The offseason for Duke has been anything but smooth, with numerous player transfers and new coordinators on board. Heading into their rainy Friday night opener against Elon, the Blue Devils sported a significantly revamped roster.
Despite the changes, some constants remained. Duke secured a 26-3 victory over Elon at Wallace Wade Stadium, starting their 2024 season on a strong note.
“It was impressive,” said head coach Manny Diaz. “Elon had a hard time advancing the ball, with their quarterback under constant pressure. Our defense excelled at preventing big plays, which allowed our offense to find its rhythm.”
Though the Blue Devils struggled offensively for much of the first half, Texas transfer Maalik Murphy showcased his skills with a 55-yard pass to graduate receiver Eli Pancol, setting up a touchdown run by Jaquez Moore just before halftime. Duke led 10-0 at the break.
In the second half, Duke maintained control. Murphy connected more consistently with his receivers, driving the team down the field. Although a dropped pass by tight end Jeremiah Hasley interrupted one drive, Todd Pelino added a field goal.
The Duke defense continued to dominate, with eight sacks and relentless pressure on Elon’s quarterback Matthew Downing. Murphy occasionally connected on deep passes, and though some opportunities were missed, the Blue Devils remained dominant.
Diaz noted, “The film will show how close we were to a truly dominating performance, with a few missed opportunities for big plays.”
Murphy eventually delivered a key play with a 48-yard pass to Jordan Moore, setting up a touchdown by Hasley. Duke then led 19-0 with just over six minutes left in the third quarter.
Elon struggled to get anything going, with Duke’s defense forcing 15 tackles for loss and punter Jeff Yurk impressing with an average of 51.9 yards per punt. The Phoenix managed a late interception, but Murphy later connected with Pancol for a touchdown, extending the lead to 26-0. Pancol, back after missing the entire 2023 season with an injury, was thrilled to contribute.
Elon’s offense struggled from the start, with Duke’s defensive line repeatedly pressuring Downing and forcing punts. Murphy and Moore connected early on, moving the ball effectively despite a near-interception at the goal line. Pelino’s early field goal gave Duke a 3-0 lead.
Elon showed some fight in the second quarter with a 13-yard run by Rushawn Baker and a series of effective plays, but Duke’s defense held firm. A blocked punt by Wesley Williams gave Duke good field position, but they couldn’t capitalize, and Elon missed a 48-yard field goal attempt before halftime.
Diaz acknowledged the team’s progress and emphasized the importance of their upcoming game, “We need to make significant improvements before our next match against a Big Ten opponent. It’s great to start the season with a win.”
Duke will face Northwestern on September 6, continuing their season with a challenging matchup.
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