Syracuse Ran Off Their Own Field by Duke

The Syracuse Orange (3-1, 1-0 ACC) and Duke Blue Devils (2-2, 1-0 ACC) met in the Dome on a beautiful Fall day that felt like Summer.

Duke came in owning the all-time record record versus Syracuse in head-to-head play, winning four of five, with victories coming on Saturday, November 12, 1938 (21-0 on the road), Saturday, October 21, 1939 (33-6 at home), Saturday, November 8, 2014 (27-10 on the road), and Saturday, October 10, 2020 (38-24 on the road).

The lone win by the Orange against the Blue Devils coming into this game was on Saturday, November 16, 2019 (49-6 at home).

Syracuse Orange quarterback Rickie Collins, Jr., began his first-ever collegiate start (he did not start any games at LSU) with a completion for a first down to wide receiver Johntay Cook II that gained 18 yards.

However, after getting into Duke territory, Collins would throw a pass short and free safety Caleb Weaver would easily field the interception.

The Blue Devils would be first to the scoreboard, scoring off of the Collins' interception when kicker Todd Pelino sent his try from 22 yards out through the uprights to give Duke a 3-0 lead at the 9:42 mark of the first quarter.

On 3rd-&-11 on Syracuse's second drive of the day, Collins found wide receiver Darrell Gill, Jr., over the middle for an 18-yard gain and a new set of downs.

The next third down play would see running back Yasin Willis gain a first down on a nine-yard carry.

On the very next play, Willis would rush up the middle, locate a defender, and leap over him en route to a 35-yard gain that brought the Orange from the Blue Devils' 41-yard line to the six-yard line.

But Syracuse would not cross into the end zone, with Collins being sacked for a seven-yard loss and then throwing a pass that fell incomplete after Willis had gained two more yards on the ground. The Orange would bring out true freshman kicker Tripp Woody for a 29-yard field goal that would tie the game at 3-3 with 4:10 remaining in the first quarter.

Literally about a minute later, at the 3:12 mark, the Blue Devils were in the end zone for the first time on the day, when running back Nate Sheppard cut in and took off for a 49-yard touchdown run, giving Duke the lead back, at 10-3.

Syracuse would send the ball right back to Duke with two minutes and change left on the first-quarter clock and Duke would punt it right back to start the second quarter.

On the next Orange drive, Cook seemingly obtained a first down on a catch from Collins.

Officials stated that the play was under review for targeting.

Then an episode of "Stranger Things" ensued...

After taking many minutes to review the potential "targeting" by the Blue Devils, officials instead claimed that Cook fumbled the ball and the Blue Devils' recovered it.

So what was called a personal foul on Duke was either a personal foul with targeting or a personal foul without targeting.

But the officials then ruled a fumble and recovery by the Blue Devils which somehow erased the personal foul that was called.

Duke would capitalize on this unusual call when Mensah found wide receiver Cooper Barkate for a pass-play that saw Barkate take off in the open field for a 34-yard score to make it 17-3 Duke with 12:01 left in the first half.

Syracuse would lose 10 yards on a fumble by Collins on their next drive, a drive that would eventually end in a punt.

The Blue Devils would move down the field on a 12-play possession that concluded with Barkate back in the end zone, this time on a 12-yard reception from Mensah.

Orange cornerback Demetres Samuel, Jr., was flagged for pass interference on this play despite being a step behind Barkate.

The penalty was declined and Duke had a 21-point advantage, 24-3, with 1:55 to go in the first half.

This 21-point lead would be carried into halftime by the Blue Devils after Pelino missed a 45-yard field-goal try as time expired.

At the break, Duke freshman running back Nate Sheppard had six carries for 110 yards (no yards lost), giving him an average of 18.3 yards per carry.

Mensah finished the first half 16-for-21 (76.2%), 203 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions.

Barkate caught the two touchdown passes from Mensah, and had four catches for 72 yards (18 yards per catch) overall in the opening half.

Collins was 9-for-16 (56.3%) in the first half, with 90 yards passing, no touchdowns, and one interception.

Cook led the way for Orange receivers, with six catches for 65 yards (10.8 yards per catch).

Willis carried the ball eight times for 59 yards (7.4 yards per carry) in the first half.

Syracuse's defense showed up to start the second half, forcing a quick three-and-out by Duke with 13:09 on the third-quarter clock.

But on the first play of the first drive by the Orange in the second half, Cook caught the ball and fumbled, with a sea of Blue Devils falling onto the ball at the Orange 43-yard line to take over possession.

Syracuse would show up strong on the defensive end once again when true freshman linebacker Antoine Deslauriers sacked Mensah on the first play of Duke's second drive for a 15-yard loss.

On the next play, Sheppard would lose four yards on his rush attempt thanks to the Orange defense.

This Duke drive would also end in a three-and-out, with Syracuse getting the ball on their own five-yard line at the 10:49 mark of the third quarter.

But the Orange would respond with nothing, punting the ball away on a three-and-out of their own.

The first score of the second half by either team would come from the Blue Devils when Sheppard went in on a 12-yard carry to take a 31-3 lead with 5:34 on the third-quarter clock.

On Syracuse's following drive, Collins sent the ball to wide receiver Justus Ross-Simmons who came back to get it on the 4th-&-8 try. Just outside the end zone, the play was ruled a catch.

After official review at the 1:37 mark of the third quarter, the officiating crew overturned their call, ruling it an incomplete pass, bringing up a turnover on downs for the Orange at the Blue Devils' 29-yard line.

With 11:08 remaining in the game, Duke would head into the Syracuse end zone on the ground once again, this time with the feet of Anderson Castle on a 13-yard run that came on 3rd-&-1 to provide them a 35-point cushion, ahead 38-3.

Getting the ball back with 8:44 to play, the Blue Devils brought their backup quarterback, Henry Belin, IV, onto the field.

Orange wide receiver Emanuel Ross made his 2025 debut in this game, bringing in five catches for 57 yards.

He had five catches for 78 yards last season and was able to use 2024 as a redshirt year, playing in four games or less. The lone game he played in was the 41-13 road loss to the Pittsburgh Panthers.

With the win, Duke improves to 2-0 inside the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and now is above .500 overall, at 3-2.

Syracuse takes its first ACC loss of the season, now 1-1, and 3-2 overall.

Mensah finished 22-for-28 (78.6%) for 268 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions. He only attempted seven passes in the second half.

Barkate remained the Duke leader in receiving yards, with 72, despite not having a yard in the second half.

Sheppard ended with 168 yards on 15 carries for 11.2 yards per carry and two touchdowns.

Collins went 24-for-37 (64.9%) for 229 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception.

Cook remained the Orange leader in receiving yards, ending with 84 yards on eight catches.

Willis had 11 carries for 63 yards (5.7 yards per carry) for Syracuse.

Weaver and defensive tackle Preston Watson combined for the Blue Devils only sack in the game.

Deslauriers and senior defensive end Denis Jaquez, Jr., each had a sack on the day.