Duke no match for No. 22 Kansas
The Duke Blue Devils couldn’t have gotten off to a better start against the host and 22nd-ranked Kansas Jayhawks. After forcing a punt on their opponents’ first possession, the Blue Devils struck with a 66-yard screen pass followed by a 21-yard touchdown run. An upset in the making
Hardly.
That early lead proved to be the only one Duke would hold, as Kansas scored 27 straight points and never looked back in a 44-16 beating.
The outcome was no surprise, as the Jayhawks were big favorites, but a strong start and a tie game after one quarter gave Duke fans a little false hope before it started to play at its typical level. The day quickly went south after the opening drive for quarterback Thaddeus Lewis, who finished 16 of 27 for 181 yards and two interceptions, one that was returned for a touchdown to open the second half and essentially end any chance of Duke competing.
Lewis might have to look over his shoulder this week too, since backup sophomore Sean Renfree played much better in limited action on Saturday. Renfree was 14 of 23 for 118 yards and a touchdown, and with Lewis a little banged up as well, Renfree could see his playing time substantially increase. Next week would be the perfect opportunity to get him comfortable in game situations, as the Blue Devils host North Carolina Central. In what’s sure to be another dismal season in Durham, this might be a storyline worth watching.
