Will Duke Or Syracuse Get Back On Track In Durham?

You have to go back to October 12th when Duke recorded their last win when they hosted Georgia Tech

Duke football scored 38 consecutive points in the first half to cruise to a, 41-23, victory over Georgia Tech on Saturday afternoon on Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium

Duke quarterback Quentin Harris went 11-of-20 for 176 yards through the air, rushed for another 38, and added a touchdown. Defensively, Koby Quansah and Brandon Hill both had 11 tackles apiece, while Victor Dimukeje earned a career-high three sacks on the day. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/10/12/football-strong-first-half-lifts-duke-to-41-23-victory.aspx

The three sacks for Dimukeje were tied for second in Duke's single-game history and are the most since 2016 and the most in an ACC game since 2003. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/10/12/football-strong-first-half-lifts-duke-to-41-23-victory.aspx

Georgia Tech (1-5, 0-3) opened the scoring by marching 75 yards down the field, including converting a 3rd-and-12 play en route to a 19-yard touchdown pass from James Graham to Jerry Howard Jr. for the early advantage.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/10/12/football-strong-first-half-lifts-duke-to-41-23-victory.aspx

Duke (4-2, 2-1) responded with 38 consecutive points to take a 38-14 lead into halftime. The Blue Devils outgained the Yellow Jackets, 268-93, heading into the break after Georgia Tech's opening score, getting 121 yards on the ground and 147 through the air. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/10/12/football-strong-first-half-lifts-duke-to-41-23-victory.aspx

After having to settle for a 33-yard field goal, the Blue Devils found the end zone in the final minute of the first quarter with an Eli Pancol rush to take a 10-7 lead. Pancol capped the 55-yard drive with a three-yard run to the left side of the end zone. The carry was the first of the wide receiver's career, marking his first rushing touchdown and his third overall score of the season. Three of Pancol's four touches this year have resulted in six points for the Blue Devils.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/10/12/football-strong-first-half-lifts-duke-to-41-23-victory.aspx

The Duke defense and offense continued to fire on all cylinders. The Blue Devils forced four punts and a turnover on downs and added four more touchdowns to extend its lead to 38-7 with 3:10 remaining in the second quarter. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/10/12/football-strong-first-half-lifts-duke-to-41-23-victory.aspx

Deon Jackson dashed into the end zone twice during that time, while Harris punched the ball in for six after Mataeo Durant was tripped up at the 1-yard line after a career-long 38-yard scamper up the middle. Durant finished the half with a team-best 62 yards on eight carries. The sophomore running back completed the afternoon with 74 yards.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/10/12/football-strong-first-half-lifts-duke-to-41-23-victory.aspx

Duke's special teams also got into mix, blocking a punt and running it back for another six points. Xander Gagnon came off the left edge to block the punt and Javon Jackson scooped up the ball for the 14-yard return – Duke's first blocked punt for a touchdown since 2012.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/10/12/football-strong-first-half-lifts-duke-to-41-23-victory.aspx

The scoring slowed in the second half for the Blue Devils as Duke took its foot off the gas and settled for a second field goal from AJ Reed. Georgia Tech landed in the end zone once and tacked on a field goal, but couldn't make up the 24-point halftime deficit.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/10/12/football-strong-first-half-lifts-duke-to-41-23-victory.aspx

And you have to go back to September 28th when Syracuse won their last game when they beat Holy Cross.

Syracuse signal-caller Tommy DeVito threw four touchdown passes for the second straight Saturday to lead the Orange to a 41-3 victory against Holy Cross on Sept. 28 in the Dome. The Orange (3-2) won its 13th straight game against Holy Cross (1-3) and improved to 18-0 against FCS teams since the 1978 separation of major college football into two divisions. “according to https://cuse.com/news/2019/9/28/football-devitos-four-td-passes-paces-orange-in-41-3-win.aspx

DeVito threw scoring passes of 14 yards to junior tight end Aaron Hackett, 17 yards to redshirt junior receiver Trishton Jackson, 47 yards to sophomore wideout Taj Harris and 70 yards to freshman tight end Luke Benson. “according to https://cuse.com/news/2019/9/28/football-devitos-four-td-passes-paces-orange-in-41-3-win.aspx

