Upcoming Event: Football at Tulane on September 13, 2025 at 8 p.m.
/
8 p.m.
Football
at Tulane
Saturday, October 1
Miami
7:00 PM
Duke University
31
at
27
FIU
Duke Knocks Off FIU 31-27 for Third Straight Win
10/1/2011 11:00:00 PM | Football
MIAMI, Fla. - Sean Renfree threw for 335 yards and two touchdowns to lead Duke to a 31-27 win over FIU on Saturday night in front of 22,682 fans at FIU Stadium in Miami, Fla.
Duke improves to 3-2 on the season after winning its third game in a row and second straight road contest.
With under seven minutes left in the game, redshirt freshman defensive end Jordan DeWalt-Ondijo sacked FIU quarterback Wesley Carroll and forced a fumble which was recovered and returned to the FIU nine-yard line by safety Anthony Young-Wiseman. Duke scored the go-ahead touchdown on the next play when sophomore running back Juwan Thompson ran into the end zone untouched for a nine-yard touchdown run.
Thompson's touchdown run was the second of the fourth quarter for the Blue Devils, who trailed 27-17 with 13:30 remaining the final frame. Thompson put the game within a field goal with a six-yard run with 11:56 remaining in the fourth quarter.
FIU had a chance to take the lead back with just over two minutes remaining in the game, but Duke's defense forced a fourth-down incompletion at their own 12-yard line after the Golden Panthers strung together an 11-play, 60-yard drive that ran 4:23 off the clock. With the potential go-ahead touchdown just 12 yards away, Carroll threw three straight passes to receiver T.Y. Hilton, but all three were off the mark.
The teams battled to a 17-17 deadlock at intermission. Duke scored 17 points in the opening quarter as Renfree threw scoring passes to Conner Vernon (26 yards) and Cooper Helfet (22 yards) while Will Snyderwine booted a 27-yard field goal.
Vernon finished with 8 catches for 117 yards. He stretched his streak of consecutive games with five or more receptions to eight dating back to last year. The Miami native also moved into a tie for second place on Duke's list for career 100-yard games, matching Wes Chesson's total of nine. Clarkston Hines holds the Duke and ACC record with 17.
Varner, who closed the game with 7 grabs for 111 yards, has now caught at least one pass in 30 straight contests. The 100-yard effort is the eighth of his career.
The game marked the 15th time in Duke history that two players recorded 100 or more receiving yards. The Varner-Vernon combination has achieved the feat four times.
FIU's first half scoring came from two touchdown passes by Carroll and a 36-yard field goal by Jack Griffin.
The Panthers took a 20-17 lead with a 33-yard field goal by Griffin late in the third quarter. A 34-yard touchdown pass from Carroll to Wayne Times at the 13:30 mark of the final period pushed the lead to 27-17.
Duke made it a 27-24 contest on Juwan Thompson's six-yard scoring run. The drive was highlighted by a 54-yard pass from Renfree to Donovan Varner.
Renfree completed 28-of-43 passes for 335 yards. He has now thrown for 300 or more yards seven times in his career.
Following an open week, Duke returns to action on Saturday, October 15 when the Blue Devils host Florida State at Wallace Wade Stadium. The kick-off time is scheduled to be announced on Monday.
Duke improves to 3-2 on the season after winning its third game in a row and second straight road contest.
With under seven minutes left in the game, redshirt freshman defensive end Jordan DeWalt-Ondijo sacked FIU quarterback Wesley Carroll and forced a fumble which was recovered and returned to the FIU nine-yard line by safety Anthony Young-Wiseman. Duke scored the go-ahead touchdown on the next play when sophomore running back Juwan Thompson ran into the end zone untouched for a nine-yard touchdown run.
Thompson's touchdown run was the second of the fourth quarter for the Blue Devils, who trailed 27-17 with 13:30 remaining the final frame. Thompson put the game within a field goal with a six-yard run with 11:56 remaining in the fourth quarter.
FIU had a chance to take the lead back with just over two minutes remaining in the game, but Duke's defense forced a fourth-down incompletion at their own 12-yard line after the Golden Panthers strung together an 11-play, 60-yard drive that ran 4:23 off the clock. With the potential go-ahead touchdown just 12 yards away, Carroll threw three straight passes to receiver T.Y. Hilton, but all three were off the mark.
The teams battled to a 17-17 deadlock at intermission. Duke scored 17 points in the opening quarter as Renfree threw scoring passes to Conner Vernon (26 yards) and Cooper Helfet (22 yards) while Will Snyderwine booted a 27-yard field goal.
Vernon finished with 8 catches for 117 yards. He stretched his streak of consecutive games with five or more receptions to eight dating back to last year. The Miami native also moved into a tie for second place on Duke's list for career 100-yard games, matching Wes Chesson's total of nine. Clarkston Hines holds the Duke and ACC record with 17.
Varner, who closed the game with 7 grabs for 111 yards, has now caught at least one pass in 30 straight contests. The 100-yard effort is the eighth of his career.
The game marked the 15th time in Duke history that two players recorded 100 or more receiving yards. The Varner-Vernon combination has achieved the feat four times.
FIU's first half scoring came from two touchdown passes by Carroll and a 36-yard field goal by Jack Griffin.
The Panthers took a 20-17 lead with a 33-yard field goal by Griffin late in the third quarter. A 34-yard touchdown pass from Carroll to Wayne Times at the 13:30 mark of the final period pushed the lead to 27-17.
Duke made it a 27-24 contest on Juwan Thompson's six-yard scoring run. The drive was highlighted by a 54-yard pass from Renfree to Donovan Varner.
Renfree completed 28-of-43 passes for 335 yards. He has now thrown for 300 or more yards seven times in his career.
Following an open week, Duke returns to action on Saturday, October 15 when the Blue Devils host Florida State at Wallace Wade Stadium. The kick-off time is scheduled to be announced on Monday.
Players Mentioned
DE
/ Football
TE
/ Football
QB
/ Football
K
/ Football
RB
/ Football
B
/ Football
WR
/ Football
S
/ FootballVincent Anthony Jr. Postgame: Illinois
Saturday, September 06
Andrel Anthony Postgame: Illinois
Saturday, September 06
Coach Diaz Postgame: Illinois
Saturday, September 06
Coach Diaz Media Availability: Illinois
Wednesday, September 03
