The Duke Blue Devils defeated the Northern Illinois Huskies 36-14 in the Quick Lane Bowl. Here are three takeaways from the win.
Wearing throwback helmets like those the Blue Devils wore during the Steve Spurrier era, the Blue Devils put up Spurrier-like offensive numbers in a 36-14 victory over Northern Illinois in the Quick Lane Bowl. The win secured a winning season for head coach David Cutcliffe and sent the Blue Devils into the offseason riding the momentum of a three-game winning streak.
Cutcliffe is sure to be excited by the performance of his quarterback, Daniel Jones, who much like the team he leads on the field, suffered an up-and-down season in 2017 but ended on a high note. Jones completed 27 of 40 passes for 252 and two touchdowns without an interception. Jones also led the team with 86 rushing yards, and started the scoring with a one-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-goal to cap the first drive of the game for the Blue Devils.
Duke forced a three-and-out on each of the first two Northern Illinois offensive drives, setting up the Blue Devils offense with good field position in the first quarter. The third NIU drive also resulted in a three-and-out when Trevon McSwain recorded a sack to set up 4th-and-18 at the Northern Illinois 11-yard line. Incredibly, the Huskies opted for a fake punt, but punter Matt Ference’s pass attempt fell incomplete to set up another quick Duke scoring opportunity. Three plays later, running back Shaun Wilson plunged in from the one-yard line to push the lead to 14-0.
Wilson finished with 75 rushing yards on 16 carries and the TD — his best yardage performance since the third game of the season and his first score since Week 4. Overall, the Blue Devils racked up 467 total yards and averaged 5.08 yards per play.
After a sluggish start, Northern Illinois showed life on its next drive and finally picked up a pair of first downs. Though the Huskies failed to convert a fourth down play in Duke territory, the Northern Illinois defense stepped up with its first three-and-out of the evening, and the Huskies capitalized with two big pass plays: a 43-yarder from quarterback Marcus Childers to Spencer Tears on first down, and a 25-yard touchdown run by Tre Harbison to cut the deficit in half.
NIU forced a second straight three-and-out for the Blue Devils offense, and quickly tied the game with another big play when Childers dropped back and launched a long pass to Jauan Wesley, who broke a tackle and raced to the end zone for a 67-yard TD.
However, the comeback attempt fizzled as Duke retook the lead midway through the second quarter. Jones found T.J. Rahming, his top target during the regular season, in the end zone on a 33-yard post route for a TD. The extra point failed, but the Blue Devils added to the lead with 1:33 left to play before the half when Jones found Wilson on an 11-yard catch and run. Jones’ two-point pass attempt was intercepted, and Duke took a 26-14 lead into the locker room at halftime.
Jones led the Blue Devils into enemy territory on the first drive of the second half, but was sacked and fumbled, and NIU recovered for the first turnover of the game. The Huskies appeared to take advantage when Childers and Wesley connected on a 42-yard pass play, but the drive stalled and the Huskies botched a 39-yard field goal attempt.
It would be the last time the outcome was in question. The Blue Devils followed with another touchdown — a seven-yard run by Brittain Brown — and later took 7:38 off the clock on a 16-play, 64-yard drive that ended with a 24-yard field goal by feel-good story William Holmquist to increase the lead to 36-14.
Playing without leading rusher Jordan Huff, Northern Illinois managed 299 yards of offense and averaged 3.22 yards per play. Childers completed 15 of 26 passes for 234 yards and a score and added 19rushing yards. Harbison led the team with 59 rushing yards and a TD.
Duke beats Northern Illinois in the Quick Lane Bowl: 3 takeaways
1. The Duke defense set the tone
The Blue Devils recorded three straight three-and-outs to open the game, which they turned into good field position setting up the first two touchdowns. Duke also stuffed the Huskies on a fourth down attempt on the next drive when linebacker Joe Giles-Harris, the ACC leader with 15 tackles for loss during the regular season, shook off a block and stopped Childers behind the line to end a promising drive.
It wasn’t a perfect performance: the Blue Devils allowed Northern Illinois to get back in the game quickly in the second quarter. However, the Blue Devils set the tempo early and controlled the rest of the game. Duke also stepped up when it mattered most, stopping Northern Illinois on each of its six fourth down attempts, and held the Huskies to just one conversion on 12 attempts on third down. Conversely, Duke converted 10 of 19 times on third down, and was 2-for-3 on fourth down.
It’s also worth noting, with the help of a solid coverage unit, which pinned the Huskies inside their own 20-yard line in each of their four first half kickoffs, NIU average starting position on its nine first half possessions was the 22.2-yard line. It’s much easier to keep an opponent off the scoreboard when must travel a long field.
2. Northern Illinois DE Sutton Smith is a must-watch player
The 6-foot, 225-pound defensive end doesn’t project as an NFL edge rusher, but NIU defensive end Sutton Smith earned consensus All-American honors and was named MAC Defensive Player of the Year after tying for the national lead with 14.0 sacks and leading all FBS defenders with 28.5 tackles for loss during the regular season. He didn’t just pile up stats against weak MAC opponents, either: Smith recorded a combined four sacks against Boston College, Nebraska and San Diego State.
He didn’t light up the stat sheet against Duke, failing to record a sack, but the Blue Devils paid Smith great respect, often double-teaming the sophomore as the NIU coaching staff moved him around the defense in an attempt to create favorable matchups.
Still, Smith made his presence felt in the third quarter when he nearly forced an interception from Jones. Rushing from a stand-up position, Smith correctly read Jones’ read option keeper and wrapped up the quarterback, who made an ill-advised throwaway pass attempt toward the sideline. We can be sure Smith will make his presence known often again in 2018.
3. Duke QB Daniel Jones is a player to watch for 2018
Jones had a big day Tuesday, moving the Blue Devils down the field with both his arm and his feet while also taking care of the football (sack and fumble aside). Finally healthy after nursing an apparent shoulder injury during the regular season, Jones’ performance in the Quick Lane Bowl set the stage for what could be a big 2018 and beyond.
Listed at 6-foot-5 and 215 pounds, Jones has an NFL frame and already has two years of experience playing under one of the best quarterbacks coaches in the country in Cutcliffe. Wearing a captain’s C on his jersey, Jones is obviously a team leader. He also flashed a strong arm and good touch, notably on the 33-yard TD in the second quarter, and is capable of moving the sticks with his legs on designed runs or when scrambling away from pressure. Put it all together and Jones is a potential All-ACC performer who could carve out a pro career.
Jones loses Wilson, his leading rusher and a capable receiver out of the backfield, as well as three starters on the offensive line, but the rising junior should have each of his top three leading receivers — Rahming, Johnathan Lloyd and Chris Taylor — back in 2018. That quartet should be one of the best in the ACC, and tight end Daniel Helm, who led the Blue Devils with 73 yards on five catches in the bowl victory, rounds out a solid receiving corps.
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The Blue Devils looked like a Top 25 team through the first four games of the season. The offense averaged 40.5 points per game in a season-opening four-game winning streak, but struggled mightily during a six-game, midseason losing skid in which the team managed 12.2 points per contest.
Now, with Jones back on track after winning its final two games of the regular season to become bowl eligible, with Cutcliffe at the helm despite interest from Tennessee, and following an impressive victory in the Quick Lane Bowl, there’s plenty of reason to be optimistic about the future of Duke football.