Duke Blue Devils vs Syracuse Orange Match Player Stats On Nov 08, 2014

SportsDirect Inc. staff
Nov 8, 2014


No. 20 Duke 27, Syracuse 10: Jamison Crowder's 52-yard punt return for a touchdown fueled the visiting Blue Devils, who dominated the fourth quarter en route to a victory over the Orange.

Crowder's third career punt return for a score sparked a 17-point fourth quarter for Duke (8-1, 4-1 ACC), which maintained its one-game lead over Georgia Tech in the ACC Coastal Division. Anthony Boone and Issac Blakeney hooked up on a pair of touchdowns for the Blue Devils, who have won four straight games.

Austin Wilson and Mitch Kimble got very little going for the Syracuse passing game, combining to complete 17-of-32 for 105 yards with two interceptions - both by Wilson. Kimble contributed 42 rushing yards and a score, while Prince-Tyson Gulley also ran for 42 yards as the Orange (3-7, 1-5) dropped their third straight.

Syracuse was punting from its own end zone with just under 13 minutes remaining when Crowder fielded the kick, made one cut and took off down the middle to break a 10-10 tie. The Orange failed on a fake punt on their next possession, leading to an easy 34-yard field goal by the Blue Devils before Wilson's interception set up Boone's 54-yard TD strike to Blakeney with 7:13 left.

The teams traded field goals in the first quarter before Boone snapped the tie with a 22-yard TD to Blakeney, who broke one tackle and sprinted to the end zone with just over five minutes to go in the half. Syracuse drew even on Kimble's 8-yard TD run with 5:18 to go in the third quarter.

GAME NOTEBOOK: This was the first meeting between the teams since 1939 and Syracuse has still never defeated Duke (0-3). ... Blakeney, who finished with three catches for 94 yards, had not scored in any of his last six games. ... Crowder recorded nine catches for 58 yards, while Boone did not have his best day, going 15-of-33 for 161 yards with two scores and a pick.