Five observations and more from the Blue Devils first half against N.C. Central

The Blue Devils enter the locker room against N.C. Central leading 27-13, here are five observations from Duke's first half of play at Wallace Wade Stadium.

Five Observations

1. This season, Duke’s special teams haven’t had many issues, converting on most of their extra points and field goals. However, as the Blue Devils enters its ACC gauntlet next weekend, the least of its worries should be whether its special teams unit will show up. Redshirt senior Collin Wareham made 3 extra points in the first half, but his kick was blocked after Duke’s first touchdown. Missed field goals are okay occasionally, but if Duke makes a habit of only converting on some of its extra points, it will be very difficult for the team to beat any talented team.
2. Senior T.J. Rahming was active all over the field, running past whichever defender was in his way. On Duke’s second play of they game, Rahming rushed the ball for 38 yards to quickly put the Blue Devils in scoring position. Rahming and his teammates looked a lot faster than their NCCU counterparts which was made evident in the numerous explosive plays that took place in the first half.
3. Although Duke’s defense kept the Eagles scoreless for most of the first quarter, N.C. Central caught the Blue Devils off guard for a couple of big-yardage plays in the first half. Running back Isaiah Totten ran through a gap in the middle of the field for a 59-yard scamper on N.C. Central’s first drive, but the Eagles could not put together a good enough drive to score. However, a 36-yard toss by quarterback Naiil Ramadan placed N.C. Central in Duke territory once again which resulted in the Eagle’s first touchdown of the game. 
4. Blue Devil mistakes on both sides of the ball kept the game competitive for some of the first half. After forcing the Eagles to punt on a fourth down, redshirt freshman Chris Rumph II was penalized for jumping the punt block shield, giving the Eagles a first down and an opportunity to notch their first touchdown of the day. Then, a fumble by Quentin Harris in the second period was recovered for N.C. Central’s second touchdown, which reduced Duke's lead to just seven points late in the first half.
5. Duke’s ground game looked strong against the Eagle’s defense, as the Blue Devils rushed for 182 yards, led by Brittain Brown with 69 yards. Duke’s running backs kept the Eagles on their heels, giving Quentin Harris better opportunities to put the ball in the air and gain even more experience in the pocket.

BY THE NUMBERS

Quentin harris completing 14-25 passes: In his second career start, Quentin Harris looked somewhat composed in the pocket, passing for 183 yards. Harris made some correct reads for but threw some bad passes that should have been easy to make. His increased experience behind center however, bodes well for the Blue Devils, as he will most likely start in Duke’s first ACC-matchup against Virginia Tech next week.

Two touchdowns in less than four minutes: A strong offensive start for the Blue Devils resulted in two quick scores to take full control of the match early on. After a two-minute, six-play drive for a touchdown to begin the game, the Blue Devils' kickoff squad succeeded on an onside kick to regain possession of the ball. Soon after, a Harris 15-yard rush put Duke up by two touchdowns before the Eagle offense got a chance to see the field.

Two touchdowns for N.C. Central: The Eagles scored twice in the first half, which is the most they’ve scored on the Blue Devils in the last three years. Numerous mistakes on Duke’s part allowed N.C. Central to take advantage and keep the game closer than most expected. 

A MOMENT THAT MATTERED