David Cutcliffe Gets The Win In His Return To Tennessee As Duke Routes Middle Tennessee

Head Coach David Cutcliffe who started his coaching career in Knoxville at Tennessee returned to the state and lead Duke to win over Middle Tennessee.

Duke football scored on seven of its nine possessions to take down Middle Tennessee State, 41-18, Saturday night at Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/9/14/football-duke-breezes-past-middle-tennessee-state-41-18.aspx

The Blue Devils saw great output from redshirt senior quarterback Quentin Harris, who finished 24-of-27 for 237 yards and four touchdowns. His four passing scores matched Dave Brown's program record for touchdowns in consecutive games (eight), after he also had four against North Carolina A&T last week. In addition, Harris added 107 yards on 11 carries, including a career-long 65-yard run in the third quarter. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/9/14/football-duke-breezes-past-middle-tennessee-state-41-18.aspx

Junior running back Deon Jackson got Duke on the board first as he muscled his way into the end zone to give the Blue Devils the lead midway through the first half. The score capped off a 14 play, 67-yard drive that ate 6:04 of the clock. Jackson finished with 71 yards on 22 carries and a touchdown. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/9/14/football-duke-breezes-past-middle-tennessee-state-41-18.aspx

Following the score, Duke redshirt junior kicker AJ Reed surprised the Middle Tennessee special teams unit by converting on an onside kick. After the ball traveled the required ten yards redshirt sophomore wide receiver Damond Philyaw-Johnson jumped on it. The Duke Blue and White would capitalize on the good field position and add another score as Harris completed a screen pass to rookie wide receiver Jalon Calhoun who made a couple Middle defenders miss before finding the end zone. That touchdown handed Duke a 14-3 lead and it would never look back. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/9/14/football-duke-breezes-past-middle-tennessee-state-41-18.aspx

Redshirt senior wide receiver Aaron Young led the team in receiving with 106 yards on six receptions and two touchdowns. Young turned many heads with an incredible 25-yard catch in the back of the end zone late in the second quarter. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/9/14/football-duke-breezes-past-middle-tennessee-state-41-18.aspx

Rookie wide receiver Eli Pancol made one catch for the Blue Devils and scored an 11-yard touchdown to help the Duke offense. The Pendleton, Ind., native, scored his second touchdown in as many games. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/9/14/football-duke-breezes-past-middle-tennessee-state-41-18.aspx

Sophomore running back Mataeo Durant added 10 carries for 47 yards for the Blue Devils. His carries were highlighted by a 22-yard rush in the opening half. Junior tight end Noah Gray added five catches for 33 yards as well.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/9/14/football-duke-breezes-past-middle-tennessee-state-41-18.aspx

Defensively, senior safety Dylan Singleton and senior linebacker Koby Quansah led the team with eight total tackles apiece. This was the third consecutive game that Singleton led the Blue Devils in tackles. Redshirt junior linebacker Brandon Hill followed the pair with six tackles.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/9/14/football-duke-breezes-past-middle-tennessee-state-41-18.aspx

Redshirt sophomore defensive end Chris Rumph II led the team with two sacks for five yards and four tackles for a loss of ten yards. In addition, Rumph II tied redshirt senior defensive tackle Trevon McSwain for tops on the team with three quarterback hurries. Hill added the largest sack of the night, tackling the Middle Tennessee quarterback 16 yards behind the line of scrimmage in the fourth quarter.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/9/14/football-duke-breezes-past-middle-tennessee-state-41-18.aspx

Reed scored six points on the night with a 49-yard kick in the second quarter and a 26-yard strike in the third. Redshirt senior punter Austin Parker booted the ball twice for 84 yards at 42 yards per kick.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/9/14/football-duke-breezes-past-middle-tennessee-state-41-18.aspx

While Duke got the win Middle Tennessee meanwhile was on the other end of the spectrum.

