For the second time this season, the Blue Devils entered halftime with high hopes of pulling off an upset on the road. But like Wake Forest in the second week of the season, Alabama marched back for the win in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Despite having 158 yards rushing in the first half and a 14-10 lead at the break, the Blue Devils (0-5) could not hang on and fell to Alabama (4-2), 30-14, Saturday.
"I think it was a good locker room at halftime," head coach Ted Roof said. "We had been through that at Wake Forest. We had learned from it. I thought our kids came out in the second half ready to play."
Duke still had a chance to steal its first win of the season, trailing just 16-14 late in the third quarter. As the period was coming to a close, kicker Joe Surgan missed wide right on a 31-yard field goal attempt, which could have given the Blue Devils the lead heading into the final quarter.
Although the Duke defense held tight for most of the fourth quarter, Alabama mounted a nine-play drive that ended with a Jimmy Johns two-yard touchdown run to put Alabama ahead, 23-14, with four minutes remaining.
On Duke's first play on the ensuing drive, a 50-yard Crimson Tide interception return for a touchdown sealed the game for Alabama.
"We found a way to win, but we didn't execute the way we should have," Alabama head coach Mike Shula said. "Duke did all the things that could lead to you getting beat. We tell the players that you've got to come to play every week. If you don't come to play, you put yourself in a position to get beat."
Although the Blue Devils were unable to end their 13-game losing streak-the second longest in Division I-A-they were able to point toward a few positives following the loss.
For the first time this season, the rushing game came alive. After gaining negative-21 yards against Virginia the week before, Duke busted out for a season-high 201 yards rushing Saturday. The ground game included the implementation of the option, led by running back-turned-quarterback Clifford Harris.
"We have guys healthy and made some yardage after contact," Roof said. "The offensive line is developing and has to continue to get better. We have to have some success running the ball to win games, and this was first time we had sustained success."
On the other side of the ball, the defense stepped up, limiting Alabama to 17 rushing yards in the first half. The second half, however, was not as successful for the defense, which gave up 117 yards and two long scoring drives that led to touchdowns.
"I don't think the defense let up at all," nose guard Vince Oghobaase said. "It wasn't a matter of them wearing us down or getting tired. It was a matter of busted assignments, and people not being in the right spot when the play was called."
Although the Blue Devils walked away from Alabama feeling that they could compete against the elite of college football, problems with turnovers and in the passing game continue to plague the team. The Blue Devils will need to build on last week's success and amend their offensive miscues if they wish to upset Florida State Saturday.
"We're not satisfied," running back Re'quan Boyette said. "We came out and gave them a hell of a game, but we didn't win. So we need to carry that motivation into Florida State on Saturday."
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