Duke, Charlotte Are Kicking Off Their 2021 Seasons In Charlotte Tonight
Last season Duke who is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference beat Charlotte who is a member of Conference USA by a score of 53-19.
Where?
Durham North Carolina!
Why?
The running back duo of senior Deon Jackson and junior Mataeo Durant paved the way for the Blue Devils compiling 205 yards and four touchdowns between them. They each registered two scores for their second multi-touchdown games of the season. Jackson now has five in his career, while Durant has recorded three. The twosome also each surpassed 100-plus yards rushing in a game for the second time this season.
Redshirt junior quarterback Chase Brice quietly finished his night 8-of-14 for 106 yards and one touchdown. The Grayson, Ga., native connected with sophomore wide receiver Jalon Calhoun from eight yards out for Duke's fifth touchdown of the game. Duke's seven touchdowns in the contest are the most by the Blue Devils since recording eight against Temple in the 2018 Walk-On's Independence Bowl.
Redshirt sophomore linebacker Shaka Heyward led the Blue Devil defense with 12 tackles, including seven in the opening half. Heyward has now registered five career games with double figure tackles. Redshirt junior defensive end Chris Rumph II accumulated 3.0 sacks, marking the fourth time in his career he earned three-plus sacks in a game. The three sacks also are tied for the fourth most in a game in program history.
The Blue Devils used a big first quarter to create a double-digit lead over the 49ers at 17-0. Jackson and Durant racked up much of Duke's yardage during the period as both found paydirt for their third and fourth touchdowns of the year, respectively. The 17 points put up in the first quarter were the most by the Blue Devils in an opening frame this season.
Durant added his second score of the night, scampering in from 10 yards out to hand Duke a 24-0 advantage. Durant did the bulk of the work earlier in the drive when he broke free for 60 yards up the middle to put the Blue Devils in good field position.
Midway through the third, Jackson punched one home from five yards out after Duke gained great field position after a blocked punt by Isaiah Fisher-Smith. The Blue Devils also saw Fisher-Smith block an earlier punt in the first quarter, handing the Greensboro, N.C., native his third blocked punt on the year.
Later in third quarter, Brice connected with Calhoun for an eight-yard touchdown reception to ultimately seal the Blue Devil win.
“according to an article on goduke.com”
Last season Charlotte lost to Duke by a score of 19-53!
Where?
Durham North Carolina!
Why?
Duke (2-5) scored on Deon Jackson's 65-yard burst on the Blue Devils' second play from scrimmage to ignite a decisive first half attack. Duke built a 24-0 lead early in the second quarter before Charlotte's offense got on the board.
Charlotte (2-3) used a season-long 17-play drive to move 91 yards for its first score of the game, coming on Micaleous Elder'sfive-yard run to cut the gap to 24-7 with 4:21 to play in the half. Charlotte then stopped Duke on a fourth-and-one at midfield, but was not able to turn that into points before the break.
Trailing 24-7 at the half, Charlotte started the second half with the ball but was unable to move on its first two possessions, the second of which ended with a blocked punt recovered at the Charlotte five. Jackson scored immediately on a five-yard run to put the Blue Devils ahead, 31-7.
Charlotte answered with its second score of the night on an eight-play, 75-yard drive capped by a six-yard catch by redshirt junior wideout Victor Tucker. The TD catch was the 11th of Tucker's career, which ranks third all-time for the 49ers, one shy of second all-time (Trent Bostick, 12).
The two teams traded another set of TDs, with Charlotte scoring on a two-yard plunge by Tre Harbison III on fourth-and-goal to make it 39-19 with 10:06 to play.
Duke added a pair of scores in the final five minutes.
“according to an article on charlotte49ers.com”
Tonight Duke who is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, Charlotte who is a member of the Conference USA are kicking off the 2021 season in Charlotte North Carolina tonight against one another.
This time though Duke’s starting quarterback is going to be different!
Why?
Because last season when Duke played Charlotte Chase Brice was the starting quarterback!
In that game Chase Brice quietly finished his night 8-of-14 for 106 yards and one touchdown. The Grayson, Ga., native connected with sophomore wide receiver Jalon Calhoun from eight yards out for Duke's fifth touchdown of the game.
Last season Chase Brice threw 15 interceptions, Duke led the nation in turnovers with 39.
“according to an article by Stephen Wiseman on newsobserver.com”
He has since moved on to Appalachian State!
What does that mean?
It means Gunnar Holmberg is going to be the starting the starting quarterback for Duke this season!
Why?
Head Coach David Cutcliffe had this to say about his decision to start Gunnar Holmberg at the quarterback position!
You don’t want to play quarterback thinking the first mistake you make you’re going to be yanked, and I’ve never been one to do that,” said Duke head coach David Cutcliffe. “If you’re the starter you should be the best player at the position and right now he is the starter because he is the best player at that position.”
“according to an article by Chris Clarke on cbs17.com”
As a freshman at Duke in 2018,
Gunnar Holmberg played in one game ... on the field for three snaps versus Temple in the Walk-On’s Independence Bowl ... recorded one rushing attempt for 19 yards (19.00) ... enrolled at Duke in January 2018.
As a sophomore at Duke Gunnar Holmberg missed the entire year after suffering a season-ending knee injury during preseason camp ... underwent surgery on August 13th to repair a torn right lateral meniscus.
As a junior Gunnar Holmberg saw action in six games against Virginia, Syracuse, Charlotte, North Carolina, Georgia Tech and Miami ... completed 18-of-25 pass attempts (.720) for 161 yards with two INTs ... rushed 23 times for nine yards (0.39) with one TD ... completed a season-high seven passes for 71 yards against North Carolina ... threw a season-long 17-yard completion on two different occasions against Charlotte and Georgia Tech ... scored first career TD on a one-yard rush against Charlotte ... on the field for 71 snaps.
“according to his biography on goduke.com”
Kickoff is set for 7:00pm from Jerry Richardson Stadium!
The game is going to be televised on CBS Sports Network!