Football coaches will tell you that defense wins championships. If that were true, Duke might very well be a championship football team.
Duke's defensive unit rose to every challenge that was put in its path, and the obstacles began on the first possession of the game. The first time it stepped on the field, the defense was lined up at the 35-yard line-its own 35-yard line.
With their backs to the wall, the Blue Devils stood their ground and made a statement on the very first play as linebacker Ryan Stallmeyer stuffed Wildcat running back Damien Anderson in the backfield for a three-yard loss. Northwestern couldn't manage a first down and, in what would become symbolic of the game, kicker Tim Long was forced to attempt a field goal.
"I think [the key to our success] is experience," inside linebacker Todd DeLamielleure said. "[Defensive coordinator Bob] Trott does a great job coming up with the game plans. We've got so many guys that have been out there before and gone through it before."
In fact, every one of the Blue Devil starters has done it before. DeLamielleure and cornerbacks Quentin Holley and Ronnie Hamilton are the only sophomores in a starting lineup that includes seven seniors and one junior.
Not surprisingly, it was a pair of seniors, inside linebacker Ryan Stallmeyer and defensive tackle Chris Combs, that essentially eliminated any sort of running attack by the Wildcats. Combs and Stallmeyer combined for seven tackles for losses that sent Northwestern 14 yards toward its own endzone.
Flustered all day by the pressure provided by Duke's front seven, Anderson gained only 73 yards on 32 carries. In his previous two games, the junior had rushed for 227 yards and an average close to four yards per carry.
"You have to give them credit; I think they played outstanding defense," Northwestern coach Randy Walker said. "They got up in our face on defense, and really what they were saying was, 'You weren't going to run it, and we dare you to throw it deep.' And we couldn't make a play, we couldn't get it going."
Despite trying for several home run balls against the Duke defense, Northwestern never completed a pass over 30 yards and typically had to settle for short gains to the sidelines. Quarterback Nick Kreinbrink suffered a miserable performance, completing 15-of-38 passes for only 121 yards and an interception.
After holding Kreinbrink and the Wildcat offense scoreless for the last 42 minutes of regulation, the Blue Devil defense came up with what could have been the biggest play of the day. Tied at nine, Northwestern was trying to drive for the winning score with 1:14 left in the game, but the Blue Devils shut them down and got the ball back in a mere 31 seconds. Stallmeyer and DeLamielleure put heavy pressure on Kreinbrink and safety Eric Jones intercepted his pass to give Duke a chance to win.
Unfortunately for Duke, the offense wasn't up to par with the defense's level of play. The Blue Devils went three-and-out and then lost in overtime, but, as all 11 guys on offense will tell you, the chance was there because of the defense.
"Our defense is one of the greatest defenses in the ACC, if you ask me-if not in the nation," wide receiver Scottie Montgomery said. "And those guys, it's hard for them because they're on the field and then they're right back on the field. That kind of pisses me off because they don't deserve that. They played a hell of a game today."
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