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8 p.m.
Football
at Tulane
Saturday, September 17
Chestnut Hill, Mass.
12:30 PM
Duke University
20
at
19
Boston College
Duke Tops Boston College, 20-19, in ACC Opener
9/17/2011 4:00:00 PM | Football
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - Duke overcame an early 10-point deficit and capitalized on second half kicking woes from Boston College to claim a 20-19 win in front of 35,812 fans at Alumni Field in Chestnut Hill, Mass. Sean Renfree threw for 368 yards including a pair of scoring strikes to Conner Vernon in the victory.
Duke improves to 1-2 on the year and 1-0 in ACC play, while Boston College falls to 0-3 and 0-1 on the year. The victory gives the Blue Devils their first win in the ACC opener since a 31-3 win over Virginia in 2008. The road opening win is Duke's first since a 29-24 win over the Cavaliers in 1981.
Boston College created the first scoring opportunity by blocking a Blue Devil punt midway through the opening quarter. The Eagles took advantage of the short field by marching 55 yards in five snaps to take a 7-0 lead when Chase Rettig connected with Tahj Kimble for a 31-yard scoring pass.
Boston College pushed the lead to 10-0 when Nate Freese booted a 43-yard field goal at the 10:44 mark of the second period. The kick capped an 11-play, 61-yard drive that began at the Eagle 14 yard line.
Duke got on the scoreboard at the 8:31 mark of the second quarter when Renfree threw a 53-yard touchdown toss to Vernon to finish off a five-snap, 73-yard march.
With 4:03 left in the opening half, Freese connected on a 47-yard field goal to push the Boston College advantage to 13-7. The Eagles later drove 82 yards on just four plays for a seven-yard touchdown run by Andre Williams. Freese's extra point was no good, and Boston College led, 19-7, with 1:21 left in the first half.
Trailing by 12 points, Renfree executed Duke's two-minute offense to perfection and found Vernon for a 21-yard scoring strike to pull the Blue Devils to within 19-14 at intermission. The drive, which started with an Eagle personal foul and covered 63 yards on four plays, consisted of three Renfree pass completions to Donovan Varner, Cooper Helfet and Juwan Thompson prior to the toss to Vernon.
With just under 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter, Duke claimed a 20-19 lead when Renfree scored from one-yard out on the ground. The touchdown run - the fifth on Renfree's career - capped a 14-play, 70-yard drive that took 6:34 off the clock.
Duke's defense came out and created a couple of three and outs but the offense was unable to put any more points on the board. Boston College took over possession with under 2:30 left to play. The Eagles moved the ball into Duke territory with a long completion and a roughing the passer penalty. Boston College ran the ball inside the Duke 10-yard line but junior safety Walt Canty came up with an open field tackle on third and one to force a 23-yard field goal attempt with under a minute to go. Duke's kicking fortunes may have turned on the next play as Freese struck the left upright on the field goal attempt and the Blue Devils watched the ball carom harmlessly into the end zone.
The Duke offense racked up 465 yards on 81 snaps. The Blue Devils threw for 384 yards and had five players with six or more catches and 50+ yards receiving.
Renfree completed 41-of-53 passes for 368 yards as Duke outgained Boston College 465-328 on the afternoon.
Vernon caught six passes for 116 yards and a pair of scores, while Varner had 12 grabs for 78 yards in the win. Brandon Braxton added nine catches for 60 yards and Helfet finished with six grabs for 59 yards.
Thompson led the ground attack, picking up 54 yards on 10 carries. He also added seven catches for 50 yards. Patrick Kurunwune added 17 yards on five carries.
Duke's defense stiffened in the second half, holding the Eagles scoreless. The Blue Devils limited Boston College to 146 yards in the half, while forcing five punts and a missed field goal on six possessions.
Matt Daniels and Ross Cockrell anchored the defense with nine tackles apiece. Kelby Brown added five stops and a pass breakup and Kenny Anunike had three tackles and two sacks.
Duke returns home next Saturday to host Tulane. The game will headline the annual Homecoming activities and kick-off at 3:30 p.m.
Duke improves to 1-2 on the year and 1-0 in ACC play, while Boston College falls to 0-3 and 0-1 on the year. The victory gives the Blue Devils their first win in the ACC opener since a 31-3 win over Virginia in 2008. The road opening win is Duke's first since a 29-24 win over the Cavaliers in 1981.
Boston College created the first scoring opportunity by blocking a Blue Devil punt midway through the opening quarter. The Eagles took advantage of the short field by marching 55 yards in five snaps to take a 7-0 lead when Chase Rettig connected with Tahj Kimble for a 31-yard scoring pass.
Boston College pushed the lead to 10-0 when Nate Freese booted a 43-yard field goal at the 10:44 mark of the second period. The kick capped an 11-play, 61-yard drive that began at the Eagle 14 yard line.
Duke got on the scoreboard at the 8:31 mark of the second quarter when Renfree threw a 53-yard touchdown toss to Vernon to finish off a five-snap, 73-yard march.
With 4:03 left in the opening half, Freese connected on a 47-yard field goal to push the Boston College advantage to 13-7. The Eagles later drove 82 yards on just four plays for a seven-yard touchdown run by Andre Williams. Freese's extra point was no good, and Boston College led, 19-7, with 1:21 left in the first half.
Trailing by 12 points, Renfree executed Duke's two-minute offense to perfection and found Vernon for a 21-yard scoring strike to pull the Blue Devils to within 19-14 at intermission. The drive, which started with an Eagle personal foul and covered 63 yards on four plays, consisted of three Renfree pass completions to Donovan Varner, Cooper Helfet and Juwan Thompson prior to the toss to Vernon.
With just under 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter, Duke claimed a 20-19 lead when Renfree scored from one-yard out on the ground. The touchdown run - the fifth on Renfree's career - capped a 14-play, 70-yard drive that took 6:34 off the clock.
Duke's defense came out and created a couple of three and outs but the offense was unable to put any more points on the board. Boston College took over possession with under 2:30 left to play. The Eagles moved the ball into Duke territory with a long completion and a roughing the passer penalty. Boston College ran the ball inside the Duke 10-yard line but junior safety Walt Canty came up with an open field tackle on third and one to force a 23-yard field goal attempt with under a minute to go. Duke's kicking fortunes may have turned on the next play as Freese struck the left upright on the field goal attempt and the Blue Devils watched the ball carom harmlessly into the end zone.
The Duke offense racked up 465 yards on 81 snaps. The Blue Devils threw for 384 yards and had five players with six or more catches and 50+ yards receiving.
Renfree completed 41-of-53 passes for 368 yards as Duke outgained Boston College 465-328 on the afternoon.
Vernon caught six passes for 116 yards and a pair of scores, while Varner had 12 grabs for 78 yards in the win. Brandon Braxton added nine catches for 60 yards and Helfet finished with six grabs for 59 yards.
Thompson led the ground attack, picking up 54 yards on 10 carries. He also added seven catches for 50 yards. Patrick Kurunwune added 17 yards on five carries.
Duke's defense stiffened in the second half, holding the Eagles scoreless. The Blue Devils limited Boston College to 146 yards in the half, while forcing five punts and a missed field goal on six possessions.
Matt Daniels and Ross Cockrell anchored the defense with nine tackles apiece. Kelby Brown added five stops and a pass breakup and Kenny Anunike had three tackles and two sacks.
Duke returns home next Saturday to host Tulane. The game will headline the annual Homecoming activities and kick-off at 3:30 p.m.
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