Blue Devils Top Aggies in Home Opener

Saturday, September 7

Durham, N.C.

6 PM

Duke University

1-1

North Carolina A&T

1-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

North Carolina A&T

Duke quarterback Quentin Harris looks downfield from the pocket.

Blue Devils Top Aggies in Home Opener

9/7/2019 9:44:00 PM | Football

Box Score Final Book Postgame Quotes Postgame Notes Photo Gallery

DURHAM, N.C. – Duke football got back to its winning ways Saturday when it took down North Carolina A&T, 45-13, in front of a packed Wallace Wade Stadium crowd in its home opener.

With the win the Blue Devils extended their home-opening winning streak to eight consecutive and improve to 10-2 in home openers under head coach David Cutcliffe.

Redshirt senior Quentin Harris finished 30-of-42 for 345 yards and four passing touchdowns, while carrying the ball 13 times for 83 yards and an additional score. The Wilton, Conn., native went 21-of-29 for 254 yards through the air in the opening half alone.

Three of Duke's five touchdowns on the night were first career scores. Jalon Calhoun (2), Mataeo Durant and Eli Pancol all found the end zone to hand them No. 1 on their career TDs chart.

Defensively the Blue Devils were led by Dylan Singleton, who racked up an impressive nine tackles. Koby Quansah, Brandon Hill, and Victor Dimukeje chipped in with five, four and four take downs, respectively.

The Aggies jumped on the scoreboard early in the opening period after converting on a 40-yard field goal. Duke responded by scoring their first touchdown of the year to jump in front 7-3. The Blue Devils watched Harris and Calhoun connect on a 38-yard score on the play.

North Carolina A&T used a 66-touchdown yard run by Jeremiah Martin early in the second quarter though to put Duke on its heels. The Blue Devils went unfazed however as they recorded three-straight scores within a little over a three-minute span to break the game open at 28-10.

The three consecutive scores started after Duke sophomore Durant marched into the end zone on a 22-yard touchdown catch-and-go for the Blue Devils' second TD of the game. Leonard Johnson then broke up a pass to force a fumble on the Aggies' next possession. Singleton fell on the loose ball to put the Blue Devils in great scoring position. On the first play after the turnover, Duke found an additional six as Harris connected with Pancol for a 39-yard touchdown. The Duke Blue and White closed out the half with one final touchdown following a six-yard scamper by Harris.

The Blue Devils added an additional 10 points in the third quarter following a career-long 50-yard field goal by AJ Reed and another Harris-to-Calhoun touchdown connection. Defensively, redshirt freshman Rocky Shelton II recorded a blocked North Carolina A&T punt, the first for his young Duke career.

Sophomore Durant cashed in one more time when he rushed for one yard for his second touchdown of the evening to extend Duke's lead to what ended up being the final score of 45-13.

To close out the night, the Duke defense forced a second fumble on the Aggies. Tre Hornbuckle stripped the ball and Shelton gathered it to give the Blue Devils back possession.

Duke travels to Middle Tennessee State next Saturday for another out-of-conference matchup. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. at Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium.

#GoDuke