Duke used a sensational second-half performance to come back from a major deficit and shock arch-rival North Carolina 21-20 on Saturday. The upset delivered the first 5-0 start for the Blue Devils since the program started 7-0 in 1994.
North Carolina came out hot, racking up a 20-0 lead behind two touchdown throws from Jacolby Criswell. Duke’s offense sputtered, punting on its first six drives and missing a field goal. Then, the game swung after Duke quarterback Maalik Murphy found Star Thomas for a 29-yard touchdown.
From there, Duke smelled blood. Thomas capped off an 85-yard touchdown drive with a 2-yard run. Two drives later, Peyton Jones and Thomas combined for 44 yards on the ground to reach the end zone. North Carolina punted on four straight drives before Tre Freeman iced the game with an interception off Criswell.
Thomas was sensational, finishing with 211 yards of all-purpose offense and two touchdowns to help lead the victory. Murphy threw for 209 yards and a touchdown while Duke outgained North Carolina by 100 yards in the second half.
The win was the first for Manny Diaz over Mack Brown, his former boss at Texas. Diaz was the coach at Miami from 2019-21 but lost all three matchups against Brown’s Tar Heels. He was unceremoniously fired by Brown after two games in 2013.
