Duke football kicked off its season with a 45-17 victory against Elon, marking the fourth consecutive year the Blue Devils have started 1-0. Despite the decisive final score, the team endured a nervous start to the game. Redshirt sophomore Darian Mensah, making his debut as a Blue Devil, experienced some early jitters, leading to overthrown passes and dropped balls. The first half saw Duke struggle with scoring opportunities, including a missed 45-yard field goal by senior kicker Todd Pelino and a crucial fumble by redshirt senior running back Jaquez Moore inside the red zone just before halftime. These early miscues contributed to the Blue Devils entering the break tied 10-10 with their CAA visitors.
However, the second half told a completely different story. Duke erupted after halftime, outscoring Elon 35-7 and showcasing a dominant performance. Five second-half touchdowns from four different Blue Devils powered the offense, ensuring every drive resulted in points. The defense also stepped up significantly, largely containing the Phoenix to their own side of the field, with the exception of one Elon touchdown. Sophomore punter Kade Reynoldson wasn’t called upon once in the third or fourth quarters, a testament to Duke’s offensive efficiency and control. Several key transfers made an immediate impact for Duke. Quarterback Darian Mensah, who transferred from Tulane, finished the game with an impressive 389 passing yards, the most since Riley Leonard’s 2022 performance against Wake Forest. His second-half passing was particularly stellar, completing all 11 attempts, including a perfect 10-for-10 in the third quarter for 167 yards and two touchdowns. Harvard transfer and FCS All-American Cooper Barkate led the team in receiving yards with 117 on five receptions. Former Oklahoma wide receiver Andrel Anthony hauled in one of Mensah’s three touchdown passes, and Utah State graduate transfer Jaiden Francois anchored the defense with a team-high 10 total tackles.
While Duke secured a comfortable 28-point lead, Elon surprisingly led in the rushing game, gaining 163 yards compared to Duke’s 159, though the Phoenix used 19 more attempts. A highlight play of the game came in the fourth quarter when Que’Sean Brown electrified the crowd with a 78-yard punt return for a touchdown, marking the longest return of his career and the longest play of the game overall.
Looking ahead, the Blue Devils will have a slightly longer week to prepare for their next challenge. They are set to welcome No. 12-ranked Illinois to Wallace Wade Stadium next Saturday. The team will need to carry its second-half momentum forward and avoid a slow start similar to the one against Elon, as a strong opponent like Illinois could capitalize on early mistakes
