Observations

GOOD CROWD, BUT ...

So much for that Week 1 crowd of 32,571. Without Duke employees snatching up thousands of seats for a weekend opener promotion, the announced audience at Wallace Wade Stadium shrank to 23,614 on Saturday.

Still a fairly respectable number considering seasons past -- and at least the Blue Devils gave them a reason to stay until the end.

ASACK CONTRIBUTES

Like in Week 1, backup quarterback Zack Asack played for one series in the first half.

But this time, he helped the Blue Devils score -- marching them 87 yards in 16 plays, capped by a 21-yard field goal.

MARSHALL'S MARK

On the first play of the game, Duke senior cornerback Jabari Marshall set the new school record for career kickoff-return yards with a 14-yard runback, passing Randy Jones, who had 1,890.

RILEY HURT

Senior wide receiver Eron Riley appeared to hurt an ankle in the second quarter while blocking on a running play. He sat out the third quarter but returned in the fourth, finishing with four catches for 28 yards.

A BIG FLUB

The first turning point for Duke came in the second quarter. The score was tied 7-7, and the Blue Devils had been doing a decent job defensively, forcing a total of three three-and-outs. But after a three-and-out of its own on offense, Duke long snapper Chris Shannon, a redshirt freshman, heaved the ball over punter Kevin Jones' head.

Jones went after the ball and, under pressure, eventually kicked it out of bounds at the 29-yard line -- 22 yards behind the original line of scrimmage.

On the next play, the Wildcats took their first lead on a flea-flicker when wide receiver Eric Peterman found quarterback C.J. Bacher on a 29-yard touchdown pass.