Duke Returns To Action As They Host Notre Dame
Duke and Notre Dame are both
Duke comes into the game with a record of 4-4 while Notre Dame comes into the game with a record of 6-2.
Duke and Notre Dame last met on the grid iron during the 2016 season when Duke traveled to South Bend.
The outcome ? Duke edged Notre Dame by a score of 38-35.
Duke coach David Cutcliffe need not have worried about AJ Reed's confidence. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2016/9/25/211188395.aspx
After the freshman missed his first three college field goal attempts, Cutcliffe talked this week about being concerned about Reed's body language after his miss against Northwestern last week. He opted against trying for a field goal with the score tied at 28 early in the fourth quarter, explaining afterward he didn't think a field goal would be enough.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2016/9/25/211188395.aspx
But fourth-and-goal with the ball on the 1-yard line, Notre Dame (1-3) with no timeouts and 1:27 on the clock, he said he didn't hesitate to turn to Reed.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2016/9/25/211188395.aspx
"That unit there, they believe in him and he's got a lot of talent. I know when it came down there at the end -- the field goal -- there was no doubt in my mind he was going to make it," he said.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2016/9/25/211188395.aspx
Reed said he knew his teammates were behind him.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2016/9/25/211188395.aspx
"They were all telling me that they had my back and that they knew I was going to get it done for them," he said.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2016/9/25/211188395.aspx
The kick was a devastating second-straight home loss for Notre Dame, which started the season ranked No. 10 with hopes for vying for a playoff spot. Coach Brian Kelly said afterward that nearly every position will be up for grabs and said he might consider playing quarterback Brandon Wimbush, who he had hoped to redshirt. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2016/9/25/211188395.aspx
"I told our guys essentially that we're going in the wrong direction. We're not going to continue to go in this direction. We'll have to re-evaluate what we're doing, who we're doing it with, and how we're doing it," he said. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2016/9/25/211188395.aspx
Daniel Jones threw for three touchdowns, including a 64-yard scoring pass to Anthony Nash midway through the fourth quarter to tie the score as Duke (2-2) beat the Irish for just the second time in five tries. The first win was in their first meeting, a 9-7 victory in Durham, North Carolina, in 1958. Jones was 24 of 32 passing for 290 yards and Duke rushed for 208 yards. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2016/9/25/211188395.aspx
"I think we were, as a team, executing at such a high level. We weren't perfect by any stretch, but overall, we were executing more consistently than we had been," Jones said.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2016/9/25/211188395.aspx
Shaun Wilson returned a kickoff 96 yards for a score to spark the Blue Devils after Notre Dame, which had struggled with big deficits in two earlier losses, jumped to a 14-0 lead. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2016/9/25/211188395.aspx
The Irish defense continued to struggle, giving up 30 or more points against Power Five teams for the seventh time in their last nine games. The student section chanted "Fire VanGorder," referring to defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2016/9/25/211188395.aspx
Kelly, who talked about his frustration with the play of the defense a week earlier, said the coaching of the defense is one of the few areas he wasn't disappointed in. He said Duke was grittier and more determined than the Irish.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2016/9/25/211188395.aspx
This time around Notre Dame will be looking for a different outcome when they play Duke while Duke will look to avoid their third straight loss.
As for Duke’s previous game, they lost to rival North Carolina
A potential game-winning drive came up a yard short as Deon Jackson's jump pass to Noah Gray was intercepted on the North Carolina one-yard line with 14 seconds remaining to seal the win for the home side. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/10/26/football-duke-stunned-at-north-carolina.aspx
Quentin Harris finished the day 22-of-39 with 229 yards and a touchdown. The redshirt senior scampered in for another score for his sixth rushing TD of the season. Scott Bracey tallied his second career score in as many games when he and Harris connected on an 11-yard touchdown in the third quarter. AJ Reed converted on a 23-yard field goal in the first quarter to hand the redshirt junior his ninth straight make through the uprights this year. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/10/26/football-duke-stunned-at-north-carolina.aspx
On the defensive side of the ball, Shaka Heyward was all over the field. The redshirt freshman posted 15 tackles for his first career double digit tackle contest. He and Chris Rumph II both added a sack, while Marquis Waters and Jalen Alexander registered an interception. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/10/26/football-duke-stunned-at-north-carolina.aspx
