The underdog Duke Devils played the part in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. Duke came into the game without their starting Quarterback, Malik Murphey, who entered the transfer portal and committed to Oregon State, and Quarterback Grayson Loftis who is now at UNC Charlotte. Henry Belin IV, who has played sparingly over his two seasons got the start. Belin, coming off a mysterious shoulder injury, was offered to change positions by the Duke staff in an effort to get him more playing time. Belin refused and is being rewarded tonight with the start against Ole Miss. Conversely, Jackson Dart, who declared for the NFL Draft and is the #7 QB prospect according to Mel Kiper, decided not to opt out and played in his final game as a Rebel. Dart’s decision set the standard with many Ole Miss portal entrants and NFL draft declarants opting to play.
Dart showed why coach Lane Kiffin believed they deserved a spot in the College Football Playoff. Ole Miss won the toss and chose to receive then jumped out to a 14-0 lead and outgained the Duke offense 199-36 after the first quarter of play.
Duke did show some life in the second quarter. Quarterback Henry Belin IV finally settled down and led a 8-play, 75 yard TD drive where he connected with Jevon Harvey for a 16 yard TD strike. That turned out to be Duke’s only score in the first half. Belin attempted more passes in the first half than in his entire career. Ole Miss created 390 yards of total offense in the first half to the Blue Devil’s 130 yards.
The second half started out much like the first. Henry Belin threw a pick 6 to make the game 31-7 and out of reach for the Blue Devils. Dart played well into the 4th quarter, flirting with the 76 points the Rebs put up against Furman in the first game of the season. The last two minutes of the game was a scoring blitz by both teams. Dart threw a 69 yard TD pass to Jordan Watkins with 2:16 left to put Ole Miss up 52-14. Peyton Jones of Duke caught the ensuing kickoff, then threw a pass cross field to Samir Haggins that took the kickoff to the house. Ole Miss blocked the extra point try. Austin Simmons, the Rebels backup QB then led a drive down to the Duke 7 yard line that was only stopped by time expiring.
Jackson Dart finished the game 27 for 35 for 404 yards and was named the Gator Bowl MVP. Belin ended the game 25 for 44 for 236 yards and one interception. The Duke defense did all they could, being on the field for large swaths at times. They came up with their only interception on the first possession of the game when Ole Miss attempted to trick the Duke D with a “muddle huddle” on a field goal attempt and a throw by the Ole Miss placekicker. Duke sacked Dart three times and tallied six tackles for loss.
Despite the loss, the Blue Devils end the year on a successful note. The Devils went 5-0 for the first time in 30 years and won the most one score games in school history (6). Malik Murphy also set the single season touchdown record for the Blue Devils. Until the transfer portal opening window is changed, the Blue Devils will continue to struggle in late-year bowl games. Offering some hope, Duke signed former Tulane QB, Darian Mensah, to a reported 2-year, $8 million NIL deal. This will hopefully allow Duke to keep a star QB into bowl season without a repeat of Malik Murphy.
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