Duke’s soccer group shocked No. 9 Clemson by making the most of some poor play by the Tigers

On Monday evening, the Mike Elko period at Duke reached a brand new stratosphere of success. Coming off a 9-4 season, the Blue Devils began their second season with Elko as head coach with a historic efficiency, pulverizing No. 9 Clemson 28-7 at Wallace Wade Stadium.

That is Duke’s first victory over a top-ten group since 1989 when Steve Spurrier led the Blue Devils to a victory over Clemson. The second-half shutout of the defending ACC champion Tigers ended Duke’s 28-game shedding streak towards top-10 opponents.

After trailing 7-6 at halftime, Duke scored 22 consecutive factors on landing runs by Riley Leonard, Jaquez Moore, and Jordan Waters.

Duke accomplished the sport with 204 dashing yards, averaging 7.3 yards per carry.

The protection remains to be biting for Elko

Elko was given the chance to be a head coach for the primary time final 12 months after establishing an excellent repute as a defensive coordinator. The turnaround of that unit was essential to Duke’s 9-4 document final season. Within the sport towards Clemson, Duke’s protection restricted the Tigers to at least one landing and recovered two fumbles.  The truth that each fumble recoveries occurred contained in the Duke 10-yard line helped thwart Clemson’s red-zone scoring alternatives.

Graduate transfers Myles Jones, Jeremiah Lewis, and Al Blades supplemented Duke’s secondary protection, limiting the Tigers to 7.7 yards per completion. Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik accomplished 27 of 43 passes for 209 yards, with Will Shipley catching the lone landing cross.

Clemson concluded with 422 yards however was unsuccessful in scoring. After permitting 22.1 factors per sport final season, Duke’s protection seems to be even stronger this 12 months.

The Tigers had the ball 13 instances however scored just one landing. They failed to attain on three possessions contained in the Duke 10-yard line, together with twice on first-and-goal from the Duke 1-yard line.

Riley Leonard Shines on A Large Stage

Regardless of having a powerful sophomore season a 12 months in the past, Riley Leonard, a junior quarterback for Duke, continues to obtain much less consideration than fellow ACC quarterbacks Drake Maye of North Carolina, Jordan Travis of Florida State, and, up till Monday evening, Klubnik.

Together with his 44-yard landing run within the third quarter, Leonard turned the tide for the Blue Devils underneath the nationwide highlight on Monday evening, when he performed a turnover-free sport.

Leonard, the very best rusher for Duke final season, gained 98 yards on eight carries towards Clemson.

On the passing finish, he was efficient, finishing 17 of 33 passes for 175 yards.

Potty however Unstoppable

Clemson often performs earlier than sold-out audiences throughout nationally televised contests. The scenario was uncharted territory for the Blue Devils.

It was evident in an important space that threatened the Blue Devils’ probabilities of victory. Seven pre-snap penalties had been issued towards Duke, both false begins by the offense or offsides by the protection.

Jalon Calhoun’s mishandled punt return arrange Clemson’s second-quarter landing, which gave the Tigers a short 7-6 lead.

Nevertheless, the Tigers dedicated three turnovers within the second half, permitting Duke to drag off the upset.