5 Observations from Duke Football's First Half Against Lafayette

Duke dominates Lafayette in the first half, leading 21-7. Lafayette's new quarterback shows promise, but Duke's offense shines.

In the second game of the season, Duke faced off against Lafayette at Wallace Wade Stadium. The Blue Devils, ranked 21st, took an early lead, dominating the game with a score of 21-7 after a competitive first half.

Right from the start, Duke set the tone by receiving the ball and making Lafayette pay for it. The running backs led the charge, gaining an impressive 40 rushing yards on the initial drive. Redshirt senior receiver Jalon Calhoun then caught a pass from junior quarterback Riley Leonard, scoring a touchdown just three-and-a-half minutes into the game. The Leopards were caught off guard and found themselves trailing by seven points in no time.

Lafayette made some personnel changes, replacing sophomore Ryan Schuster with classmate Dean DeNobile as the starting quarterback. DeNobile had shown promise in the previous game against Sacred Heart, rushing for 28 yards and throwing for 29. He continued to impress, leading his team to a touchdown on their opening drive.

Despite being the underdogs, Lafayette managed to hold their own after the first quarter. Both teams exchanged touchdown drives early on, but neither could add any more points to the scoreboard in the opening period. As a result, the score was tied at seven at the end of the first quarter.

The standout player for Lafayette was sophomore running back Jamar Curtis. Coming off a strong performance last week with 181 rushing yards, Curtis continued his momentum into the first half against the Blue Devils. He gained 35 yards on the ground and carried the offensive workload for the Leopards, showing his determination in the trenches.

Interestingly, even though Duke ended the half with a lead in points, it was Lafayette who controlled the ball for most of the initial periods. The Leopards had possession for a significant 16 minutes and 49 seconds, compared to Duke's 13 minutes and 11 seconds. However, Duke's offensive efficiency was evident as they made the most of their limited time on the field.

In a crucial moment, with four minutes remaining in the first quarter, Duke's Waters had the ball stripped from him at the 46-yard line by Gabe DuBois. What could have been a 19-yard gain for the Blue Devils turned into a turnover, forcing their offense off the field on the first play of the drive. Although the Leopards quickly three-and-outed, the strip gave their defense some valuable time to rest and regroup before the next Blue Devil drive.

Overall, Duke showcased their dominance in the first half, taking control of the game against Lafayette. However, Lafayette proved to be a resilient opponent, holding their own and making key plays to keep the game competitive. The second half promises to be an exciting battle between these two teams.