Courtesy GoDuke.com
DURHAM – Duke quarterback Riley Leonard rushed for three touchdowns and threw for a fourth while the Blue Devils forced eight total turnovers en route to a 45-21 win over Miami in front of 57,421 fans at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.
Duke built a 17-7 lead at halftime, but the Hurricanes responded with a pair of touchdowns in the first two minutes of the third quarter to grab the lead. Led by Leonard, the Blue Devils closed the game with 28 unanswered to secure the victory.
Safety Brandon Johnson paced Duke with a career-best nine tackles, 2.0 sacks, one fumble recovery and a 28-yard interception return for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
How It Happened
- The Hurricanes opened the scoring with a 10-play, 46-yard touchdown drive, aided by a Blue Devil fumble, to take the 7-0 lead.
- Duke tied the game after Leonard scampered in from nine yards out for his first score of the day in the second quarter.
- On the ensuing kickoff, Miami fumbled the return, which the Blue Devils recovered, to give the visitors back the ball at the Hurricanes’ 22-yard line. Four plays later, Leonard was in the end zone following his five-yard run to hand Duke the 14-7 edge with 12 minutes remaining in the half.
- Rookie Todd Pelino added a 28-yard field goal to extend the Blue Devils’ advantage to 17-7 at the break.
- On Miami’s opening drive of the second half, quarterback Jake Garcia connected with wide receiver Colbie Young for a 71-yard touchdown reception to cut into the lead at 17-14.
- The Blue Devils fumbled on their next drive to give the ball back to Miami at the Duke 39-yard line. Miami found the end zone three plays later to jump back on top at 21-17.
- Duke ended Miami’s scoring run with an 18-play, 79-yard scoring drive, capped by a Nicky Dalmolin two-yard touchdown reception. The drive was highlighted by two fourth down conversions, including a 4th-and-9 attempt.
- After stopping the Hurricanes on 4th-and-3, Duke marched 56 yards in five plays to increase its lead to 31-21 following Leonard’s third rushing score of the day.
- The Blue Devils’ defense continued its pressure on the Miami offense, forcing another fumble early in the fourth quarter. It took Duke just four plays to again find the end zone, this time it was Jordan Waters finishing off the drive from two yards out to create a 38-21 gap between the teams
- With a little over five minutes remaining in the game, Johnson ultimately sealed the win for Duke when he intercepted Garcia and returned it 28 yards for the score.
Notables
- Leonard now has 10 career rushing scores after scampering in for a career-high three on Saturday.
- It was his third multi-rushing touchdown game of the season.
- Dalmolin added to his touchdown reception total in the game and now sits with four in his career.
- Waters recorded his seventh rushing touchdown this season and the 10th of his career.
- Cameron Bergeron, DeWayne Carter, and Cam Dillon all recorded a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in the game.
- Carter now has seven caused fumbles and three fumble recoveries in his career. Dillion has four and one, respectively, while Bergeron registered the first of his career in both categories.
- Brandon Johnson added his third career fumble recovery and his second career interception. It is the second time in his career that the Newton, N.C., native earned one fumble recovery and one interception in the same game (Northwestern, 2022).
- Jaylen Stinson intercepted two passes to become the first player to do so since Mark Gilbert at Wake Forest in 2017.
- Shaka Heyward finished with four tackles to become the 21st player in program history to achieve 300 in their Duke career. In addition, he added his fifth career fumble recovery in the game.
- Darius Joiner earned his second career caused fumble.
- Duke recorded a program-best eight turnovers in the game.
- Pelino converted on his first career field goal and six PATs.
Up Next
- Duke has an open week before traveling to Boston College on Friday, Nov. 4 The game will be broadcast on ESPN2.
- Boston College has back-to-back road trips before hosting the Blue Devils. The Eagles were at Wake Forest on Saturday and are at Connecticut on Saturday, Oct. 29.
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