Another year another heart breaking loss against Wake Forest for the Duke Football team.
This loss was simply a microcosm of the year that has been for the Blue Devils who drop to 3-4 (1-2 ACC) after their 24-23 loss to the Demon Deacons.
Just when you think this is it and things are turning around the bottom falls out and just like that you are right back on the floor. Such was the game and so far the season for Duke
The Blue Devils spotted Wake Forest 17 points before it ended the first half with a field goal. Duke then decided to come out and dominate all but really one play of the second half and lose the game despite dominating nearly every statistical category that matters.
The Blue Devils may have been doomed from the onset as they brought out the cursed black uniforms from the opening game loss to Richmond.
The contrasting white pants weren't enough though to shake off the seemingly eternal bad luck that plagues the Blue Devils' athletic program who dare don the black uniforms.
Despite its slow first half offensively it seemed as if Duke might have been able to hold Wake Forest to only 10 first half points. But a late touchdown brought on by what appeared to be a horrible overturned incomplete pass set the Deacons up for a late touchdown.
At first look it didn't even look close as Wake's Chris Givens clearly appeared to be out of bounds when he caught a Tanner Price pass along the sideline.
On second review it looked like he clearly stepped out of bound before he even caught the ball, making him ineligible to be the first person to catch the ball.
On third look it still didn't look like he got a foot inbounds and the officials still over turned the initial call of incomplete pass. Wake scored the touchdown to go up 17-0 a few plays later.
I'm not saying that play cost Duke the game but it certainly didn't help very much and unless someone shows me a clear replay where he caught it, which I haven't seen yet. you won't ever have me believe Givens was inbounds and caught the ball legally.
Duke did manage to march down the field late in the first but once again showed some shaky clock management and with a first and goal on the nine with about eight seconds left, the Blue Devils called a timeout and kicked a field goal.
The second half showed a much more intense and physical Blue Devil team who came out running and managed to claim a lead with just over seven minutes to go by the fourth quarter.
But despite having held the Deacons offense in check all half, Price found Givens on the right sideline and hit him in stride as he streaked down the field to give Wake the lead for good 24-23.
A late drive attempted ended with an incomplete pass by Duke quarterback Sean Renfree from the Wake Forest 40 yard line on fourth and six.
Despite Duke holding Wake to a punt on the next possession the Blue Devils only got the ball back with a few ticks left and Renfree promptly threw and interception killing any late game heroics.
The loss overshadows a good effort by Duke's running backs and a strong effort by Duke's defense, especially in the second half.
Backup quarterback Anthony Boone also played well but with the Blue Devil coaching staff giving him only one play (with about three options to run out of it), it is hard to fully assess if he is the quarterback of the future or not.
For a lot of Duke fans this is just an all too familiar way to lose a game and especially to the Deacons who have dominated the Blue Devils winning the last 12 match ups in as many years.
While many had felt this was the year of the turn around and a possible bowl berth, it is feeling more and more like this year is another in the rebuilding process. As a very young team, Duke still has to learn to play and win.
It has been a year full of frustration, disappointments and head scratching moments.
Many will blame coach David Cutcliffe or his staff for play calling, lack of aggressiveness or preparedness. To their defense it isn't all their fault some is just poor execution or bad breaks. However, they have to find a way to avoid the flat starts that have plagued Duke in the first half of games.
Other's may blame players. Renfree didn't have a great game, throwing a lot of balls high and behind receivers and reading through his progressions way too fast for the amount of protection he seemed to have at times.
We'll break down the good, bad and ugly of this game later. For now Duke fans we are left to shake our heads and wait for another week.
Next week of course the Blue Devils host Virginia Tech who appears to be a bit out of Duke's league right now. Stay tuned to the Duke Sports Blog for continuing coverage of Duke Football through the very last game.
Despite another tough season so far, we are proud to be Duke Football fans and one of a very few Duke fan sites that cover Duke Football as much as we cover basketball so keep with us and spread the word.
Special thanks today to Duke Super Fan Janet Ruis who invited me and my family personally to her group's tailgate. I got to witness the Devil Walk and shook hands with coach David Cutcliffe as he lead his team in their pregame ritual.
Thanks again Janet for your hospitality and creating a real tailgate atmosphere other Duke football fans should emulate.
