Monthly Archives: November 2013

Duke Football

Friday Night Lights: Regular Season Wrap Up

Duke-footballWelcome back to another edition of Friday Night Lights where Blue Devil Nation keeps readers updated on all the high school action for future Blue Devils. This past Friday night saw the conclusion of the regular season for most teams, while it was the 1st Round of the Play-offs for some other teams.

Here is a player by player status for all 16 Duke verbal commits:

Johnathan Lloyd (QB): Southern Alamance dropped their season finale to Greensboro Page, 55-20, to finish the season with a 6-5 record. Lloyd completed a 96 yard touchdown pass in the game, but left in the 4th Quarter with an injury. Southern Alamance will face Knightdale (9-1) in the 1st Round of the North Carolina 4A Play-offs.

Nico Pierre (QB): Coral Reef routed Hialeah, 52-16, to finish the season at 6-4. Pierre threw two touchdown passes and ran for a third in the victory. Coral Reef did not qualify for the play-offs.

Chris Taylor (WR): University School finished the regular season with an 8-2 record after dropping their season finale, 28-3, to Miami Central. Taylor caught two passes for 32 yards in the loss. University will host Gulliver Prep in the 1st Round of the play-offs.

Shaun Wilson (RB): West Mecklenburg defeated Harding 47-6 to finish the season with a 9-2 record. They will face Providence (7-4) in the 1st Round of the North Carolina 4AA Play-offs.

Alonzo Saxton (CB): Hartley smashed Zane Trace 64-7 in the 1st Round of the Ohio Divison V Play-offs to improve their record to 10-1. Hartley will host Liberty Union (9-2) on Saturday in the 2nd Round. Liberty Union won their 1st Round game 31-0.

Davis Koppenhaver (TE): The Hart Indians dropped their second straight game to finish the season at 8-2. They will be on the road against Paso Robles (7-3) in the 1st Round of the CIF Southern Section Northern Division Play-offs.

Zavier Carmichael (LB): St. Paul's improved to 9-2 with a 21-14 5A Play-off victory over Demopolis. St. Paul's was down 14-7 in the 4th Quarter. St. Paul's will be on the road against Benjamen Russell (10-1) in the 2nd Round.

Zach Muniz (CB): Christian Brothers defeated St. Louis University HIgh 42-14 in the 2nd Round of the Missouri Class 6 Play-offs to improve to 9-2. They will face Hazelwood Central (11-0) on Saturday afternoon.

Tinashe Bere (LB): Sycamore finished the season with a 6-4 record but failed to qualify for the play-offs.

Taariq Shabazz (DE): Kennesaw Mountain defeated North Springs 28-21 to finish the season at 2-8. The Mustangs did not qualify for the play-offs.

Quaven Ferguson (DT): Easley defeate Mann 24-7 to finish the season at 5-6. Easley will face South Florence (11-0) in the South Carolina 4A Division 2 Play-offs.

Christian Harris (OT): Collins Hill defeated Mill Creek 35-24 to finish the regular season at 9-1. They will face Walton in the 1st Round of the Georgia Play-offs.

Zach Harmon (C): Toledo Central Catholic improved to 11-0 with a 69-14 destruction of Defiance. The Fighting Irish will face Tiffin Colombian (10-1) in the 2nd Round. Harmon has been out with an injury since early in the season. Central Catholic won the Division II State Championship last season, but is competing in Division III this year.

Trip McNeill (OT): Davie County lost their season finale, 42-21, to Mt. Tabor to finish the season with a 4-7 record. The War Eagles failed to qualify for the Play-offs.

Kameron Schroeder (OG): Cosumnes Oaks finished the regular season at 7-3 with a 48-21 victory over River City. They will face Whitney (7-3) in the 1st Round of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II Play-offs.

Jake Sanders (OG): Carrolton defeated LaGrange 42-6 to end the regular season at 9-1. They will be the number two seed and host number three Northwest Whitfield (9-1) on Friday night.

Duke Football

Magical Night for DeVon Edwards – The Man of the Hour

In case you missed the Duke Blue Devils thrilling 38-20 win over N.C. State, some guy named DeVon Edwards scored on a 100 yard kickoff return to give Duke a 17-13 lead over N.C. State and he would later have back to back interceptions on consecutive plays both for touchdowns.  If you didn't know Edwards name before, you certainly will moving forward.  Coach Cutcliffe said he had a "A magic night," in his post game presser and most of the media agreed.  In fact, the only thing Edwards didn't do was leap over a tall building with a single bound.  Edwards was a gem on the recruiting trail that Cut and company turned up and few recruited him out of high school, so yes, the staff knew what they were doing offering him.  It was quite simply one of the better personal efforts of any player in recent memory and his play electrified the near capacity crowd.  In fact, Edwards gave Duke a shot in the arm when their offense struggled mightily in the second half.  Enjoy his post game interview and you'll quickly see he is a humble young man, one which represents the type of character the current staff loves to bring in.