Duke running back Jordan Waters (7) runs for a touchdown against Northwestern during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept.10, 2022, in Evanston, Ill. (AP Photo/David Banks)
David Banks
AP
Both coming off poor seasons last year, Duke and Northwestern each opened the new season with a win.
Now each tries to prevent the other from pairing two wins in a row together.
Duke and Northwestern, both 3-9 last year but 1-0 this season, meet Saturday at noon at Ryan Field in Evanston, Illinois. The game will be televised by FS1, part of the Big Ten’s television package since it is played on Northwestern’s home field.
The Wildcats topped Nebraska, 31-28, in a Big Ten game played in Dublin, Ireland, on Aug. 27. Six nights later, Duke manhandled Temple, 30-0, at Wallace Wade Stadium in its first game under head coach Mike Elko.
The News & Observer’s Steve Wiseman is at Ryan Field and will have updates from all the action.
Big interception by Duke
Duke’s first interception of the season is a massive one. Blue Devils safety Brandon Johnson jumped a route and picked off Ryan Hilinski’s pass at the Northwestern 32 with 3:31 to play.
Blue Devils regained the ball up 28-23 and pushed their lead to 31-23 on a Charlie Ham field goal with 1:18 to play.
Wildcats stay in game
Trailing by 12 points, Northwestern marched 80 yards using only 1:55 of game clock before scoring on a 14-yard pass from Ryan Hilinski to Donny Navarro to cut Duke’s lead to 28-23 with 5:49 to play.
Duke gets luck -- and a score
After moving into Northwestern territory on a wild play late in the third quarter, Duke extended its lead with Jordan Moore caught a 9-yard touchdown pass from Riley Leonard giving Duke a 28-16 lead with 13:33 to play.
The drive reached that point because Duke wide receiver Jalon Calhoun caught a tipped by Moore and gained 51 yards to the Northwestern 20. Leonard zipped the ball over the middle toward Moore on a third-and-four play from the Duke 29. The ball bounced off Moore’s outstretched hand and high into the air when Calhoun hauled it in and raced down field for the big gain.
Wildcats draw closer
With Duke needing a stop on fourth-and-3 from their own 39, Ryan Hilinski’s swing pass to Evan Hull resulted in a 39-yard touchdown play that cut the Blue Devils’ lead to 21-16. Northwestern attempted a 2-point conversion but the pass was intercepted by Duke’s Brandon Johnson.
The score as the third quarter ended remained 21-16.
Halftime: Duke 21, Northwestern 10
Duke turned in a strong defensive stand late in the first half, holding Northwestern to a field goal after the Wildcats had first down at the Duke 16, and the Blue Devils hold an 11-point halftime lead.
After the Blue Devils led 21-0, the Wildcats dominated most of the second quarter. Northwestern reached Duke territory on its final three drives of the first half. Duke helped Northwestern picking up three penalties (pass interference calls on Darius Joiner and Chandler Rivers plus a Shaka Heyward’s roughing the passer call) on third-and-long plays in the second quarter.
But Duke stopped Northwestern on a fourth-and-3 play from the Blue Devils 32 to halt one drive. On Northwestern’s final possession of the first half, Jaylin Stinson made two big plays to stall the Wildcats. Stinson tackled Cam Porter for no gain on first down from the 16, then stopped Andrew Clair for no gain on a second-down swing pass.
Adam Stage’s 34-yard field goal with 30 seconds left until halftime cut Duke’s lead to 21-10.
Riley Leonard completed 8 of 11 first-half passes for 147 yards. Eli Pancol caught one pass accounting for 81 of those yards. Jalon Calhoun caught five passes for 57 yards. Duke gained 234 yards in the first half. The Blue Devils leading rusher is Jordan Waters with six carries for 67 yards and two touchdowns.
Northwestern quarterback Ryan Hilinski completed 14 of 23 passes for 168 yards.
Duke running back Jordan Waters (7) runs for a touchdown against Northwestern during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept.10, 2022, in Evanston, Ill. David Banks AP
Duke allows first points
After starting the season with five consecutive scoreless quarters, Duke’s defense finally allowed points as Northwestern’s Evan Hull scored on a 6-yard touchdown run. The Blue Devils still lead 21-7 with 11:18 left until halftime.
