Duke Will Look To Avoid Their Third Straight Loss As They Visit Miami

For the second straight week Duke will be on the road as they visit Miami on Saturday where they won’t only look to avoid their third straight loss but will look to become bowl eligible as well while Miami will also look to become bowl eligible.

Duke comes into the game with a record of 5-3 while they’re 1-3 in conference and are sixth in the Coastal Division. Miami also has a record of 5-3 while they’re 2-2 in conference and are in fourth place in the Coastal Division. “according to http://www.espn.com/college-football/standings/_/group/1

As for Duke’s previous game, they lost at Pittsburgh last Saturday.

In a back-and-forth offensive battle, Pitt scored the last strike, with Kenny Pickett hitting Maurice Ffrench five seconds left in the game to beat Duke, 54-45 on Saturday. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211777853

Pitt had leaned on its rushing offense for most of the game, but Pickett came through in crunch time, hitting Rafael Araujo-Lopes on a 17-yard pass, Tre Tipton for six yards and then an 11-yard scramble just before the game-winning pass to Ffrench. Pickett finished 8 of 18 for 150 yards and two touchdowns, with three of his eight completions and 78 of his passing yards coming on the final drive. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211777853

Pitt (4-4, 3-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) moved to within a half-game of first-place Virginia in the ACC Coastal division, while Duke (5-3, 1-3) missed an opportunity to secure bowl eligibility and climb into contention within the division.”according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211777853

In a game full of offense, Pitt's defense got an elusive stop late in the fourth quarter, with defensive tackle Amir Watts sacking Daniel Jones on a fourth-and-long to get the Panthers the ball back. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211777853

Both teams eclipsed 600 yards of total offense. Duke did most of its damage in the air, with Jones setting career highs with 396 passing yards and four touchdowns. Deon Jackson set a Duke record with 403 all-purpose yards. Pitt's 484 rushing yards were the second-most in program history. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211777853

Duke did not punt until the fourth quarter, with an early turnover on downs and a Jones fumble standing as the only two stops for Pitt's defense until the final frame. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211777853

Ffrench's game-winner was his second touchdown. He also scored on a 50-yard catch in the second quarter. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211777853

Freshman defensive back V'Lique Carter, playing in his first game, made an impact on offense, with scores from 31 and 16 yards out. He finished with 137 yards on seven carries. Regular running back Qadree Ollison had 149 yards and a score on 18 rushes. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211777853

For Duke, backup quarterback Quentin Harris scored on a pair of short runs and slot receiver T.J. Rahming had a pair of short touchdowns. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211777853

As for Miami’s previous game, Like Duke they lost their previous game as they lost on the road at Boston College last Saturday.

A motivated Boston College team defended its home field and honored an Eagles' hero, defeating the University of Miami, 27-14. “according to https://hurricanesports.com/news/2018/10/26/football-miami-falls-at-bc-27-14.aspx
 
Friday's game served as the annual Red Bandana Game in honor of Welles Crowther, a former BC lacrosse player who saved over a dozen lives in the South Tower of the World Trade Center during the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. “according to https://hurricanesports.com/news/2018/10/26/football-miami-falls-at-bc-27-14.aspx
 
The Eagles (6-2, 3-1 ACC) jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, totaling 426 yards of offense and forcing two turnovers on their way to victory over the Hurricanes (5-3, 2-2 ACC). “according to https://hurricanesports.com/news/2018/10/26/football-miami-falls-at-bc-27-14.aspx
 
After missing the previous two games due to injury, BC star running back AJ Dillon announced his presence early with a 25-yard run on Boston's College's first play from scrimmage. The Eagles used a trick play to get deep into Miami territory as quarterback Anthony Brown threw a backwards pass to receiver Jeff Smith, who then tossed it back to Brown for a 27-yard gain to the Miami 12. Three plays later, Brown hit Smith for a nine-yard touchdown that gave Boston College a 7-0 lead with 8:57 left in the opening quarter. “according to https://hurricanesports.com/news/2018/10/26/football-miami-falls-at-bc-27-14.aspx
 
Sophomore DeeJay Dallas swayed momentum back in Miami's direction on the following kickoff, sprinting to the BC 44 with an impressive 53-yard return to open Miami's possession. Six plays later, the Canes found the end zone when quarterback Malik Rosier connected with receiver Darrell Langham for a 13-yard touchdown pass and catch that evened the game at 7-7. “according to https://hurricanesports.com/news/2018/10/26/football-miami-falls-at-bc-27-14.aspx
 
