Duke offense throws away a chance to beat North Carolina in Chapel Hill
825. 20. 838. Final. 17
The Duke Football team threw a way a chance to defeat the North Carolina on Saturday afternoon with questionable plays on offense.
So that was one way for Duke to lose to North Carolina.
With 18 seconds left in game, down by three, and on the Tar Heels’ 3-yard line, Quentin Harris handed to Deon Jackson who opted to try and throw a jump pass to Noah Gray in the end zone that was intercepted.
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It sounds as bizarre as it was to watch it happen in real time.
Even if they was the play call, it had no chance to succeed from the start, with North Carolina in the backfield as soon as Jackson got the handoff.
With that being said, the Duke offense was lifeless all day with the exception of that final drive and a touchdown drive on the Blue Devils’ first possession of the second half.
Harris played his second straight game of uninspired football, completing 22-of-39 passes for 229 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. The Duke signal caller also rushed for a touchdown in addition to a total of negative nine yards with one fumble.
Despite his bone-headed play to cost the Blue Devils at the end of the game, Jackson ran the ball effectively with 91 yards on 19 carries.
The Duke defense did its job all day, despite the losing effort. When the team needed a stop, the Blue Devils were able to come up with it even though the Tar Heels ran for 220 yards as a team on the afternoon.
Freshman quarterback Sam Howell completed 10-of-26 passes for 227 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions.
This was the first time in three seasons that North Carolina beat Duke, as the Tar Heels bring the Victory Bell back to Chapel Hill.
Duke will now have an uphill mountain to climb to be bowl eligible even although the Blue Devils are 4-4 overall on the season.
David Cutcliffe‘s bunch will have a much needed bye after this meltdown and then face Notre Dame, Syracuse, Wake Forest, and the Miami Hurricanes, with the game against Wake being the lone road game.