Duke Falls to North Carolina, 38-35, in Thriller

Saturday, October 15

Durham, N.C.

8 p.m.

Duke University

4-3 , 1-2

North Carolina

6-1 , 3-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

North Carolina

Duke

Duke Falls to North Carolina, 38-35, in Thriller

10/15/2022 11:44:00 PM | Football

Box Score BOX SCORE POSTGAME NOTES POSTGAME QUOTES PHOTO GALLERY POSTGAME INTERVIEW: COACH ELKO POSTGAME INTERVIEW: DEWAYNE CARTER POSTGAME INTERVIEW: RILEY LEONARD

DURHAM – In a classic Saturday night matchup that saw Duke and North Carolina combine for 1,078 yards and seven lead changes, the Tar Heels scored a go-ahead touchdown with 16 seconds remaining to stun the Blue Devils, 38-35, before a packed crowd at Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium.

Jordan Waters broke loose for a 38-yard touchdown to give the Blue Devils the lead, 35-31, with 10:12 remaining in the game as Duke scored 14 straight after trailing 31-21. Duke had the ball back in the red zone looking to ice the game away in the final minutes, but penalties stunted the drive and a missed field goal gave UNC life.

Quarterback Riley Leonard finished the night 20-of-31 passing for 245 yards and a touchdown, he also rushed for 130 yards, including a 74-yard touchdown jaunt in the first half that gave Duke a 14-10 lead. The 74-yarder being the longest touchdown run by a Duke quarterback in school history.

Duke, which led by as many as 21-10 in the first half and took a 21-17 lead into the locker room, owned a 542-536 edge in total yards, including a 297-156 advantage on the ground.

How It Happened

North Carolina opened the scoring with a 45-yard field goal to take the early 3-0 edge.
Duke quickly responded with an eight-play, 75-yard touchdown drive capped by a two-yard rushing score by Waters.
The Tar Heels jumped back in front 10-7 following a 10-yard touchdown reception by Kamari Morales from Drake Maye with under five minutes to play in the opening frame.
The Blue Devils answered with 14-consceutive points in the second quarter following rushing scores by Leonard and Jaquez Moore. Leonard broke free for a 74-yard scamper, while Moore found paydirt from two yards out to make it a 21-10 ballgame.
The visitors sparked a rally of their own, scoring 21-straight points to pull back in front at 31-21 with 3:54 remaining in the third quarter.
Duke again had an answer as it posted back-to-back touchdowns to take the 35-31 advantage with 10:12 left to play.
Holding onto the slim four-point lead late in the game, the Blue Devils were at the North Carolina 11-yard line but couldn't find the end zone after consecutive penalties shifted them back, forcing them to settle for a 43-yard field goal attempts, which sailed wide right giving the Tar Heels hope.
North Carolina then drove 74 yards in nine plays to register the game-winning score with 16 seconds remaining.

Notables

Waters rushed for 91 yards on 15 carries and recorded his second multi-score game of the season.
Waters now has five rushing touchdowns on the year and eight in his career.
Riley finished with a career-best 130 yards rushing on 14 carries, including a career-long 74-yard scamper late in the second quarter.
Through the air, Leonard finished 20-of-31 passing for 245 yards with one touchdown.
As a team, Duke compiled a season-high 297 yards rushing.
Jalon Calhoun led the Blue Devil receivers with six receptions for 55 yards.
Sahmir Hagans found the end zone in the fourth quarter for his second career score.
Shaka Heyward (13) and Darius Joiner (11) both earned double digits tackles, marking the second time this season in which two Blue Devils tallied 10-plus tackles.
Joiner now has three double-digit tackle performances in his Duke tenure.
Duke posted three sacks in the contest, including one each by DeWayne Carter and R.J. Oben.
Carter also collected a fumble recovery, while forcing another.

Up Next

Duke next hits the road for a matchup with Miami on Saturday, Oct. 22. The game will be broadcast on RSN.
Miami defeated Virginia Tech on the road Saturday, 20-14.

For more information on Duke Football, follow the Blue Devils on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "DukeFOOTBALL".

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