Saturday, September 22, 2012

ACC Football Live: Duke Blue Devils vs Memphis Tigers

Coin toss - Duke vs. Memphis - Peter Koutroumpis, PKS Consulting LLC
The Duke Blue Devils (2-1) host the Memphis Tigers (0-3) for the first-ever meeting between the two teams at Wallace Wade Stadium in Durham, N.C.

Updates provided each quarter here and more frequently on Twitter @pksport.

Kickoff coming up in five minutes.

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1st Quarter:

  • Duke receiving and allows Memphis kickoff to go out of bounds
  • Renfree makes progress down field and into Memphis territory
  • Blue Devils keep the ball for 4:35 and enter Tigers half of field but can't convert on anything after 10 plays and 50 yards
  • Duke defense doesn't allow Memphis to make any progress and the Tigers are forced to punt after five plays and 14 yards
  • Blue Devils' Lee Butler touches and fumbles the punt and the Tigers recover the ball on the Duke 27
  • Memphis starts its offensive sequence by keeping the ball on the ground, but having trouble gaining much ground against the Duke defense
  • Duke gets the ball back at its own 
  • Quarterback Sean Renfree lofts a 24-yard pass to Jamison Crowder for a 1st down at the Duke 47-yard line
  • The Blue Devils still trying to run the ball but with limited results
  • After a few downs with a pass out-of-bounds and a scramble - flags are flying everywhere
  • Offsetting holding penalties on both teams - 3rd down repeated at Memphis 48-yard line
  • Duke's drive (5 plays, 41 yards) treads some more water - makes now waves
  • Punt is away and clears the end zone
  • Memphis ball on their own 20-yard line coming up
  • Game still tied 0-0 with 3:43 to go
  • The Tigers find some room with run and pass plays to gain first downs against the Blue Devils defense - keeping a quick snap pace against Duke
  • Tigers losing momentum with penalties that lose ground that was gained previously
  • Duke defense shuts down Memphis offense and Tigers will punt the ball to begin the second quarter

2nd Quarter:

  • Memphis punts the ball and it's touched on the Duke 3-yard line and there is another scramble that the Tigers almost recovers
  • However, after a review, Duke gets the ball deep in its end
  • Renfree comes up in the pocket and tries to zip a pass to his left which is intercepted by Wynton McManis who scores the easy TD 
  • With the PAT, Tigers lead the Blue Devils 7-0 with 14:46 remaining
  • Duke gets the ball back and tries to run it with a handoff to Josh Snead - no gain
  • Renfree goes to the air for the next two possessions - two incomplete passes but Memphis is penalized for second pass attempt - Duke gets the first down as a result
  • Blue Devils gain three yards on the run before Renfree throws a 27-yard strike to Desmond Scott - now on the Memphis side of the field
  • Duke working short yardage pass and run plays and move the chains sitting on the Memphis 26-yard line
  • Brandon Connette gains 22 yards on a pass from Renfree - first and goal for Duke on the four-yard line
  • Connette takes the snap and runs it in himself to score the touchdown and the PAT is good
  • Tie game - 7-7 with 10:28 left to play in the quarter
  • Big kickoff return by Memphis' Bobby McCain - doesn't make it all the way as he's tripped up by Duke's Ross Cockrell
  • Tigers tried to run it in on the first two downs gaining some yards, but Duke denies them the opportunity to score
  • Memphis is successful on the third down with a touchdown score and successful PAT
  • Tigers lead the Blue Devils 14-7 with 9:17 to play
  • Duke continues to struggle on the run, so Renfree throws it in the air to Connette but is brought down quickly and its questionable whether the catch was complete
  • After a Duke challenge from coach Dave Cutcliffe, the pass is rule incomplete
  • Renfree goes back to Vernon for another catch and 13-yard gain
  • Jela Duncan gets the ball and runs it 57 yards for a first down on the Memphis nine-yard line
  • Duke begins to work the ball in the Red Zone and settles for a field goal - 7 plays 74-yard drive for the Blue Devils
  • Memphis continues to lead 14-10 with 7:10 remaining
  • Big kickoff for Blue Devils - Memphis starts on its own 20-yard line and has trouble moving the ball on the run
  • Blue Devils for the Tigers to go three and out - punt is up
  • Lee Butler can only get six yards on the return and Renfree prepares to wind the Blue Devils offense up
  • Duke makes some gains with Renfree passing to Isaac Blakeney and Jamison Crowder
  • An unnecessary roughing penalty puts Duke at the Memphis 37-yard line and sets the stage for Renfree to complete two consecutive pass to Connor Vernon for 15 and 37 yards respectively
  • The talented receiver scores the touchdown and Duke now leads 17-14 with 4:01 to play
  • On the ensuing kickoff the Blue Devils regain possession of the ball after the onside kick attempt by the Tigers
  •  Renfree tried to go long to Vernon again, but he can't get to the ball through his defender
  • Another incomplete pass and Duke has to punt it away - still leading with 3:36 to play
  • Memphis working from its own 21-yard line - making incremental gains with 1:40 to play
  • The Tigers can't work it any farther and are forced to punt the ball away after a close sideline call doesn't work to their favor
  • Duke on its own 34-yard line with just over a minute to play
  • Renfree scrambles and is sacked - first of the season for Memphis
  • After an unsuccessful long throw to Vernon, Duke kicks the ball away
  • Memphis has 34 seconds to try to convert another score but takes two consecutive knees to run the clock down
  • Duke leads at halftime 17-14

