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  • Duke Football Comes Out On Top In A Double-Overtime Win Against Northwestern, 26-20

Duke Football Comes Out On Top In A Double-Overtime Win Against Northwestern, 26-20

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Football

Trailing 13-10 with less than 15 seconds to play in regulation and 20-13 after Northwestern's first possession of overtime, Duke answered both times and earned a 26-20 double overtime victory Friday evening at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium.

Maalik Murphy hit Eli Pancol for a three-yard touchdown on Duke's second overtime possession and the defense kept the Wildcats out of the endzone to earn the victory. 

The Blue Devil defense forced two turnovers, booked 11.0 tackles for loss and broke up seven passes in a stout effort. 

Todd Pelino knotted the game at 13 with 14 seconds remaining on a 22-yard field goal and sent the game into overtime. Murphy caught fire in the second half and threw for 197 yards and two scores, one in each overtime period, after intermission as Duke rallied for the victory. 

The win was Duke's first in overtime since topping Indiana 44-41 on December 26, 2015, in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl.

HOW IT HAPPENED

  • Northwestern started with the ball and opened with a field goal following a drive spanning just over three minutes. Duke's defense bounced back on the Wildcats' next possession as Terry Moore jumped in front of a Northwestern pass at the NU 26-yard line to secure Duke's first takeaway of the season. 
  • The Blue Devils' offense then struck quickly with the short field, scoring just four plays later as Maalik Murphy connected with Eli Pancol on a 16-yard strike to give the Blue Devils a 7-3 lead with 4:50 remaining in the first quarter. 
  • Northwestern recovered a muffed punt at Duke's 11-yard line with just over seven minutes remaining before halftime and punched it in two plays later to regain the lead at 10-7. 
  • The margin remained the same at the break. Northwestern's defense forced a three-and-out to start the second half and blocked the ensuing punt, setting up the home team at the Duke nine-yard line with 13:46 on the third-quarter clock. Duke's defense held strong, though, forcing a Wildcats field goal attempt, which clanged off the upright from 29 yards out. 
  • The teams traded turnovers on the next two drives, eventually setting Duke up at midfield following a fumble recovery by Ozzie Nicholas. The Blue Devils knotted the score at 10-10 courtesy of a 49-yard field goal from Todd Pelino with seven minutes remaining in the third quarter. 
  • Northwestern moved back in front, 13-10, with a 35-yard field goal at the 11:39 mark of the fourth quarter.
  • After Duke went three-and-out and missed a 33-yard field goal, Pelino hit a 22-yarder with 14 seconds in regulation to send the game into overtime. 
  • Murphy connected with Jordan Moore on the first play of Duke's first overtime possession. Murphy then hit Pancol on the game-winning play in the second overtime.

UP NEXT

  • The Blue Devils return home to take on Connecticut next Saturday, September 14. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. and will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra.