AP

Duke becomes bowl eligible with win over short-handed BC

Nov 4, 2022, 7:59 AM | Updated: 9:41 pm

Duke quarterback Riley Leonard (13) runs into the end zone to score during the first half of an NCA...

Duke quarterback Riley Leonard (13) runs into the end zone to score during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Boston College, Friday, Nov. 4, 2022 in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)

(AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)


              Boston College head coach Jeff Hafley looks on during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Duke, Friday, Nov. 4, 2022 in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)
            
              Duke quarterback Riley Leonard is tackled by Boston College defensemen Kam Arnold (5) and Cole Batson (23) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Friday, Nov. 4, 2022 in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)
            
              Boston College quarterback Emmett Morehead leaves the field after losing to Duke in an NCAA college football game Friday, Nov. 4, 2022, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)
            
              Boston College quarterback Emmett Morehead leaves the field after losing to Duke in an NCAA college football game Friday, Nov. 4, 2022, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)
            
              Duke quarterback Riley Leonard is tackled by Boston College defensemen, including Cam Horsley (96), during the second half of an NCAA college football game Friday, Nov. 4, 2022, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)
            
              Boston College's Joseph Griffin (2) hauls in a pass just short of the end zone as Duke cornerback Tony Davis (13) attempts to break it up during the second half of an NCAA college football game Friday, Nov. 4, 2022, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)
            
              Duke quarterback Riley Leonard, center, is hit by Boston College defenseman Donovan Ezeiruaku, left, causing the ball to come loose, during the second half of an NCAA college football game Friday, Nov. 4, 2022, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)
            
              Boston College quarterback Phil Jurkovec greets teammates as they warm up for an NCAA college football game against Duke, Friday, Nov. 4, 2022 in Boston. Jurkovec injured his knee in a game against Connecticut and will not be playing. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)
            
              Boston College's Zay Flowers scores a touchdown against Duke during the first half of an NCAA college football game Friday, Nov. 4, 2022, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)
            
              Boston College quarterback Emmett Morehead looks to throw under pressure during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Duke, Friday, Nov. 4, 2022, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)
            
              Duke quarterback Riley Leonard (13) is lifted by center Jack Burns after scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Boston College, Friday, Nov. 4, 2022 in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)
            
              Duke runingback Jordan Waters (7) runs into the end zone to score during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Friday, Nov. 4, 2022 in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)
            
              Duke wide receiver Sahmir Hagans stands in the end zone after scoring during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Boston College, Friday, Nov. 4, 2022 in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)
            
              Duke quarterback Riley Leonard (13) runs into the end zone to score during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Boston College, Friday, Nov. 4, 2022 in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. (AP) — Riley Leonard threw for 158 yards and a touchdown, and he ran for 96 yards and another score to help Duke beat short-handed Boston College 38-31 on Friday night.

Duke (6-3, 3-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) became bowl eligible for the first time since 2018 under first-year coach Mike Elko. The Blue Devils notched just three victories last season.

“Just a really monumental night for our program,” Elko said. “For us to come from where we were 10 months ago to here, bowl eligible with three games to go. Just a testament to everybody in our program and our university from the top down.”

Boston College (2-7, 1-5) was without quarterback Phil Jurkovec due to a right knee injury, but freshman Emmett Morehead shined in his first career start, throwing for four touchdowns with no interceptions.

“It’s the first game Emmett’s started since his junior year of high school. … We put him in some really tough situations, but he showed leadership, he showed poise,” said BC coach Jeff Hafley.

Duke forced a three-and-out to begin the second half and Jaquez Moore scored on a 24-yard run to extend its lead to 31-14. Boston College cut its deficit to 10 points but opted for an onside kick with 3:31 left in the third quarter and Duke recovered it before another score by Moore.

“At halftime we kind of got chewed into a little bit because like we weren’t playing very well,” Duke defensive tackle DeWayne Carter said. “You look at the third quarter, we’ve struggled a lot there this year. It’s no secret. So we came out and just had to set the tone for the half.”

