‘Get it done’: Devastating loss to North Carolina shows Duke football is beyond taking moral victories

The Blue Devils have three losses, every by a single possession. They’re knocking on the door of their fifth win, which might give them as many as within the earlier two seasons mixed. The strides the crew has made since even final 12 months are plain, and contending in any respect in these key video games looks like a victory in and of itself. 

However after falling to present No. 19 Kansas 35-27 again in September, head coach Mike Elko mentioned it himself: “We’re definitely not in search of ethical victories round right here.” 

It was true then, however after falling in devastating vogue to archrival North Carolina 38-35 at dwelling Saturday only a week after an additional time heartbreaker at Georgia Tech, the sentiment rings much more true. The Blue Devils have moved previous in search of ethical victories. They’ve made the progress, they’ve reached the milestones like Elko’s first ACC win. They’ve confirmed they’ve what it takes to win. Now it’s time to win.

“We have now to cease questioning whether or not this crew goes to reply. This crew goes to struggle, they’re going to struggle for 4 quarters. They proceed to indicate it each single week,” Elko mentioned after the sport. “We had been there and had an opportunity to win. And we simply did not make the play on the finish to get it completed.”

In opposition to Kansas and Georgia Tech, the loss was seemingly simpler to swallow as a result of in each of these video games, for as shut as Duke obtained to a victory, it had performed from behind your entire recreation. However taking part in North Carolina was completely different. At dwelling, in entrance of a rabid, infectiously supportive crowd, the Blue Devils appeared to go muster at each stage in a means that they had not likely earlier than, at the least not towards a professional opponent.

Sophomore quarterback Riley Leonard was lights out. The Fairhope, Ala., native threw for 245 yards and ran for 130 extra, together with the play of the sport wherein he, after getting sacked the play earlier than, broke by way of site visitors to run the ball 74 yards into the top zone. He took the problem of the sport—dealing with off towards one of many nation’s most sensational quarterbacks—on the chin similar to he has all season and proved why he’s the rightful chief of the Blue Devils.

The backfield, too, answered the decision, with out redshirt junior and main rusher Jaylen Coleman. Jordan Waters, Jaquez Moore and even freshman Terry Moore greater than crammed within the gaps, working for a mixed 169 yards and three touchdowns. The offensive line was additionally coping with accidents, however, for essentially the most half, they saved Leonard out of hazard and helped him make some essential performs.

The line of defense stood out, although. The unit did one thing few have been capable of do: get quarterback Drake Maye to make errors. Maye is the convention chief of just about each quarterback stat, and the 6-foot-4, 220-pound redshirt freshman seemed each bit his billing at Wallace Wade Stadium as he threw for 380 yards. Nonetheless, the line of defense, led by junior captain DeWayne Carter, discovered methods to get at him, sacking him thrice and recovering two fumbles, the primary of which was a landing drive for Duke and the second of which was a private foul name away from being one other Blue Satan landing. 

The enhancements that the Blue Devils must make, the treatments to all of the issues that went unsuitable to provide their rival the win, are all very doable. With 5 video games left within the season and simply two wins out from bowl eligibility, there’s a good likelihood Duke does these issues. However till it might probably make the changes to shut out shut video games, we will’t maintain falling again on how wonderful it’s that the Blue Devils are able to try this within the first place. 

Positive, the Blue Devils obtained blown out 38-7 final season towards North Carolina, and it’s tempting to commend them for such a fast turnaround. However it is a utterly completely different crew. Leonard is just not Gunnar Holmberg. Elko is just not David Cutcliffe. And this group will get to set new expectations for itself.

“I do not assume it may be misplaced on anybody how far this program has are available in a really brief time period. I do not assume it may be misplaced on anybody what this crew seems like proper now after they take the soccer subject,” Elko mentioned. “Now’s the fitting time to leap on board and be a part of these items.”

It’s a troublesome Catch-22. The second you grow to be adequate for ethical victories is the second you might be too good to take them. The expectation then turns into profitable soccer video games.

Duke itself is aware of the place it’s and what its objectives are; the dejected faces of Elko, Leonard and Carter after the loss aren’t the faces of individuals taking ethical victories. It’s time that these watching this Duke crew catch up. 

It is a crew that’s prepared and capable of win. And when it does that constantly, that can be a victory.