Duke Has To Improve Against NC A&T

[Inveigle]

The Blue Devils host North Carolina A&T on Friday night after losing at Charlotte in the opening week on a final-minute touchdown. And Cutcliffe had no trouble zeroing in on those sequences that decided the outcome.

“What I’m looking at are opportunities that the head football coach has to have a team better prepared for, and I mean that whole-heartedly,” Cutcliffe said. “I think we can have a good football team. You can’t think it though, you have to be one.”

The Blue Devils (0-1) squandered a program-record rushing day from Mataeo Durant and surrendered the go-ahead touchdown with 33 seconds left in the 31-28 loss to a team that had never beaten a power-conference program.

Digging deeper, Cutcliffe pointed to the 49ers gaining 218 yards on six plays. And there was also the goal-line fumble on a keeper from first-time starting quarterback Gunnar Holmberg.

“You have to seize those moments,” Cutcliffe said. “Some of them were where we could’ve gotten off the field. Offensively the opportunities to score points were there throughout the game and we didn’t take advantage of those opportunities.”

The Aggies (0-1) are coming off a road loss at Furman in the Big South Conference program’s first game since December 2019 due to the cancellation of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

North Carolina A&T had a mistake-filled performance with two turnovers, one coming at the Furman goal line, and 10 penalties for 105 yards.

“I give you my word we’ll be better prepared this upcoming week,” Aggies coach Sam Washington said.

The Aggies and Blue Devils have met once before, with Duke taking a 45-13 home win in the 2019 season.

Duke has dropped its season opener for the third year in a row.

"I wouldn't count this team out by any means," Cutcliffe said.

Prediction:

This game is all about how bad Duke will play...

Duke 38
NC A&T 28

 

[Devilsforlife]

Lose this game and it's 50/50 whether Cut is on the sidelines for week 3.

 

[Inveigle]

Duke received the opening kick off and went three and out. I actually believe they lost yardage.

Great punt down to the A&T 11.

The Aggies went right down the field in 20 plays to score their first TOUCHDOWN on a QB sneak. A&T pushed the defensive front of Duke directly into the end zone. Pushed them right down the field running the ball. This is even more of an embarrassment than the Charlotte game.

If Cut had any pride at all he would resign immediately. He HAS TO GO!

 

[aiw]

That is the first Trump tweet I have agreed with.

 

[aiw]

only good thing