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Duke Rolls Into Pittsburgh for ACC Coastal Clash
10/30/2014 5:00:00 AM | Football
DURHAM, N.C. – After its second and final bye week of the year, the 24th-ranked Duke football team will battle Pittsburgh on the road Saturday at noon. Pitt holds the series advantage over the Blue Devils heading into this matchup, 10-8. In last year's inaugural ACC meeting, the Panthers were able to withstand a tenacious comeback from the Blue Devils to hold on and win the offensive shootout, 58-55.
Prior to their open date, the Blue Devils (6-1, 2-1 ACC) earned the 20-13 victory over Virginia Oct. 18 to help take control of the ACC Coastal Division. With the game tied 10-10 at halftime, the Duke defense stepped up in the second half and held the Cavaliers to just three points. Senior linebacker David Helton paced the Blue Devils on the day with 14 tackles, while redshirt junior safety Jeremy Cash produced 11 stops and forced his third fumble of the season. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Thomas Sirk connected with redshirt junior tight end David Reeves midway through the fourth quarter on a three-yard pass for the go-ahead score for the Blue Devils.
Pittsburgh (4-4, 2-2 ACC) comes into this matchup after dropping a 56-28 decision to Georgia Tech at home last Saturday. The Panthers had trouble holding on to the ball, losing six fumbles on the day, five of those ending their first five drives. Georgia Tech leaned on its running game to attack the Pitt defense, rushing for 465 yards and seven scores on 64 carries during the game. The Pitt offense was highlighted by running back James Conner, who gained 120 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. Wide receiver Tyler Boyd also turned in a productive day, hauling in nine passes for 137 yards.
Conner is one of the premier backs in college football, ranking seventh in the country with 1,079 rushing yards in 2014, while his total of 14 touchdowns on the ground is good for fifth nationally. Slowing down the Pitt running game will be key for a Duke defense that ranks fifth nationally in scoring defense (15.1 points per game) and first in the conference in turnover margin (+8). The Panthers have been turnover-prone in 2014, ranking last in the ACC with a -6 turnover margin.
This game will feature two of the most electric receivers in the ACC, both of whom had career days in last year's contest. Boyd, who has 45 receptions for 651 yards and five scores this year, caught eight passes for 154 yards and scored three times against the Blue Devils in 2013. Not to be out-done, wide receiver Jamison Crowder gained 279 all-purpose yards and scored once on the ground, once through the air and returned a punt to total three touchdowns on the day.
Looking to slow down these receivers will be defensive secondaries that have been two of the best in the country this year. Pitt's defense is allowing just 165.6 passing yards per game, good for sixth among FBS programs, while Duke is holding opposing quarterbacks to a .504 completion percentage, ranking seventh nationally. The Blue Devil defense has also surrendered just three passing scores this year, the second-best mark in the country behind San Jose State.
This game at Heinz Field will also serve as a return trip for Duke Baxter Family Associate Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator Scottie Montgomery. Before returning to his alma mater, Montgomery spent three years as an assistant coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2010-12, helping the team claim 32 regular season wins and the 2010 AFC title, along with an appearance in Super Bowl XLV.
Fans can watch this weekend's contest on ESPNU.
#GoDuke
Prior to their open date, the Blue Devils (6-1, 2-1 ACC) earned the 20-13 victory over Virginia Oct. 18 to help take control of the ACC Coastal Division. With the game tied 10-10 at halftime, the Duke defense stepped up in the second half and held the Cavaliers to just three points. Senior linebacker David Helton paced the Blue Devils on the day with 14 tackles, while redshirt junior safety Jeremy Cash produced 11 stops and forced his third fumble of the season. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Thomas Sirk connected with redshirt junior tight end David Reeves midway through the fourth quarter on a three-yard pass for the go-ahead score for the Blue Devils.
Pittsburgh (4-4, 2-2 ACC) comes into this matchup after dropping a 56-28 decision to Georgia Tech at home last Saturday. The Panthers had trouble holding on to the ball, losing six fumbles on the day, five of those ending their first five drives. Georgia Tech leaned on its running game to attack the Pitt defense, rushing for 465 yards and seven scores on 64 carries during the game. The Pitt offense was highlighted by running back James Conner, who gained 120 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. Wide receiver Tyler Boyd also turned in a productive day, hauling in nine passes for 137 yards.
Conner is one of the premier backs in college football, ranking seventh in the country with 1,079 rushing yards in 2014, while his total of 14 touchdowns on the ground is good for fifth nationally. Slowing down the Pitt running game will be key for a Duke defense that ranks fifth nationally in scoring defense (15.1 points per game) and first in the conference in turnover margin (+8). The Panthers have been turnover-prone in 2014, ranking last in the ACC with a -6 turnover margin.
This game will feature two of the most electric receivers in the ACC, both of whom had career days in last year's contest. Boyd, who has 45 receptions for 651 yards and five scores this year, caught eight passes for 154 yards and scored three times against the Blue Devils in 2013. Not to be out-done, wide receiver Jamison Crowder gained 279 all-purpose yards and scored once on the ground, once through the air and returned a punt to total three touchdowns on the day.
Looking to slow down these receivers will be defensive secondaries that have been two of the best in the country this year. Pitt's defense is allowing just 165.6 passing yards per game, good for sixth among FBS programs, while Duke is holding opposing quarterbacks to a .504 completion percentage, ranking seventh nationally. The Blue Devil defense has also surrendered just three passing scores this year, the second-best mark in the country behind San Jose State.
This game at Heinz Field will also serve as a return trip for Duke Baxter Family Associate Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator Scottie Montgomery. Before returning to his alma mater, Montgomery spent three years as an assistant coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2010-12, helping the team claim 32 regular season wins and the 2010 AFC title, along with an appearance in Super Bowl XLV.
Fans can watch this weekend's contest on ESPNU.
#GoDuke
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