Duke football season took a turn for the worse on Saturday as starting quarterback Riley Leonard suffered another injury in a loss to Florida State. Leonard, who had already missed one game earlier this season with an ankle injury, was forced to leave the game in the third quarter after being sacked. Backup quarterback Jordan Waters came in and led Duke to a touchdown, but it wasn’t enough as the Blue Devils fell to the Seminoles, 38-20.
Duke Football Suffers Major Blow with Leonard’s Injury
Leonard’s injury is a major blow to Duke, who was ranked No. 16 in the country heading into the game against Florida State. Leonard had been playing well this season, throwing for 1,500 yards and 12 touchdowns in six games. He was also one of Duke’s leading rushers, with 300 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.
The severity of Leonard’s injury is still unknown, but it is unlikely that he will be able to play anytime soon. This means that Duke will have to rely on backup quarterback Jordan Waters for the foreseeable future. Waters is a capable player, but he is not as experienced as Leonard. He also does not have the same weapons at his disposal, as Duke lost top wide receiver Jake Bobo to a season-ending injury earlier this season.
Waters Leads Duke football to Touchdown, But It’s Not Enough
Waters came into the game against Florida State in the third quarter with Duke trailing 24-13. He led the Blue Devils on a scoring drive on his first possession, culminating in a 10-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jalon Calhoun. Duke’s defense then forced Florida State to punt, and Waters had the Blue Devils in position to score again. However, he was intercepted in the end zone, and Florida State went on to score a touchdown to extend their lead to 31-20.
Duke’s defense gave up a touchdown to Florida State in the fourth quarter, but they also forced a fumble and intercepted a pass. Waters led the Blue Devils on one more scoring drive, but it was too little too late as Duke fell to the Seminoles, 38-20.
Florida State Offense Too Much for Duke Defense
Florida State’s offense was too much for Duke’s defense on Saturday. The Seminoles racked up 456 total yards, including 281 yards on the ground. Florida State running back Trey Benson had a monster game, rushing for 150 yards and two touchdowns.
Duke’s defense struggled to contain Florida State’s running game all day long. The Blue Devils also had trouble getting pressure on quarterback Jordan Travis, who threw for 175 yards and two touchdowns.
What’s Next for Duke Football?
Duke football will look to bounce back next Saturday when they host Virginia Tech. The Hokies are currently 3-4, but they are coming off a win over Pittsburgh. Duke will need to find a way to protect Jordan Waters and get their running game going if they want to defeat Virginia Tech.
Conclusion:
Duke football’s season took a major blow on Saturday with the injury to Riley Leonard. The Blue Devils will now have to rely on backup quarterback Jordan Waters for the foreseeable future. Duke will also need to find a way to protect Waters and get their running game going if they want to bounce back from their loss to Florida State.
Impact of Leonard’s Injury on Duke’s Season
Leonard’s injury is a major blow to Duke’s season. He was the Blue Devils’ best player and their most important offensive weapon. Without Leonard, Duke’s offense will be much less potent.
It is still too early to say what the long-term impact of Leonard’s injury will be on Duke’s season. However, it is clear that it will be difficult for the Blue Devils to achieve their goals without him.