bstrickland@heraldsun.com; 419-6671
DURHAM -- Duke has lost its backup quarterback and one of its key cogs for protecting the quarterback for the remainder of the season.
Quarterback Sean Renfree tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during Saturday's 49-10 loss to Georgia Tech, Duke coach David Cutcliffe announced Monday.
In addition, starting left guard Mitchell Lederman fractured a toe on his right foot on Nov. 7 against North Carolina and underwent surgery Monday performed by Dr. Tee Moorman and Dr. Mark Easley of Duke Sports Medicine Center.
Lederman tried to play against Georgia Tech but managed just six snaps.
Renfree was injured late in the third quarter Saturday while trying to twist away from Georgia Tech's pass rush, going down awkwardly without contact. He will have surgery at a later date and is unlikely to be ready for spring practice but is expected to be ready for the 2010 season.
A redshirt freshman, Renfree appeared in five games and completed 34 of 50 passes for 330 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions. His best game was at Army on Sept. 12, when he came off the bench and connected on 7 of 8 passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns to rally Duke to a 35-19 victory.
It's unclear who will come off the bench if senior starter Thad Lewis stumbles.
Lewis, slowed by a deep thigh bruise that he was resting when Renfree relieved him against Georgia Tech, hopes to be close to 100 percent for his homecoming game at Miami on Saturday (noon, ESPNU). But if Lewis has to come out of the game, Cutcliffe will face a tough decision.
He wants to keep the redshirt tag on Sean Schroeder but said Sunday he would consider playing the freshman if need be. The depth chart for Miami will list Schroeder or Alex King, a punter who played quarterback for Forsyth Country Day for former Wake Forest quarterback Rusty LaRue, behind Lewis.
Brandon Harper will replace Lederman, a redshirt junior who played in nine games, in the lineup. Harper moved to offensive line before spring practice, switched back to defensive line in preseason practice and then landed back on the offensive line early in the season, starting against N.C. Central and Virginia Tech for a banged-up Lederman before returning to a reserve role.
Junior Rob Drum will back up Harper.
The Blue Devils (5-5, 3-3 ACC) need to beat Miami this Saturday and Wake Forest next Saturday to qualify for a bowl. The season finale has been set for a noon kickoff at Wallace Wade Stadium and will be broadcast on WRAL.
