Grayson Loftis Starting At Quarterback For Duke, Head Coach Mike Elko Today As Duke Opposes Virginia In Charlottesville? That Is Case As Riley Leonard, Henry Belin IV Remain Sidelined With Injuries

Grayson Loftis starting at quarterback for Duke, Head Coach Mike Elko today as Duke opposes Virginia in Charlottesvillle?

That is case as Riley Leonard, Henry Belin IV remain sidelined with injuries.

What kind of injuries?

Henry Belin IV has an upper body injury while Riley Leonard has a left toe injury.

Monday Duke Head Coach Mike Elko had this to say about Grayson Loftis performance in 47-45 double overtime loss to North Carolina on Saturday October 11, 2023 in Chapel Hill.

“I thought Grayson Loftis played one heck of a game,”“Certainly, looking at him in the fourth quarter, I thought that’s the best our offense executed, particularly in the passing game, in a while, and that was great to see as we needed it.”

“I think each time he goes out there he’s now going into a situation that he’s been in,”

“The first game against Wake, he gets his first start. The game against North Carolina, it’s his first start on the road. So now you’ve checked a lot of boxes and I think the nerves aren’t going to be as bad. You’re not worried as much about having to completely settle him down in a new environment.”

According to Stephen Wiseman article on newsobserver.com

Duke comes into the game with record of 6-4 while they’re 3-3 in the Atlantic Coast Conference eighth in the Atlantic Coast Conference standings because they lost high scoring affair North Carolina lost 47-45 in double overtime in Chapel Hill on Saturday November 11, 2023.

Duke lost high scoring affair to North Carolina 47-45 in double overtime Saturday In Chapel Hill as Jordan Moore caught 6 yard pass from Grayson Loftis, 2 point conversion failed.

Before Duke lost high scoring affair to North Carolina 47-45 in double overtime Saturday in Chapel Hill Drake Maye ran for 1 yard touchdown, Noah Burnette kicked extra point for North Carolina giving them a 7-0 lead before North Carolina extended their lead 10-0 as Noah Burnette kicked, made 23 yard field goal in the 1st quarter. In the 2nd quarter Noah Burnette kicked, made 31 yard field goal extending North Carolina’s lead over Duke 13-0 before Duke finally got on scoreboard as Jordan Moore caught 10 yard pass from Grayson Loftis, Todd Pelino kicked, made extra point cutting into North Carolina’s lead 13-7 before Duke took the lead briefly at 14-13 as Grayson Loftis ran for 3 yard run , Todd Pelino kicked, made extra point before North Carolina took a 16-14 lead into halftime as Noah Burnette kicked, made 25 yard field goal. In the 3rd quarter Noah Burnette kicked, made 27 yard field goal extending North Carolina’s lead over Duke 19-16 . In the 4th quarter Omarion Hampton ran for 2 yard touchdown , Noah Burnette kicked, made extra point extending North Carolina’s lead to 26 -14 before Duke responded as Jordan Waters ran for 13 yard touchdown, Todd Pelino kicked, made extra point before Jordan Waters ran for 23 yards Jalon Calhoun pass to complete 2 point conversion giving Duke 29-26 lead before North Carolina responded with touchdown of their own as Bryson Nesbit caught 15 yard pass from Drake Maye, Noah Burnette kicked, made extra point giving North Carolina a 33-29 lead before Jordan Moore caught 30 yard pass from Grayson Loftis , Todd Pelino kicked, made extra point giving Duke a 36-33 lead. In the first overtime Todd Pelino kicked, made 49 yard field goal extending Duke’s lead over North Carolina 39-36 . Though, that lead wouldn’t last as Noah Burnette would kick, make 24 yard field goal. In the 2nd overtime Drake Maye would run for 5 yard run Drake Maye would complete pass to John Copenhaver for two point coversion giving North Carolina 47-39 lead before Jordan Moore would catch 6 yard pass from Grayson Loftis. Two Point Conversion would fail.

Following Duke’s 47-45 double overtime loss to North Carolina Saturday in Chapel Hill Defensive Tackle DeWayne Carter had this to say about quarterback Grayson Loftis who is taking over for Riley Leonard who is sidelined with toe injury had this to say how Duke (6-4) should respond their final two regular season games at Virginia Saturday November 18, 2023 at home against Pittsburgh Saturday November 25, 2023 before learning their bowl destination for 2023.

Let’s talk about Grayson Loftis,”“I mean, he did everything he needed to do and some. I couldn’t be any prouder. That kid never flinches. He stood in there and took some shots, took the ball and ran it when he needed to.”

When you get punched, you get up,”“When you get knocked down, you get up again. There is no choice. There’s a message. I think that’s how we are trained as a team. That’s the grittiness and the grind mentality that we have.”

Following Duke’s 47-45 double overtime loss to North Carolina Saturday in Chapel Hill Duke Head Coach Mike Elko had this to say!

“For some of these guys, probably the rest of their life, to be honest with you,”

“You put everything you have into this game. You work so hard for this, give so much for each one of these opportunities and certainly this rivalry means even a little bit more. I think there’s a piece of them, me included, who will remember this the rest of our life.”

We knew they were a really talented team,”“We knew we were gonna have to just scratch and claw our way, just stay in it and hang in and hopefully give us a chance in the fourth quarter. And you know, I thought we did that.”

According to Stephen Wiseman News & Observer article on newsobserver.com

Virginia comes to the game with record of 2-8 while they’re 1-5 in the Atlantic Coast Conference are thirteenth in the Atlantic Coast Conference standings because they lost 31-24 to Louisville Thursday in Louisville Kentucky. As Virginia lost 31-24 to Louisville Thursday. In the 1st quarter Joey Gatewood caught 4 yard pass from Jake Plummer, Brock Travelstead kicked, made the extra point giving Louisville a 7-0 lead in the 1st quarter before Louisville extended their lead to 14-0 as Jimmy Calloway ran for 0 yard return, blocked bunt, Brock Travelstead kicked extra point giving Louisville 14-0 lead . In the 3rd quarter Virginia scored three touchdowns as Jake Griese ran for 1 yard run, Will Bettridge kicked, made extra point getting Virginia on the scoreboard at 14-7 before Karmen Robinson caught 28 yard interception return. Will Bettridge kicked extra point tying game 14-14 before Malik Washington caught 42 yard from Anthony Colandrea, Will Bettridge kicked, made extra point in 3rd quarter . In the 4th quarter Brock Travelstead kicked, made 35 yard field goal trimming Virginia’s lead to 21-17 before Will Bettridge kicked, made 24-17 Virginia before Louisville scored pair of touchdowns as Ahmari Huggins -Bruce caught 52 yard pass from Jake Plummer. Brock Travelstead kicked extra point before Issac Guerendo 73 yard run, Brock Travelstead made extra point.

Following Virginia’s 31-24 loss to Louisville Thursday Virginia Head Coach Tony Elliott had this to say!

It’s a very, very difficult reality of the sport that we play,”“[that] every play can end that way. And you don’t wish that for anybody.”

Nobody wants to see it, and it’s tough to get back motivated,”But I believe [UVA’s players] responded. We just didn’t make a couple of plays there at the end that we needed to make.”

Kickoff is set for 3:00pm from Scott Stadium!

The game is going to be televised on CW Network with Dave Archer, Wes Bryant, Evan Lepler commentating!