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8 p.m.
Football
at Tulane
Saturday, September 24
Durham, N.C.
3:30 PM
Duke University
48
vs
27
Tulane
Duke Drops Tulane 48-27 for Second Straight Win
9/24/2011 6:50:00 PM | Football
DURHAM, N.C. - Quarterback Sean Renfree threw for a touchdown and rushed for two more as Duke totaled nearly 500 yards of offense in its second consecutive win, a 48-27 decision over Tulane, Saturday afternoon at Wallace Wade Stadium.
Renfree finished the day with 278 yards passing, completing 21 of his 30 attempts while also recording the third game of his career with two rushing touchdowns. Duke's wide receiver duo of Conner Vernon and Donovan Varner combined for 168 yards receiving as both players moved up in the Duke record books. Varner is now third all-time with 168 career receptions, while Vernon ranks seventh with 2,107 career receiving yards.
In addition, Duke (2-2, 1-0 ACC) accumulated 151 yards on the ground, led by sophomore running back Juwan Thompson with 69 rushing yards and two touchdowns, the first two of his career. With his performance, Thompson became the first Duke running back to score two touchdowns in a game since Clifford Harris accomplished that mark against James Madison in 2008.
After holding the Green Wave to just three yards on its first series, the Blue Devils marched 76 yards down the field on their first possession to take an early 7-0 lead. Renfree hit Vernon for a 44-yard reception to set up the one-yard touchdown run for Thompson.
Despite forcing another Green Wave punt, Tulane (2-2, 2-1 C-USA) was able to tie the score at seven-all following Ryan Travis' interception and 23-yard return. Undeterred, Duke needed only four plays on its next possession to regain a lead it would not relinquish the rest of the way. Thompson covered 31 yards on two carries, including a 20-yard dash to the end zone, and Renfree connected with Vernon for a 19-yard catch on the drive.
The Blue Devils added to that margin on their following possession, this time covering 61 yards in five plays, with the largest gain coming on a 38-yard pass from redshirt freshman quarterback Anthony Boone to running back Jay Hollingsworth. Renfree again found Vernon at the goal line as the Duke receiver caught the 13-yard pass then recovered his own fumble in the end zone for the score.
Tulane put three points on the board with a 20-yard field goal early in the second quarter, but Duke answered with a 40-yard Will Snyderwine field goal to make it 24-7. The Blue Devils then mounted their longest drive of the season, an 18-play affair covering 75 yards, to take a 31-10 lead into the intermission. The Blue Devils racked up 336 yards of offense in the first half while limiting the Green Wave to 127 yards.
Duke picked up where it left off to start the second half with Renfree completing 4-of-5 passes for 61 yards to lead the Blue Devils down to the Tulane six yard line. Jay Hollingsworth finished off the drive with a three-yard touchdown run to give Duke a 28-point lead early in the third quarter.
The Green Wave connected on a 49-yard field goal following a Duke fumble, but Tulane could not stop the Duke offense, which reached the end zone for a sixth time on Renfree's second touchdown run of the game.
Duke kicker Jeffrey Ijjas added a field goal from 26 yards out to give the Blue Devils a 48-13 lead with 13:19 left in the game. Tulane scored a touchdown on its next possession, and added another following a Duke punt, but it was too little too late for the Green Wave.
The Blue Devil defense limited Tulane to just 148 yards and 13 points prior to the start of the fourth quarter, but the Green Wave added two touchdowns and 170 yards in the final period to end the game with 318 yards of offense.
Safety Matt Daniels led Duke with eight tackles and three pass breakups, bringing his NCAA-leading total to nine on the season. Additionally, nose guard Charlie Hatcher totaled five tackles, including his first two sacks of the season.
Duke kicks off the second month of the season with a trip to Florida International Saturday, Oct. 1. Game time is set for 7 p.m., from Miami, Fla.
-d-u-k-e-
Renfree finished the day with 278 yards passing, completing 21 of his 30 attempts while also recording the third game of his career with two rushing touchdowns. Duke's wide receiver duo of Conner Vernon and Donovan Varner combined for 168 yards receiving as both players moved up in the Duke record books. Varner is now third all-time with 168 career receptions, while Vernon ranks seventh with 2,107 career receiving yards.
In addition, Duke (2-2, 1-0 ACC) accumulated 151 yards on the ground, led by sophomore running back Juwan Thompson with 69 rushing yards and two touchdowns, the first two of his career. With his performance, Thompson became the first Duke running back to score two touchdowns in a game since Clifford Harris accomplished that mark against James Madison in 2008.
After holding the Green Wave to just three yards on its first series, the Blue Devils marched 76 yards down the field on their first possession to take an early 7-0 lead. Renfree hit Vernon for a 44-yard reception to set up the one-yard touchdown run for Thompson.
Despite forcing another Green Wave punt, Tulane (2-2, 2-1 C-USA) was able to tie the score at seven-all following Ryan Travis' interception and 23-yard return. Undeterred, Duke needed only four plays on its next possession to regain a lead it would not relinquish the rest of the way. Thompson covered 31 yards on two carries, including a 20-yard dash to the end zone, and Renfree connected with Vernon for a 19-yard catch on the drive.
The Blue Devils added to that margin on their following possession, this time covering 61 yards in five plays, with the largest gain coming on a 38-yard pass from redshirt freshman quarterback Anthony Boone to running back Jay Hollingsworth. Renfree again found Vernon at the goal line as the Duke receiver caught the 13-yard pass then recovered his own fumble in the end zone for the score.
Tulane put three points on the board with a 20-yard field goal early in the second quarter, but Duke answered with a 40-yard Will Snyderwine field goal to make it 24-7. The Blue Devils then mounted their longest drive of the season, an 18-play affair covering 75 yards, to take a 31-10 lead into the intermission. The Blue Devils racked up 336 yards of offense in the first half while limiting the Green Wave to 127 yards.
Duke picked up where it left off to start the second half with Renfree completing 4-of-5 passes for 61 yards to lead the Blue Devils down to the Tulane six yard line. Jay Hollingsworth finished off the drive with a three-yard touchdown run to give Duke a 28-point lead early in the third quarter.
The Green Wave connected on a 49-yard field goal following a Duke fumble, but Tulane could not stop the Duke offense, which reached the end zone for a sixth time on Renfree's second touchdown run of the game.
Duke kicker Jeffrey Ijjas added a field goal from 26 yards out to give the Blue Devils a 48-13 lead with 13:19 left in the game. Tulane scored a touchdown on its next possession, and added another following a Duke punt, but it was too little too late for the Green Wave.
The Blue Devil defense limited Tulane to just 148 yards and 13 points prior to the start of the fourth quarter, but the Green Wave added two touchdowns and 170 yards in the final period to end the game with 318 yards of offense.
Safety Matt Daniels led Duke with eight tackles and three pass breakups, bringing his NCAA-leading total to nine on the season. Additionally, nose guard Charlie Hatcher totaled five tackles, including his first two sacks of the season.
Duke kicks off the second month of the season with a trip to Florida International Saturday, Oct. 1. Game time is set for 7 p.m., from Miami, Fla.
-d-u-k-e-
Players Mentioned
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