Blue Devils Fall To East Carolina, 24-21

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Saturday, September 3

Greenville, N.C.

1 p.m.

Duke University

East Carolina

Blue Devils Fall To East Carolina, 24-21

9/3/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football

By: Duke Sports Information

Sophomore tailback Justin Boyle rushed for two touchdowns and classmate Ronnie Drummer returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown but it wasn't enough as Duke fell to East Carolina, 24-21, in front of 35, 107 fans in Greenville, N.C.

The game marked the season-opener for both squads, with the Pirates evened the all-time series between the two schools, 5-5.

East Carolina jumped on top 7-0 thanks to a 52-yard punt return by Travis Williams. Williams was dragged down by Duke punter Chris Sprague at the four yard line, and quarterback James Pinkney scored from one yard out two plays later. Fortune followed for the Blue Devils when Drummer took the ensuing kickoff the distance to knot the score at 7-7. Drummer darted through a hole in the middle of the field at the 20 yard line and then darted down the right sideline to paydirt.

East Carolina responded with a six play, 76-yard drive that ended when Pinkney hooked up with Aundrae Allison for a 50-yard scoring pass. In the second period, Blue Devil quarterback Mike Schneider engineered a nine play, 52-yard scoring drive that included a pair of third down conversions including a 19-yard strike to Jomar Wright. Boyle's 15-yard carry gave Duke a first-and-goal at the two yard line, and the Acworth, Ga., native scored from one yard out on second down.

The Pirates took a 17-14 lead into halftime thanks to a 32-yard field goal by Robert Lee. In the third period, East Carolina pushed the lead to 24-14 when Pinkney scored on a one-yard run with 43 seconds left in the quarter.

Boyle's two-yard touchdown run with 12:17 left in the fourth period capped a 10 play, 73-yard drive and got the Blue Devils to within 24-21. East Carolina intercepted a pair of Duke passes over the final six minutes of the contest to preserve the win.