DURHAM, N.C. — UConn football failed to maintain its slim fourth quarter lead Saturday, falling on the road to Duke 26-21.
Duke moved to 3-0 with the victory, while the Huskies fell to 1-2.
Not all was lost, however, as UConn climbed out of an early 17-0 hole and gained a 21-17 fourth quarter lead. Ultimately, it wasn’t enough, as a Blue Devils’ field goal and touchdown in the final frame secured their win.
UConn sophomore QB Nick Evers completed 15 of 29 attempts for 135 yards, including a touchdown and interception. He also rushed for 60 yards on 10 carries. The Huskies ground attack was led by sophomore RB Cam Edwards, who rushed for 106 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries. Junior WR Skyler Bell, coming off back-to-back 100-plus-yard games, led UConn with 58 yards receiving on seven catches.
Duke’s sophomore QB Maalik Murphy completed 28 of 43 passes for 267 yards and three touchdowns. He also threw an interception that the Huskies returned for a touchdown. Duke’s rushing leader was senior RB Star Thomas, who carried the ball 22 times for 122 yards. The Blue Devils’ leading receiver was freshman WR Qua’sean Brown, who caught 11 passes for 87 yards and a touchdown.
Duke started the scoring with 9:34 left in the first quarter with a four-yard touchdown pass from Murphy to senior WR Jordan Moore. The Blue Devils added a 53-yard field goal from junior kicker Todd Pelino with 12:10 left in the second quarter to bring the lead to 10-0.
A 70-yard Duke scoring drive was then capped by a 36-yard pass from Murphy to senior WR Eli Pancol to put the Blue Devils up 17-0 with 8:27 remaining in the quarter.
The momentum shifted quickly when UConn sophomore LB Langston Hardy returned a Murphy interception 64 yards to put the Huskies on the scoreboard, cutting the deficit to 17-7 midway through the second quarter.
UConn’s defense was stifling to end the first half and to begin the second half, forcing Duke to punt four consecutive times. The Huskies trimmed the lead to 17-14 when Edwards finished an eight-play, 64-yard drive on a rushing touchdown with 11:46 to go in the third quarter.
After more impressive work by the defense, UConn quickly scored another touchdown with 8:21 remaining in the third quarter after Evers connected with junior TE Alexander Honig on a 13-yard throw to put the Huskies ahead 21-17.
The lead wouldn’t last, as Duke responded with a 47-yard field goal from Pelino and forced an interception from Evers early in the fourth quarter. The Blue Devils reached the end zone again soon after on a backbreaking 20-yard touchdown throw from Murphy to Brown with 11:49 remaining in the fourth quarter, giving them a 26-21 lead. Duke missed the two-point conversion but it wouldn't matter.
UConn got the ball back two more times but couldn’t capitalize, punting with 9:40 to go and missing a 48-yard field goal attempt with 5:42 left in the final quarter.
Duke regained possession a final time and kneeled the ball down on three straight plays deep in UConn territory to run out the clock and secure the victory.
While UConn failed to leave North Carolina with a win, the team took major strides, erasing a 17-point deficit and making it tough on Duke’s offense for most of the night.
The Huskies return to action next Saturday at 7 p.m. against Florida Atlantic University at home, kicking off a stretch of six straight home games.
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Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
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