After falling behind North Carolina by double-digits early on for the third straight matchup, the Blue Devils looked like they were on their way to another blowout loss to the Tar Heels.
But Duke did what it has all year despite losing its first five ACC games—pick itself up off the mat and get back in the game.
The Blue Devils and No. 15 North Carolina are deadlocked 21-21 at halftime on Senior Night at Wallace Wade Stadium. Although Tar Heel quarterback Mitch Trubisky dominated the Duke defense to the tune of 200 passing yards and three touchdowns, the Blue Devils got their running game going behind quarterback Daniel Jones and Shaun Wilson to overcome an early 14-0 deficit.
Duke went 5-of-8 on third down in the first half led by its 127 yards on the ground, marching down the field on three straight possessions to tie the game at 21 on Jones' second short rushing touchdown of the game with 4:26 left in the half. Wilson finished with 87 yards on 18 carries and the team's other touchdown.
The Blue Devils—winless in ACC play—grabbed momentum in the second quarter, but it was the 7-2 Tar Heels that came out with energy Thursday. After a Duke punt, North Carolina struck first when Trubisky went 4-of-5 on the team's first possession, finding Thomas Jackson, who beat Corbin McCarthy for a 16-yard touchdown.
The Blue Devils punted on their second possession, then junior running back Elijah Hood broke loose for a few big runs and Trubisky hit Bug Howard for a 10-yard gain on a key 3rd-and-10.
Two plays later and with plenty of time again, Trubisky connected with Howard again with Duke freshman Mark Gilbert in coverage. Gilbert—in for an injured Breon Borders—went for the interception but came up short, allowing Howard to walk into the end-zone for a 19-yard score with 3:59 remaining in the first quarter.
The Blue Devils calmly responded to the early 14-point deficit with an 11-play, 68 yard drive. Duke got into manageable down-and-distance situations with its running game, then Jones called his own number for an eight-yard touchdown run. The redshirt freshman finished the first half 13-of-21 for 146 yards and six carries for 25 yards and the two touchdowns.
Despite allowing the Tar Heels to start at midfield on the ensuing kickoff following two penalties, Duke forced a three-and-out, then marched down the field again before Wilson punched in a game-tying one-yard touchdown run.
North Carolina responded with an explosive play to regain its lead on a 54-yard touchdown pass to Carl Tucker following a pump fake to wideout Ryan Switzer, but the Blue Devils showed their resilience once again.
After one of the Tar Heels' three costly penalties, Jones found tight end Daniel Helm for 20 yards then capped the drive with a one-yard keeper with 4:26 left in the half.
Both teams had chances to end the first 30 minutes, but neither team could take advantage.
Here are some other observations from the first half:
- After starting 1-for-3 on third down conversions, the Blue Devils finished the half 5-of-8.
- Jones is fooling North Carolina's defense frequently when he keeps the ball in the read-option game after setting a career high with 99 rushing yards last week against Virginia Tech.
- McCarthy made a key tackle for loss and had a pass breakup as Duke's defense stopped the Tar Heels on their last two drives.
- The Blue Devils have opened up the playbook, with Chris Taylor registering a big 29-yard catch and a flea flicker and reverse pass among the team's first-half highlights.
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