It wasn’t the cleanest of outings for Maalik Murphy and the Duke Blue Devils. However, winning on the road against a Big Ten opponent is an accomplishment. Their 26-20 win over Northwestern showed both sides of the coin. On the one hand, plenty of areas need to be cleaned up before the meat of ACC play begins. It’s also a good sign that despite sloppy play, the team got stronger as the game went on and was able to close this one out.
It’s too early one way or another to cast too strong of judgments on any team at this time. But regardless of when, it’s usually a strong indicator when a team can grab a gutsy win away from home. In terms of how the game played out, it could have gone either way. Between mistakes, turnovers, and special teams, a third overtime needing to decide this one would have been fitting.
Regardless, it was ultimately the former Texas Longhorns QB who was able to execute down the stretch. Although it would be a simplification, the passing of Duke outlasted the running strength of Northwestern. It may not have been pretty particularly early on, but Maalik Murphy was able to dial it in and propel his team to a thrilling victory. Understandably, a lot of questions were asked when the new signal caller came to play for coach Manny Diaz’s program.
Naturally, skeptics remain, but leading this team to a sixth straight win over this opponent should ease some doubts for the time being. From the offense’s perspective, the game came down to two throws during the overtime periods. The first touchdown strike to Jordan Moore was on the money and showed his potential as a pocket passer. Then his TD throw to Eli Pancol was perfectly placed, and the defender did not have a chance to make a play on the ball. This composure and types of throws show the next evolution that is needed from him. Clearly, he has the ability to make NFL-caliber plays with his arm.
At this point, it’s only a matter of consistency and avoiding putting the ball in harm’s way. But as mentioned, watching the ACC newcomer shake off a rough start is more encouraging than even their final result. Oftentimes fans can watch as a mistake compounds or a slow start becomes a terrible game performance. This was not the case Friday evening. Instead, with all the pressure on the line, the execution by the playmakers for the Duke offense won out.
Favorable schedule for Maalik Murphy and Duke
Looking ahead, fans are hopeful for this program to start 4-0 on the year. While it’s ill-advised to overlook any opponent, the likes of the UConn football program and Middle Tennessee can make it difficult to contain excitement levels. Until then, it’s worth noting that so far, many upsets have happened and a surprise underdog victory is on the table for any game. This team may feel good about itself right now. However, as any good coach would say, and what coach Diaz is likely preaching, is the need to show up to the next practice day ready to hit the ground running in terms of preparation.
Now that the Blue Devils have a quality win away from Wallace Wade Stadium, the next step is to avoid playing down to perceived lower levels of competition. Considering the journey of Maalik Murphy in particular and the areas of opportunity for growth, it’s doubtful that a letdown game will be seen anytime soon from this program. The mission is simple. Take care of business against the teams that you’re supposed to beat and show up undefeated when UNC comes to town.