Sep 14, 2024; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils large receiver Eli Pancol (4) and large receiver Jontavis Robertson (1) rejoice a landing in the course of the first half of the sport towards Connecticut at Wallace Wade Stadium. Obligatory Credit score: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Pictures Maalik Murphy handed for 3 touchdowns Saturday as Duke remained unbeaten with a 26-21 house victory over UConn in Durham, N.C.
Murphy completed 28-of-43 for 267 yards with scoring strikes to Que’Sean Brown (11 catches, 87 yards), Jordan Moore (5 catches, 73 yards) and Eli Pancol (4 catches, 61 yards). Star Thomas contributed 122 speeding yards on 22 makes an attempt for the Blue Devils (3-0).
The Huskies (1-2) overcame a sluggish begin to take a second-half lead, however they have been unable to carry it down the stretch. Cam Edwards ran for 106 yards and a landing, whereas Nick Evers was restricted to 135 yards on 15-of-29 passing with one landing and two turnovers.
Duke marched 92 yards to the top zone on its opening possession. Murphy’s 45-yard go to Moore ignited the drive, which ended when the duo attached for a 4-yard TD strike.
The offenses have been then quiet till the Blue Devils made it 10-0 on Todd Pelino’s 53-yard discipline aim early within the second quarter. These factors have been arrange by Evers’ misplaced fumble close to midfield, which was pressured by Chandler Rivers and recovered by Tre Freeman.
Duke’s subsequent possession featured three huge performs. Murphy and Moore related on a 20-yard completion earlier than Thomas uncorked a 22-yard run. A holding name moved the Blue Devils again, however Murphy discovered Pancol on 2nd-and-19 for a 36-yard rating.
UConn’s seven first-half possessions led to six punts and a fumble, however the guests bought on the board late within the second quarter on a pick-six by Langston Hardy, then scored a landing on every of their first two drives within the third quarter.
First, Edwards’ 1-yard plunge made it 17-14, then Evers’ 13-yard TD go to Alex Honig gave the Huskies their first lead of the sport.
The fourth quarter belonged to the Blue Devils, nonetheless.
Pelino kicked a 47-yard discipline aim on the primary play of the quarter to get Duke inside 21-20. Then, after Terry Moore intercepted Evers close to midfield, Murphy drove the Blue Devils to the top zone, capped by his 20-yard back-shoulder go to Brown.
UConn missed a 48-yard discipline aim with below six minutes left and by no means noticed the ball once more.
–Discipline Degree Media
