Saturday night's game between Duke and Rutgers did not come down to who wanted to win the most--it was who would self-destruct least.
Rutgers dominated nearly every offensive statistic, but the Scarlet Knights (0-1) also committed seven turnovers, leading to all of Duke's 24 points in the 24-14 Blue Devil win.
Rutgers outgained Duke (1-1) by 142 yards while running 32 more plays and holding the ball for almost 10 more minutes. The Scarlet Knights also accumulated 215 yards on the ground, including 140 yards by junior Terrell Willis.
But it was Rutgers' mistakes that mattered most, as Duke capitalized on three of the four fumbles and one of the three interceptions.
"We work hard to get the turnovers," senior strong safety Tee Edwards said. "We're a defense that plays on emotion because we know we can't push other teams around. So we have to use what we have and look for the big plays."
The Duke defense, which was second in the nation in turnover ratio last year, created all the big plays on a night which otherwise was more reminiscent of the Duke teams that went a combined 13-30-1 from 1990-93.
Duke was plagued by inconsistent play--converting only one of 14 third-down attempts and committing 10 penalties for 101 yards. Although the offensive line only gave up one sack, the Scarlet Knights were constantly in the face of senior quarterback Spence Fischer.
Ironically, it took an injury to Fischer to wake up the Duke offense.
Fischer was knocked out in the third quarter, with the score knotted at 14, while tackling 230-pound Rahsaan Giddings following an interception. But Fischer came back to lead Duke on three fourth-quarter drives, two of which ended in Blue Devil scores. Senior Tom Cochran missed a 37-yard field goal on the other drive.
"It was a tough game," Fischer said. "I felt like someone was always in my face. But after the tackle, I said `This is it. I have to toughen up and lead this team."'
The offense's only other success came in the first quarter, when Duke was able to capitalize on two consecutive Rutgers' fumbles.
Following Ray Lucas' fumble on an attempted pitch play that was recovered by John Zuanich on the 12-yard line, sophomore running back Laymarr Marshall punched into the end zone on the first and only play of the drive, giving Duke an easy 7-0 lead.
On the next Rutgers possession, running back Damon Hamlin lost the ball and senior James Kirkland pounced on it.
Fischer then led a seven-play, 58-yard drive that was capped by Marshall chugging up the middle for a two-yard touchdown. Fischer connected with sophomore Joe Opalenick twice on the drive for 40 yards, and Marshall accounted for another 13 yards.
Marshall finished the day with 73 yards on 21 carries. Fischer was 19-for-33 for 214 yards.
Rutgers came right back with a scoring drive of its own on the next possession, capped off by a one-yard plunge by Ezra Johnson. Rutgers was aided on the drive by two Duke penalties--a 15-yard pass interference call on sophomore Chike Egbuniwe and a 12-yard late-hit penalty against redshirt freshman Kenan Holley.
The Blue Devils then gave Rutgers a chance to tie it, as senior Bill Khayat fumbled on the next play from scrimmage, giving the Scarlet Knights the ball on Duke's 25-yard line. However, the Blue Devil defense answered the call, stopping Lucas for no gain on fourth-and-one.
Duke also held stiff on Rutgers' next possession to convert on fourth down.
However, the Scarlet Knights finally did punch it in again with 2:45 to go in the half, as Lucas connected with Jason Curry for his fourth career catch and third career score.
"[The defense] had two big stops out there, and they set up two scores [in the first half]," head coach Fred Goldsmith said. "Then we got tired, but you've got to rev it up . . . You've got to dig down."
The defense responded in the second half, as it held the Scarlet Knights scoreless for the game's final 30 minutes. Duke caused three more turnovers and limited Willis to 32 yards after he had gained 108 in the first half.
Following a scoreless third period and Fischer's injury, junior Curtiss Bunch set up Duke's winning drive by stripping Lucas of the ball while sacking him. The ball was recovered by junior Billy Granville on Rutgers' 36-yard line.
Granville finished the game with 14 tackles, two fumble recoveries and one caused fumble.
The Blue Devils then drove four plays in 1:32 to score the winner on Opalenick's 13-yard touchdown catch in the corner of the end zone.
Duke closed out the scoring on their next possession which was set up by--surprise--a turnover. Redshirt freshman Desi Thomas intercepted a Lucas pass that deflected off of the intended receiver's hands, giving the Blue Devils possession on the Rutgers' 34.
After 1:59, Cochran kicked a 33-yard field goal to give Duke a comfortable lead with only 1:12 left in the game.
The Blue Devils' average scoring drive only occupied 1:43, as they were the beneficiaries of superb field position.
"We made a few mistakes," Granville said. "We got a little sloppy in the first half, and we just wanted to come back and play our fundamentals. We kept playing hard and it paid off.
"This is the type of game that builds character and the type of game that you have to win to get back to a bowl game. We have to lay it on the line in games like this. Unless you can't walk, you need to be on the field."
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