Rewritten: WRAL Sports contributor Gianna Forbis authored this piece.

20Duke Blue Devils	0
18Louisville Cardinals	23
Final

LOUISVILLE, Ky.
Duke experienced their third defeat of the season as they were unable to score against the Louisville Cardinals, losing 23-0.

The Blue Devils were shut out for the first time on October 16, 2021, since their 48-0 loss to the Virginia Cavaliers in David Cutcliffe’s last season as head coach.

However, the Louisville Cardinals have achieved their second shutout of the season, with a previous one against Murray State resulting in a 56-0 victory.

Duke quarterback Riley Leonard finished the day with 121 yards on 9-of-23 passing, with one interception and zero touchdowns. Quarterback Grayson Loftis also saw the field in the fourth quarter, completing 3-of-5 passes for 30 yards.

The Mirror of Louisville

The Louisville defense displayed a reflection of the Blue Devils’ performance throughout the season.

The Cardinals’ strong defense, known as the “Sea of Red,” managed to tackle Leonard six times during Saturday afternoon’s game, causing him to have to quickly run for more yards.

In the third quarter, Louisville’s Gilbert Frierson made an interception of Duke’s Leonard at the 11 yard line. This was Frierson’s first interception as a member of the Cardinals, following five years with Miami.

Challenges faced by the Offensive team

Leonard struggled to remain in the pocket against the Cardinals’ defense. His receivers collectively gained 151 yards through receiving, but did not score any touchdowns, whether through receiving or rushing, during the game.

The rushing attack included contributions from Leonard, who gained 13 yards on the ground. The top rusher was Jordan Waters, who racked up 23 yards on offense.

The Cardinals’ defense stood their ground against Duke’s offense, causing Leonard and his team to have multiple three-and-out drives during the game.

Duke’s total offensive yards were 202, while Louisville had 351. Throughout the game, Leonard appeared to struggle in connecting with his receivers.

Field Goals Seal The Deal

Although there were no touchdowns scored after the first quarter, Brock Travelstead from Louisville was able to successfully move the ball down the field and score three field goals in the remaining three quarters.

Louisville’s defense prevented Duke from entering the red zone and scoring, while Travelstead’s nine points allowed them to maintain their lead for the duration of the game.

Up Next:

On November 2, 2023 at 7:30 p.m., Duke will return to Wallace Wade Stadium to face Wake Forest University.

Scoring Summaries:

In the third quarter of the game between Louisville and Duke, Brock Travelstead kicked a 20-yard field goal at the 7:32 mark. He later made another 24-yard field goal at the 3:24 mark, bringing the score to Louisville 23, Duke 0. A key play in this quarter was an interception made by Louisville’s linebacker Gilbert Frierson on Duke’s 11-yard line.

In the second quarter of the game between Louisville and Duke, Brock Travelstead successfully kicked a 47-yard field goal with only 49 seconds left on the clock. This gave Louisville a score of 17, while Duke remained at 0. Throughout the quarter, Duke struggled with penalties, which resulted in a third down and 24 yards to go at one point.

In the first quarter of the game between Louisville and Duke, running back Jawhar Jordan scored two rushing touchdowns, one for 14 yards and one for 23 yards. Kicker B. Travelstead successfully made both extra point kicks, giving Louisville a total of 14 points. The key plays of the quarter included Louisville converting a 4th and 1 into a touchdown, and Duke’s Leonard getting tripped up on a 4th and 1, resulting in a six yard loss and giving Louisville an opportunity on offense.

Source: wralsportsfan.com