Courtesy GoDuke.com
DURHAM, N.C. – Duke forced six turnovers and rallied in the fourth quarter to force overtime, but No. 22 SMU’s offense proved too strong as the Mustangs picked up a 28-27 victory on Saturday night at Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium. The setback was Duke’s first at home since Sept. 30, 2023, against No. 11 Notre Dame.
Graduate defensive tackle Kendy Charles led the defensive effort with a career-high 11 tackles while six Blue Devils forced fumbles and senior linebacker Cameron Bergeron tallied his first career interception. Graduate wide receiver Eli Pancol finished with a personal-best 11 receptions for 138 yards and a touchdown in the extra session, along with a critical two-point conversion.
The Blue Devils fall to 6-2, 2-2 in ACC play, while the Mustangs improve to 7-1, 4-0 in league action.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Mustangs mounted a strong opening drive, but a forced fumble and recovery by Ryan Smith halted the drive at the Duke four-yard line.
- After a second stop on the Mustangs, the Blue Devils mounted their longest drive of the season and took a 7-0 lead with 2:38 to play in the opening quarter. Maalik Murphy capped the 95-yard march with a 43-yard touchdown strike to Que’Sean Brown. The reception was the longest of Brown’s career.
- SMU answered Duke’s offense with consecutive scoring drives of its own to take a 14-7 lead. Brashard Smith punched in the Mustangs’ tying score with 14:03 remaining in the half with a one-yard run on fourth down. Quarterback Kevin Jennings put SMU ahead on its next drive with a three-yard run with 3:56 left in the second quarter. Jennings fumbled on the play, but fell on the ball in the end zone to preserve the score.
- After a Duke punt gave SMU the ball back with 1:47, the Blue Devil defense forced turnovers on consecutive Mustang offensive plays with a Cameron Bergeron interception and Tre Freeman forced and recovered fumble, but the offense turned it over on downs and ran out of time in the half.
- After an opening-drive three-and-out to start the second half, Duke’s defense came up with a huge stand to keep it a one-score game. With SMU looking at first-and-goal from the Duke one-yard line, the Blue Devils stood strong for four consecutive plays and kept the Mustangs from scoring.
- The Blue Devil offensive drive stalled at the SMU 45-yard line after a sack pushed Duke out of field goal range. Two plays later, the Mustangs made it a 21-7 lead with an 81-yard touchdown pass from Jennings to Roderick Daniels Jr.
- Duke took the ensuing kickoff and marched 75 yards and scored on a 12-yard pass from Murphy to Jordan Moore. Todd Pelino missed the first extra point of his career, snapping a string of 81 consecutive makes, to leave the score 21-13 in favor of SMU.
- The Blue Devils tied the game on the next drive with a Star Thomas one-yard run and Eli Pancol two-point conversion.
- On the ensuing drive, Duke elevated its momentum courtesy of a third-down interception by Freeman. His second takeaway of the contest and the fourth turnover gained by the Blue Devils, provided Duke with the ball at the SMU 37-yard line with 8:35 to go in a tie game.
- After picking up a first down, Duke’s 42-yard field goal try by Pelino missed to the left, keeping the score even with 5:38 remaining.
- On another third-and-long for SMU, Chandler Rivers made a diving catch for an interception, as the Blue Devils regained possession at the SMU 39-yard line with 3:57 left.
- Duke collected its sixth takeaway of the night on a forced fumble by Bergeron and the recovery by Ozzie Nicholas, who returned the loose ball 21 yards to the SMU 14-yard line with 1:17 on the clock.
- With three seconds left in the fourth quarter, Duke’s potential game-winning, 30-yard field goal attempt by Pelino was blocked by SMU’s Jahfari Harvey to send the game into overtime.
- SMU scored on the second play of overtime, a 24-yard scamper by Brashard Smith.
- Duke responded on the next play from scrimmage, a 25-yard connection from Murphy to Pancol. The Blue Devils opted to go for two points, but Murphy’s scrambling pass attempt fell incomplete.
UP NEXT
- Duke travels to No. 6 Miami next Saturday, Nov. 2. The game will kick at noon on ABC.
For more information on Duke Football, follow the Blue Devils on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching “DukeFOOTBALL”.
Duke Centennial
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