Duke Stuns No. 9 Clemson in Prime Time, 28-7
from www.goduke.com:
DURHAM – Duke out-scored No. 9 Clemson 22-0 in the second half and handed the Tigers a 28-7 defeat in a Labor Day Night prime-time game on Monday in Durham.
The Blue Devils (1-0) feasted on three second-half turnovers by the Tigers (0-1) in claiming the program’s first win over an AP top-10 team since 1989 and snapping Clemson’s 12-game winning streak in ACC play.
Junior Riley Leonard threw for 175 yards and rushed for 98 yards, including an electrifying 44-yard TD run that saw the dual-threat QB break multiple tackles to give Duke the lead at 13-7 on the first possession of the second half. But it was Duke’s defense that pitched a second half shutout after trailing 7-6 at halftime.
Senior safety Jaylen Stinson finished with nine tackles, a pass breakup and his 55-yard fumble return in third quarter turned the tide that halted a length Clemson drive. Junior Jaquez Moore cashed in the Stinston fumble return with a nine-yard touchdown sprint that made it 21-7 with 10:33 left in the fourth and graduate Jordan Waters’ thundering 36-yard touchdown run put the game on ice with 3:15 left.
The win was Duke’s first over a ranked team since beating No. 15 North Carolina, 28-27, in 2016 and the first win over a top-10 team since beating No. 7 Clemson, 21-17, in Durham in 1989.