Duke Returns To The Road To Take On Clemson

After defeating their tobacco road rival North Carolina a week ago at home Duke returns to the road on Saturday where they will head down to South Carolina where they will visit Death Valley where they will take on Clemson who unlike Duke has yet to lose a game this season.

Duke who is a member of the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference comes into the game with a record of 7-3 3-3 in conference and are in fifth place in their division “according to http://www.espn.com/college-football/standings/_/group/1 while Clemson who is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference Atlantic division comes into the game with a record of 10-0 while they’re 7-0 in conference and are in first place in their division. “according to http://www.espn.com/college-football/standings/_/group/1

As for Duke’s previous game, they topped their rival North Carolina in Durham last Saturday.

Daniel Jones set school records for total offense and rushing yards by a quarterback as Duke defeated North Carolina, 42-35, Saturday afternoon at Wallace Wade Stadium. With the third consecutive win in the series, the Blue Devils improved to 7-3 overall and 3-3 in the ACC. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211779985&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Jones rushed for 186 yards and one touchdown and threw for 361 and three more scores as the junior racked up 547 yards of total offense, both single-game records at Duke. He also becomes just the third ACC quarterback with multiple 300-100 games, joining Louisville’s Lamar Jackson (three) and Clemson’s Taj Boyd (two). “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211779985&DB_OEM_ID=4200

The game was back and forth early with Daniel Helm and Davis Koppenhaver reeling in consecutive touchdown passes to give Duke a 21-14 lead early in the second quarter. A four-yard rush by Deon Jackson allowed Duke to regain a touchdown lead, and the teams traded long touchdown runs to cap a wild first half. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211779985&DB_OEM_ID=4200

On the Tar Heels’ (1-8, 1-6) first play following the Jackson touchdown, Dazz Newsome broke free for an 84-yard touchdown that knotted the game at 28 with 6:14 remaining. Duke drove and missed a field goal on its ensuing possession, and then forced a UNC punt on the next drive. With the clock winding down in the half, Jones busted loose and sprinted 61 yards, nearly untouched, for a touchdown with 16 seconds remaining. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211779985&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Duke led 35-28 at the break, and appeared to have a two-score lead when Jones broke off another long run, sprinting 70 yards for what was ruled on the field as a touchdown. The play was overturned on review as Jones was ruled down at the two-yard line, settling for a career-long 68-yard rush. But a play later, Quentin Harris bowled his way in for the touchdown and a 42-28 advantage.”according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211779985&DB_OEM_ID=4200

A game that featured nine touchdowns in the first half produced just two in the second. The last of which came on the heels of a 16-play, 80-yard drive by North Carolina in the game’s closing minutes. QB Nathan Elliott led the drive, and capped it with a 13-yard strike to Thomas Jackson with 1:15 to play “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211779985&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Carolina was unable to recover the on-side kick, but regained possession after intercepting Jones in the end zone on fourth down. Elliott marched the Heels to Duke’s 39, and a desperation Hail Mary on the game’s final play was swatted away by Brandon Feamster to keep the Victory Bell in Durham for the third straight year. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211779985&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Duke converted 13 of its 20 third-down attempts, while UNC was just six-of-15. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211779985&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Jones carried 15 times for 186 yards, while Jackson had 78 as Duke out-gained its rival, 629-536, in total yards. T.J. Rahming had nine catches for 98 yards. Jones was 31-of-54 passing for 361 yards – his eighth career 300-yard passing game. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211779985&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Michael Carter rushed for 148 yards on 18 carries to pace the Heels, while Elliott was 27-of-41 for 221 yards and a touchdown. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211779985&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Like Duke, Clemson won their previous game as they routed Boston College last Saturday.

The No. 2/2 Clemson football team clinched the ACC Atlantic Division crown for the fourth consecutive season on Saturday, defeating the No. 17/14 Boston College Eagles, 27-7, at Alumni Stadium. With the win, Clemson remained undefeated on the season at 10-0 overall and 7-0 in the ACC, while Boston College moved to 7-3 overall and 4-2 in conference play. “according to http://clemsontigers.com/bcgame/

Offensively, Trevor Lawrence quarterbacked a balanced effort, hitting eight different receivers in the first half alone and completing 18 of 25 pass attempts for 216 yards and a touchdown in the first 30 minutes. Hunter Renfrow led the receiving corps with 80 yards on eight catches, both season highs for the graduate wideout. Defensively, the Tigers held the Boston College offense to just 24 yards in the first half and 113 total. Tanner Muse led the way with 10 total tackles, and 10 different players were credited with at least a portion of a tackle for loss. “according to http://clemsontigers.com/bcgame/

Kick-off is set for 7:00pm from Clemson Memorial Stadium. The game will be televised on ESPN. “according to http://www.goduke.com/SportSelect.dbml?SPID=1843&SPSID=22666&DB_OEM_ID=4200