Northwestern Drops Home Opener to Duke

9/8/2018 3:20:00 PM | Football

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EVANSTON, ILL. -- Aiming for its second-straight victory over a Power-5 opponent to open the 2018 campaign, Northwestern was unable to stymie Duke in a 21-7 loss at Ryan Field in the Wildcats' home opener.

Northwestern finished with 381 yards of total offense, out gaining Duke by 80 yards, but was unable to find the end zone after scoring a touchdown on the opening drive of the contest. The Wildcats' defense held Purdue to 4-of-15 (26.6%) on third down conversion attempts.

Northwestern moves to 1-1 (1-0 B1G), while Duke improves to 2-0.

Senior wide receiver Flynn Nagel hauled in a career-high 12 receptions for a career-best 133 receiving yards. It is the most receiving yards in a game by a Wildcat since Garrett Dickerson notched 150 yards last season against Bowling Green, while his 12 receptions are the most in a game since Austin Carr vs. Wisconsin in 2016 (also 12 catches). Sophomore running back Jeremy Larkin eclipsed 100 yards for a third-straight game dating back to last season's Music City Bowl as he finished with 121 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries.

On the defensive side of the ball, sophomore linebacker Blake Gallagher finished with a career-high 13 tackles, eight of which came in the first half. Junior defensive end Joe Gaziano finished with 4.0 tackles for loss, including two second-half sacks which moved him past Deonte Gibson for eighth in program history with 15.5 career sacks.

The #B1GCats jumped out to an early lead thanks to an 11-play, 79-yard scoring drive which was capped off by a two-yard touchdown run by Larkin. The touchdown was set up by a 40-yard run by Larkin earlier than the drive on third-and-six earlier to move the 'Cats into the red zone. Senior quarterback Clayton Thorson went 5-for-5 for 31 yards on the drive.

Both defenses exchanged a pair of stops and the first quarter ended with Northwestern holding a 7-0 lead. However, three plays into the second quarter Duke evened it up with a nine-yard touchdown pass from Daniel Jones to T.J. Rahming.

The Blue Devils grabbed the lead with 8:40 remaining in the second quarter with a 52-yard strike from Jones to Johnathan Lloyd. Later in the half, they extended their lead with a seven-yard touchdown from Jones to Davis Koppenhaver to give Duke a 21-7 lead which they would take into the half.

Northwestern's defense held Duke to just 32 yards in the third quarter and 44 yards in the fourth quarter.

Northwestern will be back in action at Ryan Field next Saturday as it faces Akron under the lights for an 6:30 p.m. CT kickoff.

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