Heartbreak and pain for Duke, QB Leonard in loss to Notre Dame

By Brian Murphy, WRAL

Durham, N.C. — Duke football’s day in the national spotlight ended in heartbreak — and pain.

No. 11 Notre Dame stunned the Blue Devils 21-14 with a 95-yard drive in the final minutes Saturday at Wallace Wade Stadium after it appeared 17th-ranked Duke had completed its own memorable comeback — on the same day that ESPN’s “College GameDay” broadcast from campus for the first time for a football game.

The Irish drove 95 yards in 2:04 in the fourth quarter, including a daring 17-yard run by quarterback Sam Hartman on fourth-and-16. On the next play, running back Audric Estime rumbled 30 yards for the go-ahead touchdown with 31 seconds left. Notre Dame (5-1) then got a two-point conversion for the final margin.

"Heartbroken," Duke coach Mike Elko said after the game when asked to describe his locker room. "We're a fourth-and-16 away from beating No. 11 Notre Dame and going into the bye week 5-0. Heartbroken."

On top of that, Duke star quarterback Riley Leonard injured his right leg on the game’s final possession as he attempted to lead the Blue Devils down the field. Leonard was sacked, lost a fumble and had his ankle rolled. He had to be helped off the field. Leonard left the field on crutches after being examined in the medical tent on the sidelines.

Elko did not have any update on Leonard's status. Duke (4-1) is off next week and hosts NC State on Oct. 14.

"We'll have to find out as we go through the week kind of where he's at," Elko said.

Leonard finished the game with 134 passing yards and 88 rushing yards. Leonard had an interception, his first of the year, and the last-second fumble.

The Irish lost to Ohio State on the final play of the game last week, but were able to rebound against the Blue Devils. Notre Dame has won 30 consecutive regular-season games against ACC opponents.

"That's a sweet victory because what I told them last week is great teams find the way to me to win when it matters the most," Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman said. "They find a way to execute when it matters the most."

The Blue Devils missed two field goals in the first half, including one on the final play, and allowed a 34-yard run on a fake punt that set up Notre Dame's only touchdown before the final minute.

"They're killers," Elko said of the team's special teams mistakes. "You give up a fake punt like that, where we didn't execute real well what we were trying to do and we didn't even really challenge it. We miss a field goal early. We get ourselves back in position at the end of the half to make it a one-score game and we miss a chip shot. It makes it hard. It's disappointing, it's surprising."

Leonard's interception led to a first-half field goal for Notre Dame, which led 10-0 at halftime. The Blue Devils were held to 131 yards of total offense, including just 38 on the ground, in the first half.

But after the break, Duke re-committed to its running game. Duke finished the game with 189 yards rushing on 40 carries. Jaquez Moore finished with 51 yards on seven carries and Jordan Waters had 45 tough yards on 13 carries.

"We had to find ways to establish the run, and I thought we were able to do that a lot better in the second half," Elko said.

Hartman waited outside the medical tent for Leonard to emerge after the game.

"I know that kid's a hell of a player and obviously don't know what he's going through, but have been there and and just thinking about him," Hartman said. "And hope he's alright."

The Duke defense held Notre Dame in check throughout the second half, allowing an early field goal and then little else before the final drive.

The Irish rushed for 159 yards in the game — with 47 coming on the final two runs by Hartman and Estime. Hartman, the Wake Forest transfer, completed 15-of-30 passes for 222 yards. On the final drive, he was 4-for-7 for 52 yards.

But Duke couldn't close the door — and create the perfect end to a perfect day.

"We could have won that football game," defensive tackle Dewayne Carter said. "We went out there and showed who we were. Duke showed out for us all week."

Scoring

First quarter

ND — Audric Estime 6 run (Spencer Shrader kick), 11:00. Drive: 8 plays, 82 yards, 3:57. Key play: On fourth-and-4 at the Duke 47, Notre Dame ran a fake punt. Freshman Jeremiyah Love carried for 34 yards. Notre Dame 7, Duke 0.

Second quarter

ND — Shrader 35 field goal, 14:56. Drive: 4 plays, (minus)-4 yards, 1:33. Key play: Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts stepped into front of a Riley Leonard pass for the interception and returned it 12 yards to the Duke 13. It was Leonard's first interception of the year. Notre Dame 10, Duke 0.

Third quarter

ND — Shrader 45 field goal, 9:17. Drive: 10 plays, 43 yards, 4:45. Key play: QB Sam Hartman completed a 22-yard pass to WR Chris Tyree to move the Irish into Duke territory. Notre Dame 13, Duke 0.

Duke — Jordan Waters 1 run (Todd Pelino kick), 3:36. Drive: 11 plays 75 yards, 5:41. Key play: Jaquez Moore rushed for 36 yards to move Duke into Notre Dame territory; Leonard completed a 7-yard pass to Sahmir Hagans on fourth-and-2 at the Notre Dame 20. Notre Dame 13, Duke 7.

Fourth quarter

Duke — Moore 3 pass from Leonard (Pelino kick), 4:27. Drive: 8 plays, 80 yards, 4:27. Duke 14, Notre Dame 13.

ND — Audric Estime 30 run (Flores Jr pass from Hartman), 0:31. Key play: Hartman rushed for 17 yards on fourth-and-16 to keep the Irish's hopes alive. Drive: 10 plays, 95 yards, 2:04.