DeVito finished the game 19-of-31 passing for 269 yards, the four scores and one interception. He also chipped in with 28 yards rushing.”according to https://cuse.com/news/2019/9/28/football-devitos-four-td-passes-paces-orange-in-41-3-win.aspx

His first two touchdown passes, combined with a 52-yard field goal by Sterling Hofrichter, put Syracuse ahead 17-0 before the end of the first quarter. Holy Cross responded with a 48-yard field goal from Derek Ng, but Orange running back Abdul Adams extended the advantage to 24-3 with a 19-yard, second-quarter touchdown run. “according to https://cuse.com/news/2019/9/28/football-devitos-four-td-passes-paces-orange-in-41-3-win.aspx

The Orange defense kept Holy Cross off the board for the remainder of the contest. It was the second time this season the unit did not allow a touchdown.”according to https://cuse.com/news/2019/9/28/football-devitos-four-td-passes-paces-orange-in-41-3-win.aspx

On Saturday Duke will look to snap their three game losing skid when they host Syracuse who they last played five years ago in Syracuse New York while Syracuse will look to snap a losing streak of their own which is a four game losing streak.

Duke who is a member of the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference comes into the game with a record of 4-5 while Syracuse who is a member of the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference comes into the game with a record of 3-6. “according to https://cuse.com/news/2019/11/2/football-jacksons-action-not-enough-in-loss-to-bc.aspx

As for Duke’s previous game,

They lost their third consecutive game last Saturday to Notre Dame who is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference in every sport with the exception coming on the grid iron.

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

Like Duke, Syracuse also lost their previous game as they were beat by Boston College.

Trishton Jackson caught eight passes for 148 yards and two touchdowns, but Boston College (5-4, 3-3 ACC) used a dominating ground game to defeat Syracuse (3-6, 0-5 ACC), 58-27 on Saturday, Nov. 2 at the Dome. “according to https://cuse.com/news/2019/11/2/football-jacksons-action-not-enough-in-loss-to-bc.aspx

Boston College scored five touchdowns in the second quarter – three on touchdown passes by Dennis Grosel and two on runs by AJ Dillon and David Bailey. A botched hold on an extra-point attempt forced the Eagles into an unplanned two-point conversion attempt, which failed, and gave the Eagles 34 points in the quarter. The outburst erased what had been a 17-10 Orange lead after the first stanza. “according to https://cuse.com/news/2019/11/2/football-jacksons-action-not-enough-in-loss-to-bc.aspx

The Eagles ended up with 496 yards rushing on 65 carries (7.6 avg.), the most ever given up by a Syracuse defense. Boston College scored five touchdowns on the ground, three by Dillon and two by Bailey. Boston College only attempted 10 passes in the game.”according to https://cuse.com/news/2019/11/2/football-jacksons-action-not-enough-in-loss-to-bc.aspx

SYRACUSE FORCES TURNOVERS EARLY
The Orange defense forced first-quarter turnovers on back-to-back Boston College possessions and both led to points. Grosel completed a pass to Hunter Long, but Syracuse safety Andre Cisco pulled the ball loose and safety Evan Foster recovered. Foster returned the ball to the Boston College 20-yard line. Following the turnover, Syracuse managed a 47-yard field goal by Andre Szmyt to tie the game at 10-10. “according to https://cuse.com/news/2019/11/2/football-jacksons-action-not-enough-in-loss-to-bc.aspx

The Eagles received the ensuing kickoff, and after a delay-of-game penalty, Bailey ran for seven yards but fumbled. This time, defensive back Trill Williams caused the miscue and defensive tackle Kenneth Ruff recovered at the BC 29. On third-and-7, Tommy DeVito teamed with Trishton Jackson on a 26-yard scoring play. Szmyt's extra point gave the Orange a 17-10 lead with 29 ticks left in the opening quarter. “according to https://cuse.com/news/2019/11/2/football-jacksons-action-not-enough-in-loss-to-bc.aspx

A 9-yard pass from DeVito to Aaron Hackett produced Syracuse's first touchdown. The tally put the Orange up 7-3 after each team had one possession. “according to https://cuse.com/news/2019/11/2/football-jacksons-action-not-enough-in-loss-to-bc.aspx

With both Duke and Syracuse looking to snap their losing streaks which team will come out and execute their game plan and get back in the win column?

Tip-off is set for 4:00pm from Brooks Field @Wallace Wade Stadium. The game will be televised on the ACC Network.