Compared to the last two blow-out losses, Duke’s struggling football team showed encouraging signs of life Saturday against Pittsburgh.
But the same old bugaboos that have haunted Duke all season haunted them again. Call it Groundhog’s Day or Rinse and Repeat or whatever. But red-zone inefficiencies, a defense that couldn’t get off the field on third down or stop explosives, mental penalties and end-of-the-half clock mismanagement led to a 54-29 defeat.
The loss was Duke’s fifth straight and leaves the Blue Devils 3-6 overall, 0-5 in the ACC, the only ACC team without a conference win.
Duke got the ball first and marched down field with barely a blip, Mataeo Durant gaining ground inside and Gunnar Holmberg connecting on short passes.