Duke Thunders Past Middle Tennessee State Despite The Lightning, 45-17

22.09.2024 08:15

Duke head coach Manny Diaz on the sidelines during the MTSU Homecoming game on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. | HELEN COMER/The Daily News Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

As the Blue Devils move to 4-0 on the season

This game certainly started off fast: first Middle Tennessee State, a team that has really struggled with the running game, got a 64 yard run for a touchdown in the third play of the game. But Duke could counter on their first possession with a 71 yard strike from Maalik Murphy to Nicky Dalmolin.

The offenses racked up 170 yards in the first four minutes of the game before defense - well, Duke’s defense - began to assert itself with Duke prevailing 45-17.

The Blue Raiders turned the ball over four times, including one just outside of the end zone that Duke converted into touchdown as soon as it got the ball. Two more turnovers led to points for the Blue Devils and the Blue Devils took a 35-10 lead into halftime.

Todd Pelino got a 23 yard field gold at 12:18 in the third to push Duke ahead 38-10. MTSU scored another touchdown when Nicholas Vattiato found Holden Willis for a 15 yard pass.

There was roughly a two-hour break before Middle Tennessee State made that score as lightning forced a serious delay. After the break, and some strategy sessions and some food - why not, what else would you do for two hours? - the teams took the field again.

Duke scored once in the fourth to run its lead to 45-17 with 11:54 left.

Realistically, Duke should have won this game, but remember there was a lot of player movement after Midnight Mike Elko left under the cover of darkness for Texas A&M and no one knew what to expect. Manny Diaz has done a terrific job to date.

After the game, he said this:“I told the team I was very proud of how they’ve handled this stretch. This was a week where you had to pay attention. You really had to lock in and focus. Everybody knows what’s next. Our players, they get it.

And you’re coming here on the road, to play a team that’s been struggling. It could be easy to overlook this. And you see that every now and then in college football. And then, oh, we don’t start great on defense.

But then, really, we took control of the game. And then we really [played] complementary football with the four turnovers on defense turning into 28 points for the offense. I thought we took control of the game.

And then, oh, now you’ve got to sit for a lightning delay. So, there’s a whole other bit of adversity. When they scored out of the lightning delay, you could tell that we weren’t as ready to tackle as we were in the first half. But ultimately, we finished the job and we’re 4-0.”

Yes they did. And now, as Diaz alluded to, they get UNC next week. The Tar Heels were beyond awful against James Madison Saturday, giving up 53 points to James Madison - in the first half.

At home, in Mass Murderer Stadium.

UNC showed more heart in the second half, but the defense surrounded 70 points. Who scores 50 and loses by 20 at home to a second-tier team?

So yeah...they’re likely to be surly.

However, if Duke can win the rivalry game, there’s an outside chance the Blue Devils could move to 7-0. We’re not saying that Georgia Tech or Florida State would be easy wins, but possible?

Yes they are. And Duke’s confidence has to be surging. It’s been a fun ride so far.

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