An efficient offensive performance from the Duke Blue Devils was too much to overcome for Middle Tennessee Saturday
Duke (2-1) made its first trip to Murfreesboro to take on the Blue Raiders (1-2) in MT's annual Blackout game and left with a 41-18 win. “according to https://goblueraiders.com/news/2019/9/14/football-blue-raiders-succumb-to-efficient-blue-devils.aspx

"[Duke] has a really good football team," Middle Tennessee head coach Rick Stockstill said. "We just couldn't stop them. They scored on every possession except the last two possessions of the game. “according to https://goblueraiders.com/news/2019/9/14/football-blue-raiders-succumb-to-efficient-blue-devils.aspx

"It was just one of those nights where not a whole lot went our way." “according to
Behind quarterback Quentin Harris, the Blue Devils' offense made it tough on Middle Tennessee's defense all night long. “according to https://goblueraiders.com/news/2019/9/14/football-blue-raiders-succumb-to-efficient-blue-devils.aspx

Duke won the total yards battle 463-339 and refused to get off the field, converting 8-of-14 third downs and two fourth downs. The Blue Devils averaged 5.8 yards per first-down play, setting them up with an average distance to go on third down of just 4.6 yards.”according to https://goblueraiders.com/news/2019/9/14/football-blue-raiders-succumb-to-efficient-blue-devils.aspx

Harris finished with 237 yards through the air and four touchdowns and another 107 yards on the ground.
"They're a well-coached team," junior linebacker DQ Thomas said. "[Duke head coach David Cutcliffe] knows what he's doing with that offense. “according to https://goblueraiders.com/news/2019/9/14/football-blue-raiders-succumb-to-efficient-blue-devils.aspx

"We just need to execute better and make plays when they need to be made. “according to https://goblueraiders.com/news/2019/9/14/football-blue-raiders-succumb-to-efficient-blue-devils.aspx

Middle Tennessee's offense looked up to the task on its opening drive, going 51 yards in 13 plays before redshirt junior Crews Holt banged home a 41-yard field goal. “according to https://goblueraiders.com/news/2019/9/14/football-blue-raiders-succumb-to-efficient-blue-devils.aspx

Quarterback Asher O'Hara was the catalyst of the drive, connected on all six of his passes and rushing for 16 yards, including a 20-yard run on third and long to set up the field goal try. “according to https://goblueraiders.com/news/2019/9/14/football-blue-raiders-succumb-to-efficient-blue-devils.aspx

O'Hara, a redshirt sophomore making his second home start for the Blue Raiders, continued his strong start to the season. He completed 19-of-27 passes for 201 yards and two TDs and added a team-high 67 rushing yards on 18 attempts.”according to https://goblueraiders.com/news/2019/9/14/football-blue-raiders-succumb-to-efficient-blue-devils.aspx

Through three games, he's completed 70.7% of his passes (63-89) for 785 yards and eight TDs against just two interceptions. He's also the team leader with 202 rushing yards and another touchdown. “according to https://goblueraiders.com/news/2019/9/14/football-blue-raiders-succumb-to-efficient-blue-devils.aspx

"I missed my job a lot tonight," O'Hara said. "I'm just going to look back on film and learn from it, just like we all are." “according to https://goblueraiders.com/news/2019/9/14/football-blue-raiders-succumb-to-efficient-blue-devils.aspx

The Blue Raiders' early 3-0 lead wouldn't last, as Duke scored 34 straight points, converting its first seven drives into scores. “according to https://goblueraiders.com/news/2019/9/14/football-blue-raiders-succumb-to-efficient-blue-devils.aspx

O'Hara rallied MT to two second-half touchdowns, connecting on two passing scores, both to redshirt junior CJ Windham, his only two catches of the night. It was just too little, too late. “according to https://goblueraiders.com/news/2019/9/14/football-blue-raiders-succumb-to-efficient-blue-devils.aspx

Windham finished with 40 yards receiving, while junior Jimmy Marshall led the way with three catches for 42 yards. Senior Ty Lee had three grabs for 19 yards, tying Kendall Newson's school record with 43 straight games with a catch. “according to https://goblueraiders.com/news/2019/9/14/football-blue-raiders-succumb-to-efficient-blue-devils.aspx

Defensively, junior safety Reed Blankenship had a team-high nine tackles and a forced fumble. Senior Chris Melton finished with four tackles, two going for loss.”according to https://goblueraiders.com/news/2019/9/14/football-blue-raiders-succumb-to-efficient-blue-devils.aspx

Stockstill said his defense will work during the team's bye this week to correct too many missed tackles. The offense will also try to find a way to be more consistent around O'Hara.”according https://goblueraiders.com/news/2019/9/14/football-blue-raiders-succumb-to-efficient-blue-devils.aspx

"We have to tackle better," Stockstill said. "We have to really study and look on what we're doing with everything offensively, defensively … and really do a great self-evaluation and critique of where we're at."“according to https://goblueraiders.com/news/2019/9/14/football-blue-raiders-succumb-to-efficient-blue-devils.aspx

Duke now heads into their bye week to prepare for their trip to Blacksburg where they will take on Virginia Tech on Friday September 27th.

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