3rd quarter:

  • Memphis starts with the ball on its own 35-yard line after Duke kicks it off
  • Tigers drive only lasts for three plays before they punt it back to Duke
  •  Duke starts its drive with Renfree throwing a short pass to Crowder
  • Juwan Thompson carries it for 15 yards on the next down before Renfree is sacked on the next
  • The Blue Devils continue to make progress with pass plays of 10 and 14 yards consecutively as they sit on the Memphis 26-yard line
  • After working the ball down to the Memphis one-yard line, the Blue Devils fumble the ball and a 14 play, 60-yard drive ends just like that
  • Duke still leads 17-14 with 6:19 to play in the quarter - Memphis ball on its own three-yard line
  • After three straight plays deep in their zone, Memphis is forced to punt it back to Duke - another chance for the Blue Devils offense
  • Blue Devils gain eight yards on their first down of the series
  • Connette comes in to take the snap and he pushes forward to get the first down on the 19-yard line
  • Duke continues to run the ball until Renfree puts up a 16-yard pass that Scott leaps in the air to score his second touchdown of the game
  • After the PAT, Blue Devils lead 24-14 with 3:40 to play in the quarter
  • Memphis quarterback Jacob Karam trying to get the offense into gear but finds trouble with the Duke defense that is limiting progress
  • After a few successful rushes of five and 15 yards respectively, the Tigers are forced to punt again
  • Duke regains possession on the return and begins its progress down field
  • As time counts down to end the quarter, Duke will begin with its ball on its own 35-yard line
 4th Quarter:

  • Blue Devils continue to make forward progress combining rushing and short passing plays 
  • After starting at their own 38-yard line, Duke is snapping the ball from the Memphis 32-yard line
  • Renfree takes the snap and finds open field and runs it for 25 yards to the seven-yard line
  • Connette comes in and tries to run it in but only gains a yard
  • Renfree looks to Vernon but the pass is incomplete in the end zone
  • After a Duke timeout, Renfree hits Connette with a pass and the Blue Devils extend their lead to 31-14 with 10:27 to play
  • Memphis starts on its own seven-yard line and Karam makes a pass for a short gain
  • The Tigers can't do much more with their possession and punt it back to Duke 
  • Duke will start on its own 31-yard line 
  • The Blue Devils continue to work the ball on the ground and eating up valuable game time
  • Jela Duncan and Juwan Thompson moving the chains until Connor Vernon catches a pass from Renfree and runs it 31-yards in for a touchdown
  • After the PAT, Duke leads 38-14 with 6:02 remaining
  • Tigers start their possession on their own 30-yard line after a 24-yard return on the kickoff
  • Memphis still can't muster up its offensive stride as the Duke defense allows 31 yards on seven plays - another punt directed at Duke with three minutes to play
  • Duke begins at its own 44-yard line and continues to keep the ball on the ground
  • Anthony Boone in at the quarterback position and begins the rush for some more short yardage gains before taking  few knees to run the clock down
  •  Duke wins it in front of 23,658 during Homecoming weekend

Final: Duke 38, Memphis 14


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