Duke Defeated Northwestern On The Gridiron In Durham Again Yesterday

Duke, Northwestern who are members of the Atlantic Coast Conference, Big Ten Conference have opposed each other on the gridiron in Durham before!

When?

In 2017 Duke, Northwestern opposed each other on the gridiron in Durham!

Duke won that game by a score of 41-17!

Why?

On the strength of a 21-10 halftime lead, Duke dispatched Northwestern.

Daniel Jones who is now in year three of being the quarterback of the New York Giants in the NFL ran for two touchdowns and passed for two more to guide the Blue Devils to their second straight victory to start the year. On the day, Jones completed 29 of 45 passes for 305 yards and found Chris Taylor and Davis Koppenhaver for touchdown receptions.

Duke outgained the Wildcats (1-1) in total yardage, 538-191, while the Blue Devil defense held the visitors to just 22 yards on the ground, with 21 of those coming on Northwestern's final possession. Sophomore cornerback Mark Gilbert tallied the first two interceptions of his career and senior safety Alonzo Saxton II supplied seven tackles and a forced fumble.

Northwestern marched deep into Duke territory on its second drive of the game, but the Blue Devil defense held strong on 3rd and 9 to limit the Wildcats to a field goal. The Duke offense countered at the end of the opening quarter, punctuating an 80-yard drive with an 11-yard touchdown scamper by Jones.  

The Blue Devils made it 14-3 early in the second quarter when Taylor hauled in a 52-yard pass from Jones. A Saxton II fumble recovery then set up Jones' second rushing touchdown of the afternoon.

It was the Wildcats' turn to capitalize on a fumble recovery just before the half, bringing the score to 21-10 at the intermission.  

Gilbert picked off a pass by Northwestern's Clayton Thorson three minutes into the third quarter and Austin Parker booted home a 31-yard field goal attempt.

On Duke's next possession, the squad moved the chains behind the efforts of redshirt freshman running back Brittain Brown and junior wide receiver T.J. Rahming, who would conclude the day with 127 receiving yards. Jones capped the drive with a one-yard pass to Koppenhaver, extending the Blue Devils' lead to 31-10. Senior running back Shaun Wilson tacked on an eight-yard touchdown run at 10:07 in the fourth quarter and Gilbert's second interception resulted in a 24-yard field goal by Parker with five minutes remaining.   

Northwestern quarterback Marcus McShepard found Riley Lees for a 20-yard touchdown pass inside the final three minutes to account for the final score.

Yesterday Duke, Northwestern matched up on the gridiron in Durham again!

The result?

Another Duke win on the gridiron in Durham!

This time by a score of 30-23!

A high-powered first half and strong defensive lifted Duke past Northwestern, 30-23, Saturday afternoon at Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium.

Graduate student quarterback Gunnar Hollmberg , senior wide receiver Jake Bobo and senior running back Mataeo Durant led the offense, becoming the 17th trio in program history to record 300-plus passing yards, 100-plus receiving yards and 100-plus rushing yards, respectively, in a single game.

The Duke defense plagued Northwestern, causing five turnovers on the day. Redshirt senior safety Lummie Young IV, redshirt senior cornerback Leonard Johnson and redshirt junior cornerback Jeremiah Lewis each recorded an interception while Young IV and sophomore defensive tackle DeWayne Carterforced fumbles. Graduate student defensive end Ben Frye added recoveries on both of the fumbles.

Duke jumped out to a 27-0 lead after the opening 28 minutes following two touchdowns by Durant, a nine-yard score by freshman quarterback Jordan Mooreand two field goals from redshirt sophomore kicker Charlie Ham. Durant's two scores handed him eight on the season, with seven of those via the ground game.

The visitors were able to break through and register their first touchdown of the game to pull within 27-7 with 1:25 remaining in the half but a career-long 50-yard field goal by Ham would give the Blue Devils a 30-7 edge at the break.

Northwestern would not go away, scoring 16 points in the second half but the Duke defense would hold strong down the stretch to register its second consecutive win.

Holmberg finished his day 31-of-44 passing for 314 yards and a touchdown. Durant led the rushing corps with 102 yards on 22 carries with a score. He also added four receptions for 41 yards and a touchdown.

Jake Bobo surpassed 100-yards receiving for the first time in his career after amassing 109 yards on Saturday. He becomes the first player to register 100-plus receiving yards since Aaron Young did so against Middle Tennessee in 2019.

Duke’s ' 30 points in the opening two periods were also the most points scored in a first half since recording 31 against the Blue Raiders in 2019.

Redshirt junior linebacker Shaka Heyward earned double-digits tackles for the second consecutive game after he finished with 12.

“according to an article on goduke.com”

David Cutcliffe had this to say about Duke’s win over Northwestern!

You can’t push the panic button when things start going going south.

“according to Stephen Wisman’s article in the News & Observer”

Duke is now going to prepare to host Kansas to closeout their three game homestand!

When?

Saturday September 25, 2021 before they begin Atlantic Coast Conference play on the gridiron in Chapel Hill verses tobacco road rival North Carolina on Saturday October 2, 2021.

Kickoff is set for 4:00pm from Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium!

The game is going to be televised on ACC Network!