DURHAM -- The Duke Blue Devils held their final scrimmage of the preseason Tuesday night at Wallace Wade Stadium to help prepare for opening night against Richmond, but some of their stars who are expected to shine under the lights didn't take part.
Starting quarterback Thad Lewis and defensive leader Vincent Rey at linebacker took the night off to rest minor ankle injuries, and top returning receiver Johnny Williams sat it out while mending a minor leg injury suffered in a scrimmage Saturday. Starting linebacker Damian Thornton also didn't participate with an undisclosed injury that is considered minor.
Lewis' absence gave second-stringer Sean Renfree a chance to shine, and he responded by connecting on 5 of 8 passes for 80 yards. Duke coach David Cutcliffe has said that Renfree, a redshirt freshman, should get some playing time when the Blue Devils open their season Sept. 5 at 7 p.m. against Richmond.
"It went well," Renfree said. "It was a good learning experience. Coach is trying to put us in as many game-realistic situations as he can."
Renfree's first drive included completions of 37 and 24 yards to sophomore receiver Donovan Varner. Starting running back Re'quan Boyette capped the opening drive with a 4-yard touchdown run, and Boyette later added an 18-yard scamper for another score. Boyette had 39 yards on five carries; Patrick Kurunwune had 80 yards on four carries, highlighted by a 67-yard TD run.
Renfree said he's excited about making his official college debut and that the team as a whole is excited to welcome the Spiders.
"Everybody is eager; we can smell it," Renfree said. "It's going to be a good opportunity for me to get out there and learn bit by bit rather than having it all thrown at me at one time later in my career."
Behind Renfree, true freshman Sean Schroeder was 11-of-20 through the air for 76 yards. Hillside High School product Desmond Scott had a scrimmage-high four catches but gained just 13 yards on them, and receiver Tony Foster out of Burlington had three catches for 39 yards.
Defensively, senior defensive tackle Vince Oghobaase was credited with two tackles for loss, including one quarterback sack. Freshman cornerback Ross Cockrell posted one interception.
On special teams, freshman Tyree Glover highlighted blocked a punt and returned it 5 yards for a touchdown.
"My hat is off to our coaches," Cutcliffe said. "This was as much a test for our coaches as it was our players, and it was well done in that regard. We held out some good football players trying to look at some young players and see where we are, and I think it's good that we did that.
"We have some people in our depth chart that are young and haven't played a lot of football, and I wanted them to get the majority of the snaps tonight."
-- BRYAN STRICKLAND