The Eagles used Smith's arm again for a big gain on their next possession, as the former quarterback turned receiver took a handoff from Brown and threw a dart for Travis Levy for a 31-yard gain to the Miami 19. Five plays later, Brown scrambled into the end zone for a five-yard touchdown that gave BC a 14-7 lead with 2:50 remaining in the quarter. “according to https://hurricanesports.com/news/2018/10/26/football-miami-falls-at-bc-27-14.aspx
 
Boston College scored for its third straight possession, engineering a 20-play scoring drive that lasted seven minutes and four seconds before Colton Lichtenberg hit a 21-yard field goal to put BC up, 17-7, with 9:04 left in the half. “according to https://hurricanesports.com/news/2018/10/26/football-miami-falls-at-bc-27-14.aspx
 
Miami's offense responded with a methodical 10-play scoring drive of its own, capped by a 10-yard touchdown run by Dallas out of the wildcat formation that brought the Canes within three with 4:34 left in the half. “according to https://hurricanesports.com/news/2018/10/26/football-miami-falls-at-bc-27-14.aspx
 
Late in the opening half, the Hurricanes' defense stopped BC's offense for the first time. The Eagles punted from their own 43 and downed the ball at the Miami 9, but a block in the back penalty pushed the Hurricanes to the 3 to start their possession. “according to https://hurricanesports.com/news/2018/10/26/football-miami-falls-at-bc-27-14.aspx
 
Boston College forced a punt four downs later, taking over possession at the Miami 45 with 2:01 remaining in the half. The Hurricanes' defense rose to the challenge and forced a three-and-out to get the ball back with 1:42 left in the half, but Miami could not turn the possession into points and went into the locker room trailing by three, 17-14. “according to https://hurricanesports.com/news/2018/10/26/football-miami-falls-at-bc-27-14.aspx
 
A 10-yard sack by Jonathan Garvin and Pat Bethel on second-and-5 from the UM 49 stymied Boston College's opening drive of the second half. It also meant the Hurricanes' defense forced punts on three consecutive BC possessions after allowing 17 points over the Eagles first three drives. “according to https://hurricanesports.com/news/2018/10/26/football-miami-falls-at-bc-27-14.aspx
 
Boston College's defense forced a turnover to take over possession deep in Miami territory, as linebacker Max Richardson blitzed and was unblocked on his way to hitting Rosier while he threw. The ball was batted around until it landed in the hands of BC's Hamp Cheevers and returned to the Miami 14. “according to https://hurricanesports.com/news/2018/10/26/football-miami-falls-at-bc-27-14.aspx
 
Trajan Bandy broke up a pass intended for Kobay White on third-and-goal from the UM 5 and Miami's defense held firm following the sudden change. Lichtenberg converted a 23-yard field goal that increased the BC lead to six, 20-14. “according to https://hurricanesports.com/news/2018/10/26/football-miami-falls-at-bc-27-14.aspx
 
The Eagles picked off Rosier again on Miami's next drive, as Taj-Amir Torres jumped in front of a pass intended for Jeff Thomas and returned the interception to the Miami 14. One play later, Dillon rushed 14 yards to the end zone for a touchdown that gave Boston College a 27-14 lead. “according to https://hurricanesports.com/news/2018/10/26/football-miami-falls-at-bc-27-14.aspx
 
A heads-up play by junior striker Romeo Finley, who had pinpoint coverage on a 3rd-and-3 play, triggered the first appearance of the turnover chain with 2:13 remaining in the third quarter. Finley intercepted a pass thrown by Brown and Miami drove to BC 3 before Rosier threw a pass intended for Langham in the end zone that was broken up by Torres. Langham appeared to take a helmet-to-helmet hit from a BC defender and the play was reviewed for targeting on Boston College, but officials determined there was no foul and the Eagles took over possession on their own 3. “according to https://hurricanesports.com/news/2018/10/26/football-miami-falls-at-bc-27-14.aspx
 
The Eagles followed with a 13-play drive that ended in a missed 44-yard field goal, but took 7:15 off the clock. The Hurricanes took over possession on its own 27 trailing by 13 points with 5:29 remaining in the game, but could not put together a scoring drive over their final two possessions. “according to https://hurricanesports.com/news/2018/10/26/football-miami-falls-at-bc-27-14.aspx

Kick-off is set for 7:00pm from Hard Rock Stadium. The game will be televised on ESPN2. “according to http://www.goduke.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=4200&SPID=1843&SPSID=22666