Duke football dominated at home against Northwestern.
College football had better learn the name Riley Leonard. Not only is he one of the best quarterbacks in the ACC, he’s one of the best quarterbacks in college football. Those skills were on display this afternoon in Duke football’s dominant 38-14 win against Northwestern at Wallace Wade Stadium.
Leonard went 15-20 for 219 yards this afternoon. Northwestern deserves credit for their effort this afternoon. Their offense constantly put their defense in terrible situations, giving the Blue Devils a short field most of the game. Despite that, the Wildcats showed some fight and did not quit on themselves or their coach.
Duke head coach Mike Elko has to like what he saw on both lines of scrimmage this afternoon. The offensive line paved the way for the running game, averaging over six yards per rushing attempt. On the other hand, the defensive front for the Blue Devils allowed just 3.2 yards per carry.
Duke is proving they are going to be a force in the ACC. Here are takeaways from the offense, defense, and what’s next for both football teams.
It all starts upfront for Duke Football.
The Duke offensive line dominated the line of scrimmage this afternoon. Iconic soul singer Miki Howard sang, “Experience is a good teacher.” The members of Duke’s offensive line are all veterans. Every starter has been in college for four years or longer. As a result, the ground game dominated.
Senior running back Jordan Waters refers to the Blue Devils running back room as “the stable.” There is no shortage of talent at running back in Durham. Duke ran for 238 yards and over six yards per rush attempt.
Riley Leonard was outstanding again today, throwing for 219 yards and running for 97. Duke was balanced and took care of the football.
Northwestern’s offense struggles.
Not only was Duke’s offensive line dominant, but the defensive line also controlled the line of scrimmage. Northwestern ran for 104 yards, but 25 came on one run. The Wildcats averaged 3.5 yards per carry. Also, the passing game struggled because of calculated pressures on quarterback Ben Bryant.
In addition, Northwestern’s receivers struggled to separate from Duke’s athletic secondary. The Wildcats averaged a mere 4.1 yards per pass attempt. That’s simply not going to get it done. Northwestern was one-dimensional on offense today, which spelled trouble for four quarters.
Duke football pulled out the boa constrictor on defense.
The Blue Devil defense did not put up gaudy numbers. Duke had two sacks, five tackles for loss, and defended five passes. However, the Blue Devils bottled the Northwestern offense up all game long. Duke forced third or fourth down 20 times this afternoon. Northwestern had six drives of fewer than ten plays and two three-and-outs.
Northwestern got nothing going offensively this afternoon. They had three drives of over 50 yards. Duke covered well and tackled even better. Northwestern runners met with contact at or within one yard of the line of scrimmage.
Northwestern’s defense fought hard but was overwhelmed.
Give the Northwestern defense credit. They played hard this afternoon. Duke was better on the line of scrimmage, and the Blue Devils’ receivers overmatched the Wildcats’ secondary. Northwestern’s inability to move the football consistently put Duke in plus territory, making the defense’s job nearly impossible.
Riley Leonard’s incredible play did not help matters either. Even when Northwestern won upfront, Leonard would find a seam, scramble for yards, or find an open receiver. In addition, Northwestern had no answers for Duke’s running game either. Those body shots gassed the Wildcats’ front seven by the fourth quarter.
What’s next for Duke Football?
Make no mistake: Duke is a contender in the ACC. They have a win against Clemson in their back pocket and play Florida State. The schedule is not easy, however. They play the Seminoles, Notre Dame, and North Carolina. Duke has three things that travel: an experienced offensive line, a running game, and a stout defense.
Don’t be surprised to see Duke in the mix for the ACC in late October if they can stay healthy. The Blue Devils have another challenging game against a gritty UConn squad before starting ACC play.
What’s next for Northwestern football?
The program is a bit of a mess because of the hazing scandal. However, interim coach David Braun has outstandingly kept these young men focused and playing hard. The roster had a lot of holes before the scandal, and some of those issues reared their ugly heads. Northwestern doesn’t have explosive playmakers on the perimeter.
Cincinnati transfer Ben Bryant struggled this afternoon. The offensive line did not win consistently enough to establish a running game to take pressure off Bryant and the passing game. Hats off to them for not quitting; hopefully, that lasts all season as Northwestern begins conference play next weekend.