TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Just minutes before kickoff against No. 4 Florida State, it was announced that junior quarterback Riley Leonard would suit up as the starter for the 16th-ranked Blue Devils, bringing a true belief to both the team and its fans for an upset. And, through the first 40 minutes of the game, it seemed like Duke might just do it, as the Blue Devils held onto a 20-17 lead and threatened to score again.
Unfortunately for Duke, Leonard was pulled down by his facemask and re-tweaked his ankle, shifting the momentum in Florida State’s favor. The Seminoles capitalized on the Blue Devils’ newfound uneasiness, ultimately securing a 38-20 victory.
Despite the loss, Duke has shown that they have the talent and ability to compete at the highest level. However, the margin for error against top teams is minuscule, as Florida State demonstrated. The Blue Devils still have their sights set on reaching the ACC title game in Charlotte, but they will need to learn how to remain composed under pressure.
“We came into this game with high expectations of how we play and how we would perform. Through three quarters we showed that, and then in the fourth quarter, we didn’t have the responses that we needed,” said Duke head coach Mike Elko. “We didn’t convert the fourth-and-3, we gave up the 96-yard drive, which I really think caused a lot of fatigue [and] we didn’t put a drive together on offense to respond. Then we went back out on defense, and we didn’t respond.”
While Leonard’s reaggravated injury certainly played a role in Duke’s loss, there were other factors at play. Duke still held the lead after their failed fourth-down conversion, but the Seminoles were able to capitalize on their opportunities, led by redshirt senior quarterback Jordan Travis. Travis orchestrated an impressive touchdown drive, showcasing his skills and leading Florida State to their first lead of the game.
“When you allow a team to go on a [96-yard] drive, that’s a lot of snaps on your defense. We can’t allow that to happen,” Elko emphasized. “And, if you want to recover from a drive like that, offensively you have to be able to go out and answer and put a drive together, and we didn’t do that either. Then, all of a sudden [you] go back out on the field with a really tired group. That’s not a recipe for success.”
Duke had moments of success throughout the game, particularly in the first half. They were able to stop Florida State’s offense on fourth-and-short on two drives, something they struggled with in the fourth quarter. Duke took advantage of the Seminoles’ mistakes, scoring a field goal and recording a pick-six. Their running game was also dominant, with junior running back Jaquez Moore having a standout performance with 100 yards and a touchdown in the first half.
Overall, Duke learned a valuable lesson about playing at a playoff-level. Any moment of faltering can have significant consequences, as evidenced by Leonard’s injury and the subsequent loss of composure. Moving forward, the health of their quarterback will be crucial, but the entire team must find a way to regain their focus. With tough road games ahead, the margin for error is slim.
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| Assistant Blue Zone editor
Dom Fenoglio is a Trinity sophomore and an assistant Blue Zone editor of The Chronicle’s 119th volume.
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