CLEMSON, S.C. - Unlike many Duke games this season, the Blue Devils did not get blown out in the third quarter. Instead, Clemson put the game out of reach just before halftime.
On third-and-12 from the Clemson 27-yard line with less than a minute remaining in the first half, the Blue Devils (1-9, 0-7 in the ACC) ran a quarterback draw and picked up six yards. With the score 21-3, they assumed a field goal would keep them in contention after halftime. A blocked field goal, a penalty and four Clemson plays later, and the Blue Devils trailed 28-3 entering the locker room at the break, en route to a 49-20 blowout loss.
"It was a big momentum shift," head coach Ted Roof said. "Instead of getting three points and being within two possessions, now looking back, after we take the opening kickoff in the second half and march it down, it would have been a one-possession game."
Duke mounted a short-lived comeback effort after receiving the opening kickoff of the second half, producing one of the team's longest drives of the season. The possession, in which Zack Asack completed five of six passes, lasted 15 plays and took over seven minutes as the Blue Devils marched 77 yards. Running back Justin Boyle pounded in a one-yard touchdown to cap the drive, bringing the score to 28-10.
But Duke's defense could not slow down the Tigers (5-4, 3-4). Throughout the game, Clemson's running attack trampled the Blue Devil front seven. Senior Reggie Merriweather rushed for 105 yards on 18 carries and three touchdowns. Freshman James Davis carried the ball for 85 yards and a touchdown on only eight attempts and quarterback Will Proctor snuck into the end zone as well.
"They blocked and they ran the ball well," Roof said. "I don't know how many yards after contact they got, but it was certainly too many.... We've got to do a better job of tackling."
Although the defense struggled, Duke's offense had what several players called one of the team's best games of the season. Freshman quarterback Zack Asack turned in a career day, connecting on 26-of-43 passes for 328 yards and a touchdown.
"This offense is awesome," Asack said. "It was a good feeling once we were making plays. This game, it just started all clicking."
Wide receiver Eron Riley, who has emerged as the team's deep threat in recent weeks, led the team in receiving. The freshman had four catches for 130 yards and a score, which came on a 66-yard catch-the longest play of his and Asack's careers.
Aside from Riley, much of Asack's production came on throws to tight ends, an aspect of the offense that had been absent for most of this season. Ben Patrick, who had 18 receptions for the season entering the game, pulled in 10 catches for 100 yards. Andy Roland also grabbed five balls, four of which went for first downs.
"We wanted to get the tight ends some passes," Asack said. "We've been watching film, and they've been open. They did a great job today stepping up and making big plays for us."
If not for several Blue Devil mistakes, the game might have been significantly closer. After kicker Joe Surgan's field goal attempt was blocked, he threw the helmet of a Clemson player in frustration, earning a 15-yard penalty and placing the Tigers inside the Duke 35 with 32 seconds remaining in the half. The Tigers pounced, notching a score that blew the game open.
On the team's opening drive in the first half, Duke marched from its own 20 across midfield to the Clemson 40. But after a holding and a personal foul call, the Blue Devils were in a second-and-38 situation and were soon forced to punt.
"Some of those penalties were really critical as far as field position," Roof said. "We've got to do a better job coaching and we've got to do a better job executing."
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