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FOOTBALL

Duke Becomes Bowl Eligible With Win At Miami

Last season Duke became bowl eligible during their last game of the season at Wake Forest.

This year however, Duke became bowl eligible at Miami and they still have three games remaining on their regular season schedule before preparing to go bowling.

- Quentin Harris' jump pass to Daniel Helm late in the third quarter put Duke ahead for good, and the Blue Devils beat reeling Miami 20-12 on Saturday night to hand the Hurricanes their third straight loss. “according to http://www.goduke.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=4200&SPID=1843&SPSID=22666

Deon Jackson scored on a 75-yard rush on the game's first snap from scrimmage for Duke (6-3, 2/3 Atlantic Coast Conference), which secured bowl eligibility and won at Miami for the first time since 1976. The Blue Devils had lost six straight at Miami. “according to http://www.goduke.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=4200&SPID=1843&SPSID=22666

Deejay Dallas had an 83-yard touchdown run for Miami (5-4, 2-3) and finished with 124 rushing yards, but also fumbled the ball away twice. Travis Homer had a game-high 133 rushing yards and a touchdown for the Hurricanes. “according to http://www.goduke.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=4200&SPID=1843&SPSID=22666

It was just the third time in the last 40 years that Miami, Florida and Florida State, the "Big Three" of college football in the Sunshine State lost on the same day. The others were Oct. 30, 2004 and Oct. 8, 2011 -- though all three schools also lost last weekend, just not on the same day. “according to http://www.goduke.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=4200&SPID=1843&SPSID=22666

Miami started Malik Rosier at quarterback, and he completed 8 of 12 passes for 76 yards. N'Kosi Perry replaced Rosier early and they rotated throughout the game; Perry completed 3 of 10 passes for negative-1 yards. “according to http://www.goduke.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=4200&SPID=1843&SPSID=22666

Miami has not scored more than 14 points in any of its last three games. Miami got to the Duke 13 in the final seconds and Lawrence Cager caught what would have been a touchdown pass with 10 ticks remaining, but he was called for offensive pass interference and Miami's last-ditch try from the 28 fell incomplete as time expired. “according to http://www.goduke.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=4200&SPID=1843&SPSID=22666

With the field waterlogged, thanks to a first-half downpour, both offenses struggled. But Duke found a way to create its own breaks on the drive that gave it the lead. “according to http://www.goduke.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=4200&SPID=1843&SPSID=22666

Facing third-and-3 at the Miami 15, Jackson took a handoff, stopped short of the line of scrimmage and threw a jump pass to the 6-foot-4 Helm -- who couldn't make the initial catch, but tipped the ball over 5-foot-11 Miami safety Jaquan Johnson, then dove and caught his own deflection as Johnson punched the turf in disbelief. “according to http://www.goduke.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=4200&SPID=1843&SPSID=22666

The go-ahead pass from Harris came two plays later. “according to http://www.goduke.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=4200&SPID=1843&SPSID=22666

Duke returns to Brooks Field @ Wallace Wade Stadium on Saturday where they will take on tobacco road rival North Carolina.

Kick-off is set for 12:20pm. The game will be televised on Raycom Sports. “according to http://www.goduke.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=4200&SPID=1843&SPSID=22666