Duke outlasts Northwestern in double overtime thriller, improves to 2-0 on the season

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The Manny Diaz era at Duke is off to a 2–0 start after the Blue Devils secured a thrilling 26-20 double overtime victory against the Northwestern Wildcats on Friday night.

Diaz replaced Mike Elko, who left Duke to take the job at Texas A&M after two years as head coach. 

In addition to Elko leaving, former Duke quarterback Riley Leonard transferred to Notre Dame this offseason. 

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Duke Blue Devils wide receiver Eli Pancol (4) celebrates his touchdown against the Northwestern Wildcats during the first half at Lanny and Sharon Martin Stadium.  (David Banks-Imagn Images)

Current Duke quarterback Maalik Murphy stepped up when it mattered most for the Blue Devils on Friday.

Murphy led an 11-play, 51-yard drive at the end of the fourth quarter to get his kicker, Todd Pelino, in position to nail a game-tying field goal to even the score at 13 apiece with 14 seconds left on the clock. 

Northwestern got the ball first in overtime and took a 20-13 lead after running back Cam Porter scampered into the endzone from ten yards out.

It took Murphy and the Blue Devils just one play to even the score in the first overtime. Wide receiver Jordan Moore got behind the Northwestern secondary, and Murphy uncorked a dart to his target for a fast response. 

It was more of the same for the Blue Devils in the second overtime. Murphy connected with Moore on the first play of the second overtime for 22 yards, and on the next play he found wide receiver Eli Pancol in the endzone for a three-yard touchdown.

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