Duke Football: Halftime report in Pittsburgh as Blue Devils, Panthers battle
Duke Football is back in action as they traveled north to Pittsburgh to take on the Panthers in a pivotal ACC matchup.
It was a fast start for the Pittsburgh Panthers and quarterback Kenny Pickett drove the Panthers right down the field on the Duke defense for a touchdown that he took in himself on a third and seven from the Duke 30 yard line.
However, the Blue Devils would respond the first time they got their hands on the ball with great passes from Daniel Jones to Noah Gray and a 4th and three play to T.J. Rahming that kept the drive alive.
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In a wildcat formation, Quentin Harris came in and took the snap and then ran right up the middle for a touchdown to even the game midway through the first quarter.
After the Duke defense responded with a big time three and out, Jones and the Duke offense marched right down the field but inside the Pitt 30 yard line, the Blue Devils went into their bag of tricks and had Daniel Helm in the end zone wide open and the pass went right through his hands.
The Blue Devils were then in a 4th down situation and went for it again and he was sacked, giving the ball and momentum back to Pitt.
Once again the Duke defense stood tall and forced Pitt into a three and out.
Jones and the Duke offense then went right back down the field and this time they were able to get it back in the end zone as the Duke signal caller found T.J. Rhaming on a corner fade route with a beautiful pass as the Blue Devils went back on top.
The Panthers would respond thanks to a V’Lique Carter jet sweep, but the Blue Devils defense would hold strong and force Pittsburgh into a field goal to cut the Duke lead to four points.
Deon Jackson took the first play of the Duke drive 60 yards to set the Blue Devils up and Jones found T.J. Rhaming again for yet another touchdown.
The Panthers offense would have a response as they quickly moved the ball to midfield before Pickett found Maurice Ffrench for a 50 yard touchdown pass to bring the Duke lead to 21-17.
As the Blue Devils got the ball back, they would try and mount a final drive in the closing minutes of the first half, they had the ball at the Pitt 11 yard line and Jones would lose the grip on the football and Pitt recovered, ending the Blue Devils mometum.
The Blue Devils took a 21-17 lead into the break as Jones completed 19 of his 28 passes for 177 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Kenny Pickett was only four of eight for 78 yards and a touchdown.
The Blue Devils will start with the ball in the second half.