By Pat Welter

It’s a triangle football season that’ll be defined by how you perform in your rivalry games. After holding their own against the ACC’s top two teams in SMU and Miami, Duke established control early at Carter-Finley Stadium vs. NC State.

Manny Diaz stingy defense forced a safety on the Wolfpack’s first possession by sacking CJ Bailey for a 2-0 lead. Tough start for the freshman QB who fumbled on his second possession giving the ball back to Duke in NC State territory. Duke would settle for a field goal for the always fun 5-0 score.

After a NC State three and out, Duke continued their hot start with a 45 yard Maalik Murphy touchdown pass to Jordan Moore for a 12-0 lead.

Offense hard to come by for the Pack. To start the second quarter NC State grinded out a 10 play drive resulting in a Kanoah Vinesett 30 yard field goal to cut the lead to 12-3.

State able to get in the redzone on their next possession. Bailey hit KC Concepcion in the back of the endzone for what could have been a score, but savvy play by the Duke defensive backs who knocked him out of bounds before his foot could come down. Another Vinesett field goal cut the lead to 12-6.

All the momentum was in Duke’s hands until NC State snatched it out. Closing seconds of the first half, Duke receiver Eli Pancol fighting for some extra yards deep in State terrirtory, when Tamarcus Cooley just took the ball out of his hands. Cooley had a clear path to the endzone but ran out of gas and was tackled at the Duke 15 yard line. Pack add another field goal to make it a 12-9 game at the half.

Vinesett getting put to work in this one. State opens the third quarter with another field goal to tie the game at 12-12.

Going to take more than field goals to win this game. Duke took back control with a 10 play 75 yard drive capped off by a tough three yard run by Murphy to give Duke a 19-12 lead.

Finishing drives the story of the game. After another drive resulted in a field goal attempt, Vinesett finally missed one, pushing it wide left to end the third quarter.

CJ Bailey had settled in nicely but the Duke defense got him again early in the 4th quarter when Terry Moore came up with an interception.

Already in State territory it didn’t take long for Duke to capitalize. Murphy hit Sahmir Hagans for a 9 yard touchdown and a 26-12 lead.

Nice response by Bailey and the Wolfpack offense. Bailey hit Wesley Grimes for a 16 yard score, the Pack’s first non field goal of the game to make it a game again at 26-19 with 9:00 to play.

Duke kicker Todd Pelino has faced his share of adversity lately, but came through in the clutch with a 49 yard field goal with 2:06 to play giving the Blue Devils an all important 29-19 lead.

Game ends fittingly with another Duke stop. Manny Diaz in his first year as Duke head coach knocks off UNC and NC State, 29-19 the final. 

Source: wralsportsfan.com