In a game where Duke struggled to find consistency, the Blue Devils leave Pittsburgh 7-4 after being defeated by Pat Narduzzi’s squad, 28-26. Here are our helmet stickers for the Pittsburgh game.
BRIAN’S PICK: SPEEDY YOUNG
My helmet sticker goes to Iowa State transfer defensive back, Datrone “Speedy” Young. As Duke looked to plug some holes in the secondary this past offseason, Young was the first player to commit. Having had individual success at ISU, we knew he would instantly be in the starting rotation here at Duke. He has been a steady, veteran presence for Duke this entire season.
This past Saturday, Young stuffed the defensive stat sheet. He was responsible for five tackles, one pass break up, and an important second-half interception. His interception came at a crucial time for the Blue Devils, who found themselves down and reeling at the time. Young read Pitt QB Kedon Slovis’ eyes on an out route, and returned the pick 25 yards. Young has established himself as a starter on the outside, and I look forward to seeing him end the season on a high note.
JAMIE’S PICK: JORDAN MOORE
Watching the game Saturday, one guy really stood out for me. My helmet sticker goes to wide receiver Jordan Moore. Moore spent the spring in a QB battle with Riley Leonard. When the coaching staff went with Leonard, they also knew that they needed to find a way to get Jordan Moore, a dynamic playmaker and super-athletic guy, on the field. The staff decided to move Jordan Moore to wide receiver. It’s not an easy task to learn – moving to another position. But Jordan is a natural, and Saturday in Pittsburgh, he had his breakout performance.
We had seen flashes from him all year – crazy catches and blistering speed. Saturday afternoon, he put it all together. He had 14 catches for 199 yards, for an average of 14.2 yards per catch. He had 1 touchdown, a long reception of 49 yards, and an acrobatic catch that should have landed him on Sportcenter’s Top Ten. Thanks to our own Brian Kennedy for researching this and posting on Twitter: yesterday’s game for Jordan puts him at the ninth best game for a receiver at Duke ALL TIME. This is all from a guy who just moved to wide receiver this year. Also, with his 14 catches, that puts him at 49 catches for the year, which leads the team. This is amazing to me. All from a guy who just changed positions. I feel like with a full off-season dedicated to being a receiver, Jordan could end up being one of the top receivers in the league next year. For that breakout performance yesterday, Jordan Moore gets my helmet sticker. I’m excited to continue watching his growth, not only this year, but in the years to come.
JOSH’S PICK: RILEY LEONARD
Since Jamie typically calls his guy first, I guess talking about the play of Duke QB Riley Leonard falls to me. Saturday’s game was a unique game for the Duke QB. The weather conditions seemed to really impact his (and RB Jordan Waters) ability to make the quick cuts necessary to gain chunks of yardage on the ground. Leonard, Duke’s leading rusher and one of the nation’s best running quarterbacks, was left to use his arm if Duke had a shot to win.
Leonard, often under pressure from Pittsburgh’s elite pass rush, responded by throwing for 290 yards, completing 25/45 attempts, throwing for 3 touchdowns, and running for another score. This performance will be important for Leonard’s future at the quarterback position. Many things were not going his way (frigid temperatures, a non-existent run game, and intense pressure from the pass rush), but Leonard found a way to lead his team to four touchdowns. Leonard will look to add to his gaudy numbers in the regular season finale this Saturday against Wake Forest at Wallace Wade Stadium.
SCOTT’S PICK: HARD HAT GUYS
My helmet sticker this week again is a little different, but it is well deserved. If you were a fan of Saturday Night Live back in the late 80’s and early 90’s, they did a skit called the Bill Sweskri’s Superfans about Chicago where they talked about MJ and DITKA! Well if you didn’t realize, Duke Football has their version, The Hard Hat Guys. Just like the USPS saying, “Neither rain, nor sleet, nor snow,” you will find these guys at each game home or away cheering on their Blue Devils. They enjoy traveling for road games, and they have a few more destinations in the coming seasons to mark off their list.
Let’s meet them just in case you don’t know them. HH#1 is Alex, the father of HH#2 Matt. He is ultimately responsible for keeping #2 in check LOL! HH#2 Matt is the grill master on game day for the tailgate, and he’s the group historian. HH#3 Hardison is the donut man(that is what I call him), and he is always ready for you to put more on your plate so it doesn’t go to waste. Last week after VT game, we introduced a few players to Victory Donuts. This is something that former OL Laken Tomlinson receives after wins on Sundays.
If you haven’t met these gentleman, this Saturday is the perfect time to. They arrive in Lot B-5 at 6 AM on game days. Breakfast is served at 8 AM, and usually the group hangs out until the Blue Devil Walk. This is last home tailgate of the season, and we would love to have you come out and eat and to say “Hello.” Also, you can come learn more of the history of how they became the Hard Hats. The Section 17 Crew is proud to call the Hard Hats our friends. We want to be like them when we grow up! We all love Duke Football and #BLEEDBLUE like they do. Let’s Go Duke!
**Photo creds: GoDuke.com