Duke runs all over Tar Heels, but is unable to hold on. Blue Devils fall to UNC, 38-35
A tepid third quarter and late mistakes caused Duke to squander an 11-point first-half lead — and a four-point fourth-quarter lead — in another defeat at the hands of rival North Carolina.
UNC quarterback Drake Maye’s 8-yard touchdown pass to Antoine Green with 16 seconds left lifted the Tar Heels to a 38-35 win, their fourth consecutive victory over the Blue Devils.
On the strength of a running game that produced 297 rushing yards, Duke (4-3, 1-2 ACC) led 21-10 in the second quarter, and 21-17 at halftime. Two UNC (6-1, 3-0 ACC) third-quarter touchdowns, while Duke’s offense went stagnant, put the Tar Heels ahead 31-21 entering the fourth quarter.
But Duke wasn’t done.
The Blue Devils moved in front after Riley Leonard fired a 20-yard touchdown pass to Sahmir Hagans and, with 10:12 to play, Jordan Waters scored on a 38-yard touchdown run, giving Duke a 35-31 lead.
With a chance to salt away the game, Duke appeared to have first down inside the UNC 10. But an illegal shift penalty set the Blue Devils back to the UNC 16 for a third-down play.
On the next play, Leonard fired a 16-yard touchdown pass to Jalon Calhoun, but that play was negated by an illegal chop block penalty on Duke tackle Andre Harris. That pushed Duke back to the 31.
After Leonard’s 5-yard run, Charlie Ham missed a 43-yard field goal, and UNC took possession with 2:09 to play.
The Tar Heels’ drive for the game-winning score was aided by a personal foul penalty on Duke linebacker Shaka Heyward for grabbing UNC running back Caleb Hood’s facemask, moving UNC to the Duke 25.
After rushing for 192 yards in the first half, Duke managed just two yards on the ground in the third quarter while UNC scored a pair of touchdowns to take a 31-21 lead.
Duke’s deficit could have been deeper. UNC took possession at the Blue Devils 28 after a failed Duke fourth-down run, but the Blue Devils’ defense kept the Tar Heels from getting a first down. Brandon Johnson’s third-down sack knocked UNC back to the Duke 34, and Noah Burnette’s 52-yard field goal missed, leaving UNC up by 10.
Duke again clawed back. The Hagans catch for a score and Waters’ TD run sandwiched a UNC three-and-out
put the Blue Devils up 35-31 with 10:12 to play.
Duke’s potent running game appeared to have its edge again.
The Blue Devils gained all those rushing yards despite playing without its leading rusher, Jaylen Coleman, who missed his second consecutive game with a lower body injury.
Leonard led Duke with 130 rushing yards, while Waters gained 91 on 15 carries with two touchdowns.
Maye threw for 380 yards and rushed for 70 yards for UNC. He threw three touchdown passes, including the game-winner.
First-half control
Duke took a 21-17 halftime lead on the strength of three touchdown runs — one each from Waters, Leonard and Jaquez Moore.
Waters scored on a 2-yard run with 8:30 left in the first half as the Blue Devils, who saw UNC kick a field goal on its first possession, answered with a touchdown to take the lead.
Down 10-7 after Maye’s 10-yard touchdown pass to Kamari Morales, Duke moved in front again when Leonard scored on a 74-yard touchdown run with 5:16 to play until halftime.
On the first play after he was sacked to lose 14 yards, Leonard dropped back to pass but saw a hole and ran up the middle. He appeared to be bottled up but eluded a host of UNC defenders before cutting right and sprinting to the end zone for a 14-10 Duke lead.
The game’s first turnover allowed Duke to build its lead. Maye was cocking his arm back to throw a pass when Hood hit the ball with his arm causing a fumble. Duke linebacker Shaka Heyward fell on the ball the UNC 36.
Duke burned 2:55 off the clock before Moore scored on a 2-yard run giving the Blue Devils a 21-10 lead with 1:38 left in the half.
But that was enough time for Maye to direct a 75-yard touchdown drive, which he culminated with a 4-yard pass to Hood with 13 seconds left in the half, leaving Duke up 21-17.
This story was originally published October 15, 2022 at 11:37 PM with the headline "Duke runs all over Tar Heels, but is unable to hold on. Blue Devils fall to UNC, 38-35."