Duke Football: Clemson uses big second half to smother Blue Devils

The makings of an upset were there, but the Clemson Tigers used a monster second half to end the Duke Football hopes of a major upset bid.

It looked like the Duke Blue Devils were on their way to an upset in the first half, but the Duke offense could not find a way to get into the end zone and had to settle for two field goals and took a 6-0 lead after one quarter.

The Clemson Tigers responded for 14 points in the second quarter to take a 14-6 lead into the break but still as a one possession game and with the Blue Devils getting the ball to start the second half there was still hope for Duke.

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However, Clemson would make it clear who was the better team and much more deserving of a win in the final 30 minutes as they outscored Duke 21-0 in the second half.

After a great job in the first half of containing Clemson running back Travis Etienne, he finished with 81 yards on just nine carries and two touchdowns.

Tigers quarterback Trevor Lawrence was sensational as he completed 21 of 38 passes for 251 yards and two touchdowns, while his top targets were Justyn Ross, Tee Higgins, and Amari Rodgers.

Ross was the only one in the trio to find the end zone as he caught four passes for 76 yards while Higgins also had four receptions for 47 yards and Rodgers reeled in four passes for 33 yards.

Duke quarterback Daniel Jones was under pressure all night and he was replaced late in the fourth quarter well after the game was decided for Quentin Harris.

Jones completed 24 of 43 passes for 158 yards.

The Blue Devil running game wasn’t able to get anything going behind a bad offensive line and one of the best defensive lines in the nation.

Deon Jackson rushed for 51 yards on 11 carries while Brittain Brown took the ball seven times for 22 yards.

The Blue Devils will look to get back on track next Saturday in their regular season finale against Wake Forest at 12:30 pm ET.

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