Duke Football Dominates the Triangle, Eyes Strong Finish After Bye Week

Photo by Laura Murphy - Duke Football Talk 

The Victory Bell has proudly rung in Durham since Duke’s victory over North Carolina on September 28th.  Now, with a 29-19 win over NC State at Carter-Finley Stadium, Duke football has staked its claim as the Triangle's top team this season.

The showdown in Raleigh kicked off with an unusual sequence, as Duke quickly racked up points in all three phases.  By the end of the first quarter, Duke held a 12-0 lead, thanks to a safety, a field goal, and a touchdown.  My friend Drew called it the "Manny Diaz hat trick"—a perfect start that showcased Duke’s versatility.

NC State clawed back with three field goals in the second quarter, trimming Duke's lead to 12-9 by halftime.  The Wolfpack kept up the pressure after the break, adding another field goal to tie the game at 12-12.  But then Duke responded with a statement drive: a 10-play, 75-yard march down the field, capped off by Maalik Murphy's first career rushing touchdown on a surprising three-yard dash. This momentum-swinging drive helped the Blue Devils reclaim the lead.

Duke held firm, finishing the night with a 29-19 victory to bring their record to an impressive 7-3.  In the post-game press conference, Manny Diaz praised his team’s balanced approach: "It was a complete performance in all three phases, which it needed to be to win in an environment like this tonight.  So I’m really proud of our guys.  Our bye week comes at a good time for us to heal up for the stretch run.  But right now, let’s enjoy being 7-3 and move on from there."

The Manny Diaz era at Duke has ignited an exciting new chapter for Blue Devils football.  Fans have already celebrated milestones this season: early bowl eligibility, reclaiming the Victory Bell for the first time since the 2018 season, and now, taking the crown as the Triangle’s top team.  With a well-timed bye week to recover, Duke is gearing up for a primetime showdown against Virginia Tech under the lights at Wallace Wade Stadium on November 23rd.  Then, they’ll hit the road for a quick trip to Winston-Salem to close out the regular season against Wake Forest on November 30th.

​With momentum and the potential to finish strong, Duke football fans have plenty to look forward to in this thrilling season finale before the team heads to bowl season.