The Blue Devil defense made an important stop with three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter when they punched the ball out of a North Carolina running back's hands at Duke's own three-yard line. Heyward recovered the fumble at the Duke six, which gave the Blue Devil's the ball and one final chance to pull even. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/10/26/football-duke-stunned-at-north-carolina.aspx
Unlike Duke Notre Dame didn’t have a bye week last week and they won their previous game as they topped Virginia Tech who like Duke is a member of the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
A last-gasp touchdown drive resulting in a seven-yard scoring rush by Ian Book lifted No. 16 Notre Dame to a 21-20 victory over Virginia Tech on Saturday at Notre Dame Stadium. “according to https://und.com/16-irish-edge-hokies-21-20/
After the Hokies (5-3) had held the Irish (6-2) scoreless in the second half, Book and company manufactured an 18-play, 87-yard drive in the final 3:22 of regulation, scoring with 29 seconds remaining to regain the lead. “according to https://und.com/16-irish-edge-hokies-21-20/
Book finished 29-of-53 for 341 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions, while also rushing for an additional 50 yards on 13 carries. Wide receiver Chase Claypool had eight catches for 118 yards — including one for 26 yards on fourth down during the final drive — while Chris Finke finished with 56 yards on five receptions and tight ends Cole Kmet and Tommy Tremble each had touchdown receptions. Running back Jafar Armstrong finished with 37 rushing yards. “according to https://und.com/16-irish-edge-hokies-21-20/
Linebacker Drew White led the team in tackles with eight, while cornerback Donte Vaughan had six tackles and a pair of pass breakups and safety Kyle Hamilton finished with four tackles, a pass break-up and the interception that iced the game with two seconds to go.”according to https://und.com/16-irish-edge-hokies-21-20/
How It Happened
The Irish didn’t let a first-quarter interception amount to anything after trading three-and-outs with the Hokies to start the game. On their second possession, the Irish moved efficiently into Virginia Tech territory, but linebacker Dax Hollifield snagged a Book pass at the nine-yard line to stall the Irish charge. “according to https://und.com/16-irish-edge-hokies-21-20/
After a delay of game penalty, the Hokies failed to advance and were forced to punt. The attempt went just 38 yards with a 16-yard return by Finke to the 26-yard line. Two plays later — an 18-yard pass from Book to Finke and an 8-yard reception by Kmet — the Irish took a 7-0 lead at the 9:10 mark of the first quarter. “according to https://und.com/16-irish-edge-hokies-21-20/
The Hokies tied it up before the quarter was out. After a short Notre Dame punt gave them the ball at the Irish 45-yard line, the Hokies took advantage of a facemask penalty and converted on fourth-and-goal from the eight as quarterback Quincy Patterson connected with receiver Damon Hazelton on the touchdown late in the period.”according to https://und.com/16-irish-edge-hokies-21-20/
Notre Dame regained the lead on the next series, driving 11 yards for 77 yards to take a 14-7 lead at 11:45 of the second quarter. Book found tight end Tommy Tremble on a four-yard scoring strike immediately following a 26-yard catch-and-run from running back Jafar Armstrong that injected life into the Irish drive. “according to https://und.com/16-irish-edge-hokies-21-20/
The Irish looked to make it a two-touchdown lead just before halftime after Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah recovered a Hokie fumble at the 42-yard line. The Irish marched to the one-yard line before a fumble by Armstrong turned into a 98-yard fumble return by Divine Deablo to tie the game with nine seconds left in the half.”according to https://und.com/16-irish-edge-hokies-21-20/
The Hokies kept the momentum rolling after halftime, converting on a 44-yard field goal to take their first lead of the game at the 11-minute mark of the third quarter. Nearly a full quarter later, Virginia Tech added to its lead on a 25-yard field goal with 13:25 left in the game to make it 20-14.”according to https://und.com/16-irish-edge-hokies-21-20/
A missed Irish field goal attempt at the 7:02 mark resulted in a missed opportunity to cut into the Hokie lead, but the Irish defense halted Virginia Tech and took possession at their own 13-yard line with 3:22 to go. A pair of fourth-down conversions kept the drive alive, first on fourth-and-three from the 20 when Book found Armstrong for five yards. The next came on fourth-and-10 at the Virginia Tech 33, when Book connected with Claypool on a crossing route for 26 yards to the seven.”according to https://und.com/16-irish-edge-hokies-21-20/
Three plays later, Book was in the end zone, scrambling for the score after the play broke down, with the extra point giving the Irish the lead for the first time since the first half.”according tohttps://und.com/16-irish-edge-hokies-21-20/
An attempt at trickery on the kickoff return when for naught on the Hokies’ part, as Owusu-Koramoah pinned returner Caleb Farley at the 10. After two incomplete passes, Hamilton snagged his second interception of the year to clinch the win.”according to https://und.com/16-irish-edge-hokies-21-20/
Kick-off is set for 7:30pm from Brooks Field @Wallace Wade Stadium. The game will be televised on the ACC Network.