Despite losing 56-14 at Pittsburgh last Saturday, the Blue Devils are still in bowl contention, but need a victory in their final game of the regular season to have a chance to play in the postseason for the fifth straight year. Duke’s opportunity comes Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at Miami, which is riding high on a three-game winning streak in what has been a rollercoaster season for the Hurricanes. Every week throughout the football season, the Blue Zone will break down a player on each team who could be the difference-maker in the upcoming contest:
Duke: Linebacker Ben Humphreys
After a less than stellar game against the Panthers last weekend, the Blue Devils will need their star linebacker to have a strong game against Miami, which boasts a high-octane offense that averages nearly 35 points per game. Although Humphreys only registered five tackles last week, the sophomore has shown his game-changing ability this season with five games totaling at least 10 tackles, and he leads the team with 98 on the year.
The Hurricanes showcase a balanced offense that has been very efficient the past three weeks—including a 51-28 victory against Pittsburgh—behind a two-headed rushing attack of Mark Walton and Joseph Yearby, who are both averaging more than 5.5 yards per carry this season. Limiting their production on first and second down would help put star quarterback Brad Kaaya’s attack in unfavorable situations, which Humphreys has the potential to play a large role in. Humphreys also relays all of the defensive assignments from the sidelines to the on-field players, something that may be of large importance if Kaaya and company opt to play in a hurry-up offensive scheme.
Pittsburgh: Running back Mark Walton
The Hurricanes have risen and fallen this season with Walton’s production, and in the past three games, the sophomore has been on a tear. Walton has rushed for more than 110 yards in each of the contests, all victories, and has added five touchdowns as well. Against a team that struggled to stop Pittsburgh’s star running back James Connor—who torched the Blue Devil defense for 101 yards and two touchdowns last weekend—Walton seems destined for another 100-plus yard performance. If Walton can have another strong performance against Duke at home, Miami’s offense will be that much harder to stop for a reeling Blue Devil defensive unit.
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