You just had to be there. Duke responded with 21 straight points after trailing 20-0 and claimed the Victory Bell for the first time in 5 years. Here are the winners of our helmet stickers:
BRIAN’S PICK: DUKE FANS
Duke fans,
What a wild and crazy Saturday night. It certainly looked like the Victory Bell was certainly staying in Chapel Hill for the sixth straight season, but this Blue Devil team pushed through and overcame the odds. Had it not been for the electric atmosphere in Wallace Wade stadium, this would not have happened. Which is why I am going old school and awarding my helmet sticker to the Duke fans and students that were at the game. (Cue Josh’s eye roll…LOL)
This was a game that everyone had circled on their calendar since the schedule came out in January. Since that time, the Section 17 crew has begged and pleaded for any and all Duke fans to show up and show out for this game, and you guys did not disappoint. Without hesitation, the breakdown we saw in the stands was easily a 70/30 split of Duke to Carolina fans. I even noticed that with over an hour to go before kickoff, half the student section was already full. By game time, the student section had overflowed.
While the first half was anything but positive, Duke never gave up and fed off the energy in the stands. Overcoming what some would have said was impossible odds in the past, this Duke team won its fifth straight game, and FINALLY took back possession of the Victory Bell.
Duke fans, this past Saturday’s atmosphere is what we need to see for the final three home games of the year. Let me go ahead and say this as clearly as possible, I don’t care what the records are heading into the FSU game October 18th, make your plans NOW, and be ready to show up. This team needs all of our support no matter the opponent. Be loud, be proud and GO DUKE!
JAMIE’S PICK: STAR THOMAS
What a night at Wallace Wade! But it didn’t really start so great. Duke got down 20-0, and then completed an exciting comeback to claim the Victory Bell in epic fashion!
The guy I’m giving my helmet sticker to was a HUGE part in the comeback. My helmet sticker goes to Duke running back, Star Thomas. Thomas is quickly becoming one of my favorite players. On Saturday night, in the biggest game of the year so far, a rivalry game against that team from 8 miles down the road, he had his biggest game of his Blue Devil career so far. He quite literally put this team on his shoulders, and got this Duke team going Saturday evening. Behind an offensive line that was equally as spectacular as Star was, he ran for 166 yards on 30 carries, and had another touchdown on the ground. Thomas also had 2 receptions for 45 yards and another touchdown. It was this maximum effort that helped Duke “ring the bell” for the first time in 5 years. Another great game for Star Thomas, and another helmet sticker for him.
Now Duke goes to Georgia Tech with a chance to become bowl eligible before the bye week. What a great start to the season for the Blue Devils!
JOSH’S PICK: KADE REYNOLDSON
With Duke securing the Victory Bell for the first time in five years, one would never consider the punter receiving a helmet sticker following the game. But Duke freshman punter Kade Reynoldson was a major factor in Duke’s 21-20 victory Saturday night at Wallace Wade Stadium.
Reynoldson punted seven times with four of them backing UNC up inside their 20 yard line. But undoubtedly the most important punt of the night came with 1:42 remaining in the game. Duke had the ball at the UNC 45 yard line and faced a 4th down and 1. Manny Diaz not only trusted his defense in this scenario, but he trusted his freshman Aussie punter. Reynoldson delivered with a beautiful punt that was fair caught at the UNC 5 yard line. This set the Duke defense up for what would turn out to be the game winning stop and interception. The kicking game is often overlooked or only focused on when they botch kicks. This Duke kicking game has been solid and is key to the success of the 5-0 Blue Devils. Onward to Atlanta!
SCOTT’S PICK: THE OFFENSIVE LINE
Saturday was full of so much drama that it was almost too much to take with great excitement when clock said 0:00 for those wearing the right shade of blue.
What a great comeback by our Blue Devils against Chapel Hill College. My helmet sticker goes to the Duke Offensive Line plus TE’s Nicky Dalmolin and Jake Taylor. Though Maalik Murphy was sacked 3 times during game, the offensive line and TE’s dominated the line of scrimmage. They opened holes for Star Thomas and Peyton Jones to gain 187 yards on the ground and 209 yards through the air. Their second half performance will be talked about for years to come.
This was the first time all season that the offensive line seemed to be healthy with transfer lineman Micah Sahakian in pads for the first time this season. The offensive line unit has done a great job, and they have been a huge in Duke’s successful 5-0 start. It is a great time to be a Blue Devil fan.