By Bob Sutton
Special to The Alamance News
Elon’s offense was repelled at about every turn Friday night in a 26-3 loss at Duke to open the football season in Durham
The Phoenix hung with the Blue Devils into the second half but failed to sustain much offensively. Duke collected 16 tackles for loss.
Elon avoided a shutout on Jack Berkowitz’s 39-yard field goal with 14 seconds left.
The outcome gave Manny Diaz a successful debut as Duke’s coach. Quarterback Maalik Murphy, a transfer from Texas, threw for two touchdowns in his first game with the Blue Devils.
Murphy was intercepted by Elon’s Caleb Curtain in the fourth quarter for the game’s only turnover.
Elon starting quarterback Matthew Downing went 11-for-17 for 72 yards in the air, but he was the victim of eight sacks.
The teams combined for 92 rushing yards, just 30 for Elon.
Elon was in position to tie the game late in the first half at the end of a 10-play drive. But Berkowitz’s field goal attempt from 49 yards hit the crossbar and bounced back toward the field.
Duke responded, scoring three plays later on Jaquez Moore’s 7-yard touchdown run with 1:02 to play before halftime.
The Blue Devils extended their 10-0 margin in the third quarter on Todd Pelino’s 42-yard field goal and Jeremiah Hasley’s 1-yard pass from Murphy for a 19-0 advantage. Duke tacked on Murphy’s 7-yard pass to Eli Pancol with 4:11 to play.
Elon’s leading tackler was safety Khalil Baker, a transfer from North Carolina Central who made 10 stops. Punter Jeff Yurk of the Phoenix averaged 51.9 yards on seven attempts.
Photos courtesy of Elon Athletics
