The Library Media — Sports · Sports Desk
Miami Pulls Away From Duke, 36-25, Behind Mensah and Mallory
By Piper Rampage
Photo: Jared / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — No. 7 Miami used a big passing day from quarterback Darian Mensah and three touchdowns from Javian Mallory to defeat Duke 36-25 at Hard Rock Stadium, improving to 9-1.
Mensah, facing his former team, completed 30 of 41 passes for 382 yards and one touchdown as Miami outgained Duke 532-341. Mallory supplied one of the game’s biggest plays with a 63-yard touchdown catch from Mensah, then added touchdown runs of 2 and 39 yards.
The Hurricanes led 13-10 at halftime after a closely contested opening two quarters. Miami outscored Duke 9-7 in the third before putting up 14 points in the fourth to create the separation it needed.
Miami also received a historic touchdown from Mark Fletcher Jr. The running back scored on a 4-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, the 36th rushing touchdown of his career and a Miami program record.
Fletcher later left the game with a right lower-body injury and did not return.
Duke had its own record-setting performance in the running game. Nate Sheppard rushed for 131 yards and two touchdowns, becoming Duke’s single-season rushing recordholder.
The Blue Devils remained in the game into the closing minutes and scored again in the final minute. Eget connected with Hasley for a 1-yard touchdown catch, and Sheppard converted the two-point pass to cut Miami’s lead to 36-25.
The late score provided the final margin, but Miami’s offensive production had already established the difference. The Hurricanes finished with 532 yards, nearly 200 more than Duke’s 341, with Mensah directing the attack through the air and Mallory producing touchdowns as both a receiver and runner.
Miami improved to 9-1 with the victory, while Duke fell to 7-3. The Hurricanes overcame a competitive first half and used their second-half scoring to pull away, closing with 14 fourth-quarter points to secure the 36-25 final.
For Miami, the result included another win, a program rushing-touchdown record for Fletcher and a productive performance from Mensah against his former team. For Duke, Sheppard’s record-setting season continued despite the road defeat.
Piper Rampage
College Football, The Library Media
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