A touchdown pass from Sean Renfree to Jamison Crowder for five yards with less than 13 seconds remaining in the game gave the Duke Blue Devils a 33-30 victory over the arch-rival North Carolina Tar Heels, in a game that Duke dominated for the first three quarters before being forced to make a comeback of their own.
North Carolina vs. Duke final score: Blue Devils survive UNC comeback, 33-30.
Duke overcame North Carolina’s 14-point comeback in the fourth quarter to hang on for the win and become bowl-eligible for the first time since 1994.
Thearon W. Henderson
Duke led 23-9 heading into the fourth quarter, holding North Carolina to just three Casey Barth field goals through the first three quarters. The Tar Heels offense exploded in the fourth quarter with three offensive touchdowns, the last one culminating a 5-play, 91-yard drive that gave North Carolina a 30-26 lead with 3:12 left in the game.
The Blue Devils, who until that point had only managed two fields goals in the second half, marched 87 yards down the field in 14 plays to setup Crowder’s go-ahead touchdown reception from Renfree and end North Carolina’s comeback bid.
Crowder caught five balls for 41 yards and a touchdown for the game.
Box Score Hero: Duke quarterback Sean Renfree was 23-of-36 for 275 yards with one touchdown and one interception. His lone touchdown pass was the game-winner to Jamison Crowder.
Rankings Ramifications: Neither team was ranked going into this game and it is unlikely that either will be ranked after it.
But Did They Cover? North Carolina was favored by 10 and did not cover.
Next Week’s Schedule: Duke will travel to play Florida State next week while North Carolina hosts N.C. State.
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