Duke’s Victor Dimukeje nearly broke a school record vs. BC; Noah Gray had another big day

When in doubt, find Noah Gray.

That’s been the strategy for Duke quarterback Chase Brice, who has now linked up with the senior tight end 10 times for 129 yards in the Blue Devils’ first two games.

“He’s a fast-twitch guy with great hands,” Brice said of Gray. “And he knows how to get open.”

After catching five passes for 68 yards on eight targets against No. 10 Notre Dame, the 6-foot-4 Gray caught another five for 61 yards on seven targets in a 26-6 loss to Boston College on Saturday.

In both games, the reigning All-ACC second teamer has led Duke (0-2) in receiving yards and tied for the lead in receptions. And he’s on pace to shatter Duke’s all-time tight end catch record — with 86 career catches, he’s just 12 behind all-time leader Stan Crisson’s 98 from 1961 to 1963.

The Brice-Gray connection was perhaps the only positive to glean from the Blue Devils’ blowout loss to the Eagles, one in which they turned the ball over five times and were outscored 19-0 in the second half.

And even Gray’s productivity has been tied to Duke’s struggles.

Although he’s gotten down the field for a few big gains this season, Gray has mostly been forced into a safety valve role for Brice, catching shorter passes as the graduate quarterback escapes pressure and sacks — which have been plentiful through Duke’s first two games.

Here are more notes from the Blue Devils’ loss on Saturday.

Dimukeje’s defensive dominance

Senior defensive end Victor Dimukeje flirted with a school record Saturday.

He logged two solo sacks and three sack assists for a total of 3.5 sacks — the second most in team history, behind Blaine Earon’s four against Georgia Tech in 1949. And he did it against a Boston College offensive line that returned four All-ACC selections.

Dimukeje nows sits in a tie for second with his teammate, Chris Rumph II, who also logged 3.5 sacks in a win against Miami last season.

DeBerry rips it away

A Duke receiver was on the wrong end of an eye-popping turnover in the third quarter.

On the Blue Devils’ first drive of the second half, backed up on their own end zone, Brice hit Damond Philyaw-Johnson on a short comeback route. Philyaw-Johnson caught the ball over BC defensive back Josh DeBerry for a five-yard gain — but as they fell to the ground, DeBerry ripped the ball out of his hands.

The referees reviewed the play — rare, yet perfectly executed — and confirmed Philyaw-Johnson made the catch, gained possession and lost the ball before he hit the ground. DeBerry’s forced fumble gave Boston College the ball at Duke’s 12-yard line, where it ultimately kicked a field goal.

Duke had two more turnovers in the second half: a Brice fumble on third and goal with the team trailing 23-6, early in the fourth, and a Brice interception (his second) on the offense’s final drive.

Kicking game struggles

Duke kicker Charlie Ham, the redshirt freshman who replaced 2019 standout A.J. Reed, struggled in his second career game as a starter.

After a perfect week against Notre Dame — one extra point and two field goals of 29 and 30 yards — the Blue Devils’ new kicker missed an extra point in the first quarter and swung a 35-yard field goal wide right in the third quarter. Cutcliffe said he still has “extreme confidence” in Ham.

Durant explosive early

Last week, reserve running back Mataeo Durant made a minimal impact with seven yards on five carries against Notre Dame. Saturday was a different story from his very first touch.

With the Blue Devils facing a third and 2 at midfield, Durant took a pistol handoff from Brice, ran left, cut right and burst through a hole for a 49-yard rushing touchdown. It was Duke’s first score of the day.

Durant, a junior from South Carolina, split touches with senior Deon Jackson (15 carries, 74 yards) and finished with five carries for 59 yards. The 49-yard touchdown was also the longest rush of his career.

Fourth and (very) long

A slew of penalties put Duke in a rough situation to end the first half.

After Brice converted a third and 10, finding wide receiver Dennis Smith for 12 yards, the Blue Devils were in a great spot: first and 10 at Boston College’s 23-yard line. Chaos followed.

After two incompletions, one completion for a loss of seven yards, two 15-yard personal foul penalties and a five-yard false start penalty, Duke had to punt on a fourth and 46 from its own 41.

First-half turnovers

The Blue Devils had a much stronger offense than their six-point first half indicated.

But two crucial turnovers held them back there, too, in the same way their three in the second half did.

On Duke’s first second-quarter drive, a nice combination of run and pass chunk plays brought the Blue Devils to Boston College’s 22-yard line. But after a sack, Brice dropped back on second down and threw an interception to linebacker Isaiah McDuffie, who returned it 23 yards the other way.

And on Duke’s next drive, the offense was once again rolling. On first and goal from Boston College’s four-yard line, Jackson took a handoff, got stuffed at the line of scrimmage and lost a fumble.