DURHAM – 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 Holmberg, 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 Carter forced 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 Moore and 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.
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.
The Blue Devils’ 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.
Duke closes out its three-game home stand on Saturday, Sept. 25 when it hosts Kansas for a 4 p.m. kick on ACC Network.
