Duke football victory over Pittsburgh on Senior Day closes 2023 season

Duke secured a win against Pittsburgh on Senior Day, with a standout performance by freshman quarterback Grayson Loftis.

Duke's final regular season game of the year was a hard-fought win against Pittsburgh, with the Blue Devils securing a 30-19 victory on Senior Day. The team's freshman quarterback, Grayson Loftis, threw for 248 yards and junior receiver Jordan Moore totaled eight receptions for 106 yards. The defense also showed up, turning the Panthers over once and totaling four sacks.

Despite scoring only 10 points in the first half, Duke put together a strong performance in the second half, driving 67 yards for three points on their first series. The offense truly broke out on the following drive with big plays that helped ignite the defense. The Panthers managed to engineer a 15-play, 93-yard drive that culminated in a 21-yard touchdown reception from senior tight end Karter Johnson in the second quarter. However, Duke was able to secure the win with a strong performance in the second half.

After a sleepy first quarter, the Panthers were the first to find the end zone in the second, engineering a 15-play, 93-yard drive that culminated in a 21-yard touchdown reception from senior tight end Karter Johnson. The Blue Devils struggled early to string together enough positive play to mount a significant drive, but the offense got a helping hand from special teams. A 59-yard leg from graduate punter and Ray Guy Award Semifinalist Porter Wilson put the Panthers on their own 4-yard line, and an ensuing 15-yard punt from Pittsburgh's Caleb Junko only moved it back to the 25. A string of positive runs put the Blue Devils in position, and Loftis found Jordan Moore for a 10-yard touchdown reception with just over a minute left in the half.

Duke's 7-5 record has qualified the team for its second-straight bowl game. The team now awaits its bowl placement, where it will look to build off Saturday's victory. This win secures Duke's second-straight winning season, and the team will be looking to continue their success in the upcoming bowl game.

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