Duke Clipboard

INSIDE THE GAME

Duke coach David Cutcliffe said after the OT loss to Wake Forest that Duke could have done a lot of things differently to win the ACC game, particularly limit turnovers. Duke fumbled a kick return to open the game, fumbled a punt return in the third quarter and had two passes picked off. The first three put Wake deep in Duke territory and led to 22 points. The last, an Alphonso Smith interception, ended the game. Another five points came when Duke had a punt blocked for a safety and gave up a big return on the ensuing kick that led to a field goal.

QUESTIONABLE CALLS

A few more details on the onside kick Duke tried, leading 20-19 in the third quarter: Cutcliffe said it was designed to be a soccer pass from Joe Surgan to Johnny Williams. "It was a perfect kick," Cutcliffe said. "The idea is for [the opponent] to have no chance to get in position to field it. Johnny was onsides when he left and caught it perfectly 11 yards from where it was kicked."

Duke had just scored to go up when Surgan tried the kick. ACC officials called Duke for catch interference instead and Wake took over on the Duke 26. Cutcliffe did review the kick. "It's a judgment call. I felt their guy was laid out and never would have got to the ball ," Cutcliffe said, careful not to tread on ACC officiating. "I know the official was trying to use his judgment. It is a tough call. It could have gone either way. Again, there were 10 or 15 other things we could have done to win the ball game."

GAME BALLS

OFFENSIVE LINE: Duke QB Thaddeus Lewis was sacked just once and the Devils ran between the tackles to the tune of 145 rushing yards against one of the ACC's better run defenses. Duke has had the same group playing together all year, with senior veterans LT Cameron Goldberg, RG Rob Schirmann and RT Fred Roland working well with first-year starters LG Kyle Hill and C Bryan Morgan. Cutcliffe frequently, including Sunday, has singled out Goldberg, saying he's having an "all-conference season."

NEXT UP

Duke plays N.C. State for the first time since 2003, when the Devils lost at Wallace Wade Stadium. This is your (not so new) expanded ACC, folks. Game time is 3:30 p.m.