Durham, NC
Sep 28, 2024
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In a dramatic Atlantic Coast Conference opener at Wallace Wade Stadium, North Carolina jumped to a commanding 17-0 halftime lead, galvanized by Jacolby Criswell's precision passing. He connected on a 24-yard touchdown throw to J.J. Jones and a 10-yard strike to Bryson Nesbit, while showcasing accuracy by completing 21 of 39 passes for 251 yards. Omarion Hampton contributed significantly with 103 rushing yards, bolstering a Tar Heel squad that held Duke to a mere 97 first-half yards, echoing North Carolina’s first-half defensive shutout against Georgia Tech in 2019.
Duke showcased an electrifying second-half rally from a 20-0 deficit, marking the Blue Devils' largest comeback since 1962. Star Thomas emerged as a standout, rushing for 166 yards and securing two touchdowns, including a 29-yard pass from Maalik Murphy that ignited the rally. Peyton Jones' decisive 20-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter with under six minutes remaining sealed a 21-20 win for Duke, breaking a five-year losing streak to the Tar Heels and keeping the Victory Bell in Durham. Tre Freeman's critical interception in the final minute thwarted North Carolina's comeback aspirations, securing the Blue Devils' 5-0 season start under new coach Manny Diaz.
Jacolby Criswell (North Carolina)
Executing a well-timed play-action, Criswell found J.J. Jones on a 24-yard pass on 4th-and-1, boosting North Carolina to a 10-0 lead.
Jacolby Criswell (North Carolina)
A crafty 10-yard pass to Bryson Nesbit capped a 9-play, 61-yard drive, extending the Tar Heels' lead to 17-0 late in the first half.
Maalik Murphy (Duke)
Launching a quick-strike, Murphy connected with Star Thomas for a 29-yard touchdown to trim North Carolina's lead to 20-7.
Star Thomas (Duke)
After a contentious pass interference call on North Carolina, Thomas plunged in for a 2-yard score, inching Duke closer at 20-14.
Peyton Jones (Duke)
Jones took an outside handoff, dodging defenders for a 20-yard touchdown, giving Duke their first lead at 21-20.
Tre Freeman (Duke)
Freeman's interception of Criswell's desperate pass deep in Duke territory sealed a historic comeback victory for the Blue Devils.
Jacolby Criswell (North Carolina, QB)
The Tar Heels' signal-caller completed 21 out of 39 passes for 251 yards, threw for two touchdowns, and established control early to build a substantial lead.
Omarion Hampton (North Carolina, RB)
Hampton was a force on the ground, accumulating 103 rushing yards and adding a career-high 50 receiving yards to balance North Carolina's attack.
Star Thomas (Duke, RB)
With 166 yards on the ground, Thomas energized Duke's offense, scoring twice and proving instrumental in the Blue Devils' historic comeback.
Maalik Murphy (Duke, QB)
Murphy's perseverance was key in Duke's comeback, contributing a crucial 29-yard scoring strike to Thomas and ending the game with 209 passing yards.
Tre Freeman (Duke, DB)
In the dying moments, Freeman clinched the historic win for Duke with a vital interception, underlining his defensive prowess.
North Carolina Tar Heels
10
7
3
0
20
Duke Blue Devils
0
0
7
14
21
