Thaddeus Lewis threw for 246 yards and three touchdowns for the Blue Devils, whose last win came on Sept. 17, 2005, against Virginia Military Institute. Duke (1-2) hadn't defeated a major college team since Nov. 13, 2004, against Clemson, a span of 27 games.

Jomar Wright, Ronnie Drummer and Brandon King each caught touchdowns for the Blue Devils, who led 20-7 after three quarters and never trailed. It took a late defensive stand by Duke to secure the win.

C.J. Bacher opened the fourth quarter with a 1-yard touchdown run to pull Northwestern (2-1) within 20-14.

Bacher later ran 35 yards to give the Wildcats a first-and-goal from the 7 with 38 seconds to go. But Duke put heavy pressure on Bacher, forcing him to throw four consecutive incompletions in the end zone.

When Bacher's final pass sailed wide of Tonjua Jones as time ran out, Duke players and coaches swarmed the field and embraced on top of Northwestern's purple and white N at the 50-yard line.

Bacher threw for a career-high 368 yards but had two interceptions for the Wildcats, who were trying to start off 3-0 for the first time since 2001.

The Blue Devils failed to score more than 14 points or gain more than 229 yards of offense in either of their first two games -- a 45-14 loss to Connecticut and a 24-13 loss to Virginia -- but had 215 yards and 20 points in the first half.

Lewis, who entered the game with a 48.3 completion percentage, was 14 of 15 for 186 yards and three scores in the first half, with his lone incompletion coming on a heave to the end zone.