver Chris Finke led the Irish with two touchdown receptions and 100 all-purpose yards, including a 46-yard punt return in the fourth quarter. Senior wideout Chase Claypool added 97 yards and a touchdown. Tight end George Takacs and running back C’Bo Flemister also added touchdowns for the Irish. “according to https://und.com/15-irish-offense-erupts-for-38-7-win-over-duke/

Linebacker Drew White led the Irish with seven tackles while cornerback Troy Pride Jr., linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, safety Jalen Elliott and safety Alohi Gilman each recorded six tackles. “according to https://und.com/15-irish-offense-erupts-for-38-7-win-over-duke/

How It Happened

The Irish got on the board first when Book found Finke on an 18-yard touchdown strike just seven minutes into the game. The play capped a 10-play, 85-yard drive after the Irish defense forced a punt on the Blue Devils’ first possession.”according to https://und.com/15-irish-offense-erupts-for-38-7-win-over-duke/

Book connected with Claypool on the next drive for a seven-yard touchdown to give the Irish a 14-0 lead. The Irish went 65 yards in five plays, including a career-long 40-yard rush from Jahmir Smith that jump-started the possession. “according to https://und.com/15-irish-offense-erupts-for-38-7-win-over-duke/

Midway through the second quarter, the Irish added to their lead after Book broke off a 12-yard rush followed immediately by a career-long 45-yard scamper to the Duke five before a pass interference penalty put the ball at the two. From there, Flemister flushed it home with his fourth touchdown of the season and his career to make it 21-0 in favor of Notre Dame. “ according to https://und.com/15-irish-offense-erupts-for-38-7-win-over-duke/

After a holding penalty wiped out a 78-yard Finke reception with less than five minutes left in the half, the Irish punted to give Duke possession at their 39-yard-line. Two plays later, the Blue Devils found the end zone when Quentin Harris hit Aaron Young for a 29-yard touchdown. “according to https://und.com/15-irish-offense-erupts-for-38-7-win-over-duke/

The Irish took the 21-7 lead into the half when Duke missed a field goal attempt as time expired in the second quarter. “according to https://und.com/15-irish-offense-erupts-for-38-7-win-over-duke/

Duke took possession to start the second half, but after the Blue Devils looked to extend their opening drive after a penalty erased an incompletion on fourth down, the Irish took over on the next play when a Troy Pride Jr. interception gave the Irish the ball at their own 30.

Consecutive completions of 23 and 35 yards to Claypool moved Notre Dame deep into Duke territory and Finke’s second touchdown grab of the night — a six-yard snag from Book — extended the lead to 28-7. The score marked Finke’s first career multi-score game. “according to https://und.com/15-irish-offense-erupts-for-38-7-win-over-duke/

A 34-yard Jonathan Doerer field goal made it 31-7 two minutes into the fourth quarter. “according to https://und.com/15-irish-offense-erupts-for-38-7-win-over-duke/

Five minutes later, Finke added to his already career night with a career-best 46-yard punt return, setting the Irish up at the Duke 13-yard-line. The drive ended with a two-yard pass from Book to Takacs for the latter’s first career touchdown, making it 38-7. “according to https://und.com/15-irish-offense-erupts-for-38-7-win-over-duke/

Duke will remain in Durham for their next game when they host Syracuse on Saturday.