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FOOTBALL

Duke, Northwestern Are Opposing Each Other On The Gridiron Today In Durham

Duke who is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, North Carolina are opposing each other on the gridiron today in Durham.

Duke, Northwestern have had two previous match ups on the gridiron recently!

When?

In 2017 Duke, Northwestern opposed each other on the gridiron in Durham!

Duke won by a score of 41-17!

Why?

On the strength of a 21-10 halftime lead, Duke dispatched Northwestern.

Daniel Jones who is now in year three of being the quarterback of the New York Giants in the NFL ran for two touchdowns and passed for two more to guide the Blue Devils to their second straight victory to start the year. On the day, Jones completed 29 of 45 passes for 305 yards and found Chris Taylor and Davis Koppenhaver for touchdown receptions.

Duke outgained the Wildcats (1-1) in total yardage, 538-191, while the Blue Devil defense held the visitors to just 22 yards on the ground, with 21 of those coming on Northwestern's final possession. Sophomore cornerback Mark Gilbert tallied the first two interceptions of his career and senior safety Alonzo Saxton II supplied seven tackles and a forced fumble.

Northwestern marched deep into Duke territory on its second drive of the game, but the Blue Devil defense held strong on 3rd and 9 to limit the Wildcats to a field goal. The Duke offense countered at the end of the opening quarter, punctuating an 80-yard drive with an 11-yard touchdown scamper by Jones.  

The Blue Devils made it 14-3 early in the second quarter when Taylor hauled in a 52-yard pass from Jones. A Saxton II fumble recovery then set up Jones' second rushing touchdown of the afternoon.

It was the Wildcats' turn to capitalize on a fumble recovery just before the half, bringing the score to 21-10 at the intermission.  

Gilbert picked off a pass by Northwestern's Clayton Thorson three minutes into the third quarter and Austin Parker booted home a 31-yard field goal attempt.

On Duke's next possession, the squad moved the chains behind the efforts of redshirt freshman running back Brittain Brown and junior wide receiver T.J. Rahming, who would conclude the day with 127 receiving yards. Jones capped the drive with a one-yard pass to Koppenhaver, extending the Blue Devils' lead to 31-10. Senior running back Shaun Wilson tacked on an eight-yard touchdown run at 10:07 in the fourth quarter and Gilbert's second interception resulted in a 24-yard field goal by Parker with five minutes remaining.   

Northwestern quarterback Marcus McShepard found Riley Lees for a 20-yard touchdown pass inside the final three minutes to account for the final score.

And Northwestern lost to Duke by a score of 17-41 in Durham!

Why?

Because Northwestern had trouble 508 yard performance from their previous game.

In 2018 Duke, Northwestern matched up again!

This time, in Evanston Illinois!

Duke won by a score of 21-7!

Why?

Daniel Jones who is now in year three of being the starting quarterback for the New York Giants threw for three touchdowns before leaving the game with an apparent injury,

Jones completed 16 of 22 passes for 192 yards in another big game against Northwestern. He accounted for 413 total yards and four touchdowns in last year's 41-17 romp.

Johnathan Lloyd had 94 yards receiving, including a 52-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter. Davis Koppenhaver had a one-handed TD grab late in the first half, and the Blue Devils won for the 21st time in 24 non-conference games.

Marquis Waters intercepted Thorson in double coverage, leading to the Wildcats' Cameron Green getting ejected for a helmet-to-helmet hit on him. Jones connected with Lloyd deep down the middle on the next play for a 52-yard touchdown to put Duke on top. An open Koppenhaver made it a 14-point game with 2:18 left in the half when he reached up with his right hand and hauled in a 9-yard touchdown in the back of the end zone.

“according to articles on goduke.com”

Northwestern lost yet again to Duke!

This time, by a a score of 7-21!

Why?

Because Northwestern was unable to stymie Duke in a 21-7 loss at Ryan Field in the Wildcats' home opener.

Northwestern finished with 381 yards of total offense, out gaining Duke by 80 yards, but was unable to find the end zone after scoring a touchdown on the opening drive of the contest. The Wildcats' defense held Purdue to 4-of-15 (26.6%) on third down conversion attempts.

“according to articles on nusports.com”

What will happen in today’s game as they oppose each other yet again on the gridiron?

Will Duke win their third straight game over Northwestern?

Will Northwestern snap their two game losing streak to Duke?

We will find out later today!

Why?

Because the Duke, Northwestern are opposing each other today on the gridiron in Durham!

Duke comes into the game with a record of 1-1!

Why?

Because they got their first win of the season on Friday September 10, 2021 as they beat NC A&T by a score of 45-10.

In that game Mataeo Durant who is a running back, Gunnar Holmberg who is a quarterback helped propel Duke past North Carolina A&T.

How?

Mataeo Durant scored three touchdowns for Duke. Gunnar Holmberg scored two rushing touchdowns.

Gunnar Holmberg was 20-of-27 passing for 270 yards and rushed five times for 30 yards and two scores.

Freshman Jordan Moore accounted for Duke's final touchdown when he scampered nine yards into the end zone for his first career score.

Redshirt junior Shaka Heyward led the defense with a game-high 16 tackles. Sophomore Dorian Mausi, graduate student J'Marick Woods and redshirt senior Lummie Young IV chipped in with nine, eight and eight tackles, respectively.

Sophomore kicker Charlie Ham converted on a 36-yard field goal for his first of the year.

Northwestern comes into the game with a record of

“according to an article on goduke.com”

Like Duke, Northwestern comes into the game with a record of 1-1!

Unlike Duke, Northwestern beat Indiana State by a score of 24-6 on Saturday September 11, 2021!

Where?

Evanston Illinois!

In their game with Indiana State Northwestern’s defense returned to dominant form, holding Indiana State to six points and 169 total yards. Northwestern shut out Indiana State in the first half, its first time holding an opponent scoreless in the first half since Nov. 18, 2019 against Minnesota.

It is the 14th time under Pat Fitzgerald that the 'Cats have held their opponents to six or less points in a game. This also marks the third consecutive season in which Northwestern has held an opponent under 35 rushing yards in a game.

The rushing attack turned in a massive performance, led by Evan Hull's 119 yards and two touchdowns. It is Hull's second-career game with 100+ yards and 2 TDs, with the first coming against UMass in November 2019.

First-year Anthony Tyus III picked up 71 yards on 10 carries, continuing a five-year streak in which a Northwestern true first-year running back has tallied 70+ yards in a game.

It was a historic day for the Wildcats' special teams unit, as Brandon Joseph and Raymond Niro III combined for 166 punt return yards, shattering a program record set in 1950. Joseph became the first Wildcat since Venric Mark in 2012 to tally 100+ punt return yards in a game. His 65-yard return in the third quarter is the longest since Mark ripped off a 75-yarder against Penn State in 2012.

Junior Malik Washington hauled in his first-career touchdown, when he connected with Hunter Johnson in the first quarter for a career-long 25 yard reception.

Adetomiwa Adebawore forced his first-career fumble in the first quarter and tallied 1.5 sacks for a new career high, while AJ Hampton, Jr. recorded three pass breakups to set a new career-high.

Kickoff is set for 4:00pm from Brooks Field @Wallace Wade Stadium!

The game is going to be televised on ACC Network!