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The unranked Duke Blue Devils supplied one other Week 1 faculty soccer upset, taking down the No. 9 Clemson Tigers, 28-7, in stunning trend in Durham, North Carolina, Monday night time.
The Tigers racked up a bunch of miscues, however none greater than a first-and-goal botched handoff by sophomore quarterback Cade Klubnik to Phil Mafah that the Blue Devils’ Jaylen Stinson scooped off the turf and commenced sprinting towards the opposite finish zone.
Stinson was ultimately taken down by Klubnik at Clemson’s 33-yard line, however Duke made them pay six performs later.
Jaquez Moore took a nine-yard run into the tip zone, and after selecting to go for 2, quarterback Riley Leonard discovered Jalon Calhoun to make it a 21-7 sport.
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Duke Blue Devils QB Riley Leonard (13) passes throughout the second quarter in opposition to the Clemson Tigers at Wallace Wade Stadium in Durham, North Carolina. (Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY Sports activities)
The Tigers’ blunders started early within the first quarter, when Robert Gunn III’s 41-yard subject purpose was blocked by Wesley Williams to maintain the Blue Devils’ lead at 3-0.
Within the second half, Gunn had a horrific shank on a 23-yard subject purpose that will’ve made it a 13-10 sport nonetheless in favor of Duke. Later within the third quarter, Klubnik fumbled on Duke’s 7-yard line, which the Blue Devils’ Jeremiah Lewis recovered to keep away from the Clemson risk.
The Blue Devils had their personal ball safety points, as a Calhoun fumble on a punt return led to Clemson’s first landing within the second quarter. Moore additionally fumbled on the twelfth play of a stable drive close to the tip of the primary half that was recovered by Clemson.
Regardless of the troubles, Leonard and the Blue Devils’ offense have been in a position to make it damage for the Tigers within the second half.
It began with a 44-yard landing run by Leonard to start out the third quarter, rapidly giving Duke the lead again at 13-7.
Leonard did not have his finest passing sport, going 17 of 33 for 175 yards. Nevertheless, he led the Blue Devils with 98 rush yards and a landing on simply eight makes an attempt.
There was additionally an attention-grabbing name made on a vital fourth-and-7 within the fourth quarter whereas in Clemson’s possession. Klubnik tried to scramble for the primary down, and pondering he had sufficient yardage, he slid with the Blue Devils’ protection sprinting towards him.
Klubnik was dominated behind the primary down marker, although a flag was thrown on the play after senior linebacker Cam Dillon was known as for clear focusing on by smashing his helmet into Klubnik’s whereas he was sliding.
Nevertheless, because it was dominated focusing on, which is a useless ball foul, Duke was nonetheless awarded the ball with Klubnik not getting sufficient yards for the primary down.
Duke Blue Devils RB Jordan Waters (7) runs throughout the second quarter in opposition to the Clemson Tigers at Wallace Wade Stadium in Durham, North Carolina. (Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY Sports activities)
The Blue Devils didn’t make that turnover damage, however they did acquire one other as soon as Clemson acquired the ball again. A tipped move from Klubnik discovered the palms of Dorian Mausi and Duke capped off their blowout with a 36-yard landing run by Waters.
The landing despatched the house crowd right into a frenzy whereas Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney could not imagine his eyes as his Tigers began the season with a 0-1 file. Followers stormed Brooks Area from the stands after the sport was over, celebrating the biggest margin of victory for Duke in opposition to Clemson since 1936.
Waters completed with 63 speeding yards on 11 makes an attempt with a landing, whereas catching three passes for a team-leading 46 yards.
Klubnik’s debut as a starter for Clemson produced a 27 for 43 line for 209 yards with a landing move and an interception. Will Shipley had 114 yards on the bottom for the Tigers, whereas catching Klubnik’s landing move as certainly one of his six receptions for 29 yards.
Vincent Anthony Jr. #19 of the Duke Blue Devils reacts following a defensive cease in opposition to the Clemson Tigers throughout the first half of the sport at Wallace Wade Stadium on Sept. 4, 2023, in Durham, North Carolina. (Lance King/Getty Photos)
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With the win, Duke joined the likes of Colorado and Texas State, who pulled off large upsets in opposition to TCU and Baylor respectively.
