RING THE BELL: Historic Comeback Ignites Duke To Victory Over Tar Heels

Courtesy GoDuke.com

DURHAM, N.C. – The Duke football team scored 21 unanswered points, all in the final 21 minutes, as the Blue Devils matched the second-biggest comeback in school history for a 21-20 win over North Carolina on Saturday afternoon to remain unbeaten at 5-0 in front of a sold-out crowd of 35,018 at Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium.

After a game-clinching interception by Tre Freeman and a kneel down to drain the final seconds off the clock, the Blue Devils rang the Victory Bell for the first time since 2018.

The Blue Devils amassed 394 total yards and were led by Star Thomas with a season-high 166 rushing yards and a touchdown, while adding two catches for 45 yards and another score.

Duke is 5-0 (1-0 ACC) for the first time since opening the 1994 season 7-0, and the Blue Devils have now won seven consecutive games dating back to the end of the 2023 season, which is the longest active streak in the ACC. North Carolina falls to 3-2 overall and 0-1 in conference play.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The two teams traded punts to start the first quarter before North Carolina cracked the scoreboard with a 40-yard field goal at the 10:19 mark. The Tar Heels extended their lead to 10-0, following a touchdown pass with less than five minutes to go in the opening frame.
• Another touchdown strike, from 10 yards, pushed North Carolina’s lead to 17-0, with just under six minutes to play before the halftime break.
• A 47-yarder from Duke’s Todd Pelino clanged off the upright with just over a minute before intermission and the Blue Devils remained down 17 at the half.
• Another North Carolina field goal to start the second half pushed the score to 20-0, but Duke’s offense responded with a 75-yard touchdown drive, capped off by a 29-yard catch and run to the end zone by Star Thomas. The Blue Devils’ defense held strong on the ensuing possession, forcing a three-and-out, giving Duke’s offense the ball back with just over three minutes remaining in the third quarter.
• Thomas punched it in from two yards out to finish off an 11-play, 85-yard, touchdown drive to bring Duke within six, 20-14, with 14:21 remaining in the game.
• Duke’s scoring run of 21 unanswered points provided the Blue Devils with their first lead when Peyton Jones broke away for a 20-yard touchdown run with 5:43 left in the fourth quarter.
• On North Carolina’s ensuing possession, Duke defensive end Vincent Anthony Jr. registered a tackle for a 4-yard loss, putting the Tar Heels in a third-and-long situation, which resulted in a punt. The Blue Devils got the ball back with 3:53 left in the contest.
• Thomas carried the ball for two first downs to milk the clock down to the two-minute timeout, before the Tar Heels regained possession at their own 5-yard line with 1:37 on the clock.
• North Carolina moved the ball to its own 40-yard line, facing third-and-10, when Duke safety Jaylen Stinson‘s pressure on quarterback Jacolby Criswell resulted in a game-clinching interception by Tre Freeman with just 25 seconds left.

NOTES

• Trailing 20-0 late in the third quarter, Duke posted 21 unanswered points to equal the second-biggest comeback in program history, matching a 21-20 triumph over Georgia Tech on Oct. 30, 1954.
• Prior to Saturday, Duke’s last win over North Carolina was a 42-35 victory on Nov. 10, 2018.
• Duke quarterback Maalik Murphy completed 15-of-34 passes for 209 yards and a touchdown, including 149 yards through the air after intermission.
• Linebacker Ozzie Nicholas and safety Terry Moore topped Duke with 10 tackles apiece, while linebacker Tre Freeman added eight stops and an interception.

UP NEXT

• Duke travels to Georgia Tech for the Blue Devils’ first road conference test of the 2024 season. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m., and the game will be broadcast live on ACC Network.

For more information on Duke Football, follow the Blue Devils on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching “DukeFOOTBALL”.
 
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