Duke appeared to have the Wildcats drive halted with Northwestern facing third and 11 from its 21. But Duke defensive back Darius Joiner was called for pass interference, giving the Wildcats a first down at the Duke 6.
Duke quarterback Riley Leonard (13) looks to pass against Northwestern during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept.10, 2022, in Evanston, Ill. David Banks AP
Big play ends 1Q, TD starts 2nd
On the final play of the first quarter, with Duke facing third-and-6 from the Northwestern 14, Riley Leonard fired a pass down the right sideline where Eli Pancol broke free from Northwestern defensive back Jaheem Joseph to make the catch. Joseph had a hold of Pancol’s jersey and was flagged for pass interference, but that penalty was declined as Pancol gained 81 yards on the play to the Northwestern 5.
On the second play of the second quarter, Duke’s Jordan Waters scored his second touchdown of the game to give Duke a 21-0 lead. On the three-yard run, Waters pushed his way to the end zone with multiple Wildcats defenders hanging off him.
Jordan Waters gives Duke 14-0 lead
Redshirt junior running back Jordan Waters took a handoff, made a nifty cut-back at the line of scrimmage and found a hole to run untouched through the secondary on a 42-yard touchdown run giving Duke a 14-0 lead with 3:17 to play in the first quarter.
Waters’ run came one play after Duke quarterback Riley Leonard slid to end a five-yard run and was hit late and high by Northwestern’s Jaheem Joseph, who was flagged for a 15-yard personal foul.
Freshman keeps Wildcats scoreless
Northwestern put together a solid drive, reaching the Duke 22 when Thomas Gordon made a one-handed grab on Ryan Hilinkski’s pass . But Duke’s defense kept the Wildcats from scoring.
A false start penalty slowed Northwestern before Duke freshman defensive end VJ Anthony burst into the backfield to stop Evan Hull for a 7-yard loss. One play later, Adam Stage missed a 38-yard field goal leaving Duke up 7-0.
Duke takes early lead
After Duke’s defense set the tone with an early stop, Duke’s offense rolled to a quick touchdown.
Jaylen Coleman’s 16-yard touchdown run up the middle with 10:30 left in the first quarter gave the Blue Devils a 7-0 lead.
That play capped a 77-yard drive that saw quarterback Riley Leonard completed three passes which all gained first downs. Duke did not run a third-down play on the six-play drive. Leonard’s biggest pass went for 23 yards to Jalon Calhoun, one play before Coleman’s touchdown run.
Duke won the toss and deferred, allowing Northwestern to get the opening possession. Duke defensive end RJ Oben stopped Northwestern’s Malk Washington for a 2-yard loss on a first down run, which led to the Wildcats punting.
Pregame update
Duke will have added offensive line depth against Northwestern as redshirt junior tackle John Gelotte is available and expected to see his first action of the season.
Slowed by an unspecified injury, Gelotte did not play in Duke’s 30-0 season-opening win over Temple on Sept. 2 at Wallace Wade Stadium.
Duke started Andre Harris, the graduate transfer from Arkansas State, against Temple. He played 73 snaps and allowed quarterback Riley Leonard to be hit on one play and hurried on another, according to Pro Football Focus.
Gelotte and Harris split time working with the first team during preseason practices prior to Gelotte’s injury.
Steve Wiseman was named Raleigh News & Observer and Durham Herald-Sun sports editor in May 2025. He covered Duke athletics, beginning in 2010, prior to his current assignment. In the Associated Press Sports Editors national contest, he placed in the top 10 in beat writing in 2019, 2021 and 2022, breaking news in 2019, event coverage in 2025 and explanatory writing in 2018. Before coming to Durham in 2010, Steve worked for The State (Columbia, SC), Herald-Journal (Spartanburg, S.C.), The Sun Herald (Biloxi, Miss.), Charlotte Observer and Hickory (NC) Daily Record covering beats including the NFL’s Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints, University of South Carolina athletics and the S.C. General Assembly. He’s won numerous state-level press association awards. Steve graduated from Illinois State University in 1989.
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