Duke Forces Eight Turnovers to Beat Miami on the Road

This article was written for WIZS Radio.

Duke’s dominant defensive unit prevailed during Saturday’s game in Florida, forcing a record eight turnovers, including five fumbles, to beat Miami 45- 21. The unit, led by defensive back Brandon Johnson, accumulated six sacks, seven TFLs, and deflected four passes. Duke converted the turnovers into 24 points.

“We challenged our guys on defense,” said Duke coach Mike Elko, a move that paid dividends. Elko’s persistence in growing the program continues to fuel the intensity of Duke’s robust defense.

Right out of the gate, sloppy play on both sides of the football hindered successes. Duke succumbed to numerous offensive woes, including falling victim to two turnovers. Miami capitalized on an early turnover by feeding the ball to wide receiver Colbie Young for a score. Then Miami’s offensive forward movement stalled, and they failed to put points on the board in the second quarter.

Although Miami outscored Duke in the first quarter, Miami’s lead was short-lived. With possession to start the second half, Duke’s offense executed an 18-play, 79-yard scoring drive while erasing over nine minutes from the game clock. Duke, demonstrating resilience, converted on third down three times to keep the drive alive. Miami responded with two scores but never fully recovered.

Building on its third-quarter momentum, Duke heavily relied on its ground game to create a comfortable lead in the fourth quarter. The ground game amassed 200 yards on 42 attempts. Duke utilized the leg strength and shifty footwork of four offensive playmakers, including Jaquez Moore, Jordan Waters, Terry Moore, and Riley Leonard, to score four touchdowns.

“What an amazing statement of resiliency from this football team in this football program and our coaching staff,” said Elko.

What’s next?

Duke (5-3) will rest before traveling to Massachusetts for a matchup against the Boston College Eagles (2-5) on Nov. 4. The Eagles, fresh off of a blowout loss at Wake Forest, are averaging approximately 19 points per game. Duke, comparatively, is averaging roughly 34 points per game.

A win at Boston College would give Duke bowl eligibility for the first time since 2018.