Duke football begins Mike Elko era with 30-0 win over Temple at Wallace Wade Stadium
Coverage from Duke’s win over Temple
- New era brought students back out to see Duke football, and their faith was rewarded
- Riley Leonard dazzles for Duke football as defense dominates in 30-0 win over Temple
Two football programs that stumbled to the finish line last season, leading to coaching changes, face each other to start this season.
Temple lost its final seven games last season, while Duke dropped its final eight.
Stan Drayton replaced Rod Carey as Temple’s coach while Mike Elko took over for David Cutcliffe at Duke.
On Friday night at 7:30 p.m., Duke and Temple open the season under their new coaches at Wallace Wade Stadium. The game will be broadcast on ACC Network.
Duke went 3-9 last season, losing all eight of its ACC contests. But the Blue Devils did win all three of their nonconference home games in 2021, beating N.C. A&T (45-17), Northwestern (30-23) and Kansas (52-33).
Temple also went 3-9, including losing 28-3 to Boston College and 61-14 to Rutgers in its only games against Power Five conference foes.
But enough about last year. Both teams have moved on in terms of coaching. Now they want to move on with better on-field play.
The News & Observer’s Steve Wiseman and Luke DeCock are at Wallace Wade and will have updates from all the action.
Jordan Moore triggers Duke TD drive
He lost the starting quarterback job but that isn’t stopping Jordan Moore from helping Duke’s offense.
The sophomore, moved to wide receiver in August, turned a pass from Riley Leonard into a 52-yard pass play to the Temple 1. Moore gained 34 yards after hauling in the ball, weaving his way through the Temple defense.
Jaylen Coleman scored the touchdown, the first of his career, on a 1-yard run to give Duke a 7-0 lead two minutes, three seconds into the game
Perfect Leonard helps Duke add to lead
Riley Leonard completed two passes on Duke’s third drive, making him 5-for-5 in the game thus far, as the Blue Devils marched to the Temple 10 before settling for Charlie Ham’s 30-yard field goal to lead 10-0.
Moore finds the end zone
Jordan Moore hauled in a 4-yard touchdown pass from Riley Leonard with 11:49 to play in the second quarter giving Duke a 17-0 lead over Temple.
Leonard completed four more passes on the drive, making him 9-for-9 in the game for 129 yards.
Leonard adds another TD throw
Duke starting quarterback Riley Leonard completed his 13th consecutive pass to start the season, this one covering 39 yards for a touchdown to Sahmir Hagans giving Duke a 24-0 lead with 7:08 left until halftime.
Hagans broke free down the right sideline and Leonard hit him in stride on the scoring play.
Leonard is 13 of 13 for 215 yards with two touchdowns thus far.
Leonard just misses record
Duke’s Riley Leonard fell one completed pass away from a school record for consecutive completed passes on Friday night.
The sophomore completed his first 15 passes of the game, including a pair of touchdown throws, as the Blue Devils jumped to a 24-0 lead over Temple.
Leonard didn’t throw his first incomplete pass until 13 seconds remained in the first half.
He finished the half 15 of 17 for 239 yards.
Duke’s leading receiver at halftime was Jordan Moore, four catches for 67 yards.
The Blue Devils amassed 337 yards of total offense in the first half.
Duke’s stifling defense?
The Blue Devils were among the nation’s worst last season, allowing 517 yards and 39.7 points per game while going 3-9.
On Friday night against Temple, the Blue Devils played far better in the first half.
The Owls managed just two first downs while gaining just 50 yards on 24 plays from scrimmage to trail 24-0 at intermission.
Check back here for updates during the game.
Pregame reading
- Humble beginnings to head coach: Mike Elko’s journey to leading Duke football program
- Nicknamed ‘Duke’ for his childhood hoops fandom, Blue Devils safety eager to impress
- Duke vs Temple football first look: Odds and key matchups to watch under new coaches
- How Duke lineman who went viral after singing opera to teammates fell in love with music
- Needing better defense this college football season, DeWayne Carter could be key for Duke
- It’s ‘critically important’ Duke football improves in changing college sports landscape
This story was originally published September 2, 2022 at 6:50 PM.