Boston College got within 10 points again after a 75-yard drive ended in Morehead’s 26-yard pass to fellow freshman Joseph Griffin Jr. with 12:07 remaining.

“He’s (Griffin) six-foot four, so that’s rare.” Morehead said about his connections with Griffin. “He’s just a freak athlete, and with a basketball background, he’s really good at tracking the ball.”

The Eagles added a 34-yard field goal with 17 seconds left, but Duke recovered another onside kick to seal it.

Moore finished with 82 yards rushing in his first multi-touchdown game for Duke. Leonard went untouched on a 60-yard touchdown on the sixth play of the game, and his 8-yard scoring pass to Sahmir Hagans made it 24-7.

Morehead was 27 of 45 for 330 yards passing for Boston College, which lost its fourth straight game. Joseph Griffin Jr. had 103 yards receiving and two touchdowns, and Zay Flowers added 65 yards and two scores.

“His (Morehead’s) leadership was really impressive today,” Hafley said.

THE TAKEAWAY

Morehead made a statement, becoming the first Boston College QB with four passing TDs since Dennis Grosel in 2020. Boston College played mistake-free football against a Duke team that was coming off a program-high eight turnovers in its 45-21 win over Miami.

Duke continued its dominance on the ground, securing its sixth game with 200-plus rushing yards this season. Four rushers combined for 232 yards after Duke entered ranked second in the ACC and 21st nationally with 205.1 yards per game.

UP NEXT

Duke hosts Virginia Tech on Saturday, Nov. 12.

Boston College plays at No. 21 North Carolina State on Nov. 12.

___

More AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/ap_top25. Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://tinyurl.com/mrxhe6f2

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

AP

Associated Press

Ex-Packer Guion gets 1 year for domestic violence assault

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Former Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Letroy Guion was sentenced to one year in jail after pleading no contest in a domestic violence assault at his home last fall. Brown County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Walsh also ordered Guion on Tuesday to serve three years’ probation and complete a domestic […]

1 year ago

Joe Jarzynka...

Associated Press

Durant eager for Suns debut vs. Hornets after knee injury

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kevin Durant has been through quite a bit during his 15-year NBA career — but joining a new team midway through the season is a new one for the 13-time All-Star. The 34-year-old Durant doesn’t seem all that worried. Durant makes his highly anticipated Phoenix Suns debut on Wednesday night against […]

1 year ago

FILE - Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores stands on the sideline during the second half of an N...

Associated Press

Judge: NFL coach can press discrimination claims in court

NEW YORK (AP) — NFL Coach Brian Flores can pursue some of his discrimination claims against the league and its teams in court rather than through arbitration, a judge ruled Wednesday. The written decision by Judge Valerie Caproni in Manhattan was issued months after lawyers for the league tried to get the lawsuit moved to […]

1 year ago

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Alex Stalock cools off in the first period during an NHL hockey game ...

Associated Press

Kane trade reinforces hard reality of Blackhawks rebuild

CHICAGO (AP) — After days of speculation, the harsh reality of the Chicago Blackhawks’ situation was reinforced by one move in a flurry of transactions ahead of the NHL trade deadline. Showtime is over, at least in Chicago, and a seemingly bright future is, well, way off in the distance. The reverberations of Chicago’s decision […]

1 year ago

FILE -  Yves Jean-Bart, president of the Haitian Football Federation, wearing a protective face mas...

Associated Press

Disgraced ex-Haitian soccer president announces he’s back

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s former soccer federation president whose lifetime ban from sport over sexual abuse allegations was overturned last month announced Wednesday that he is reclaiming his position. Yves Jean-Bart’s defiant announcement could lead to a standoff with FIFA, which already has appointed an emergency management committee to lead the Haitian Football Association […]

1 year ago

FILE - Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers walks off the field after an NFL football game against the ...

Associated Press

Rodgers says decision on future will come ‘soon enough’

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers says he will make a decision on his future “soon enough” as the four-time MVP quarterback ponders whether to play next season and if his future remains with the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers, 39, discussed his future while speaking on an episode of the “Aubrey Marcus Podcast” that […]

1 year ago

Duke becomes bowl eligible with win over short-handed BC