DURHAM, N.C. ā It all looked routine for No. 21 Duke on Saturday. Just the way the rising Blue Devils like it.
Riley Leonard ran for two touchdowns and threw for 219 yards to lead Duke to a 38-14 win over Northwestern.
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āWe started fast. We got a lead,ā Duke coach Mike Elko said. āThatās what you want to do in a game like this.ā
Jordan Waters also ran for two touchdowns and Jalon Calhoun caught five passes for 112 yards as the Blue Devils (3-0, 1-0 ACC) opened the season with three straight wins for the second year in a row.
Duke hasnāt been threatened in the strong start to Elkoās second season.
āIf we keep playing how we are, I think weāre going to be fine,ā cornerback Chandler Rivers said.
Leonard rushed for 97 yards and completed 15 of 20 passes in just over three quarters.
Northwestern quarterback Ben Bryant was 17-for-34 for 123 yards with a touchdown and an interception. The Wildcats (1-2, 0-1 Big Ten) had 267 yards of total offense, with 90 of those in the fourth quarter.
āItās OK for it to sting,ā Northwestern interim coach David Braun said. āWeāre going to play a much better brand of football next Saturday.ā
The Blue Devils put together 80- and 94-yard touchdown drives in the third quarter, both ending on Leonardās short runs. Duke, which didnāt punt until the fourth quarter, had 268 rushing yards.
āAnytime youāre giving up that many yards on the ground, itās going to be hard to have an effective day,ā Braun said. āWhen theyāre staying on schedule, standing in rhythm, they are a very dangerous operation.ā
Leonard made more nifty moves with the ball and thatās something that the Blue Devils continue to benefit from.
āHe makes a ton of plays,ā Elko said. āIt doesnāt surprise you, but itās certainly impressive.ā
Waters had the gameās first two touchdowns on runs of 24 and 2 yards. It was 17-0 after Todd Pelinoās 35-yard field goal less than 21 minutes into the game.
Northwestern scored on A.J. Henningās 14-yard pass from Bryant with :34 to play in the first half, pulling within 17-7.
Duke hadnāt allowed a second-half point this season until Northwesternās late touchdown.
STREAKY STUFF
Northwestern has lost 13 consecutive true road games. ... Leonard completed all 12 of his passes a week earlier against Lafayette, but his first toss of the Northwestern game was incomplete. His streak of completions was at 15 passes because he connected on his last three throws in the Labor Day upset of Clemson.
THIRD-DOWN MOMENTS
The only blotch on Dukeās outing came on third-down defense. The Wildcats converted on 10 of 18 chances.
Northwestern was 3-for-3 on third-down pickups in a drive of nearly 8Ā½ minutes late in the second quarter.
āWe have to be a little bit better on third down,ā Elko said. āI think thatās one of our biggest challenges right now.ā
THE TAKEAWAY
Northwestern: The Wildcats were in danger of failing to reach a double-digit point total for the second time this season until backup quarterback Brendan Sullivanās 10-yard run with 1:27 remaining. Itās not like penalties were a problem because Northwestern wasnāt hit with a flag until the fourth quarter.
Duke: The Blue Devils were versatile on offense, rolling up more than 200 yards on the ground and in the air. They also avoided any fourth-quarter drama and that has been a nice trend in the first few weeks of the season.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Duke should hold steady in the rankings after three home victories. The closest margin was 28-7 over Clemson in the opener.
UP NEXT
Northwestern: Home Saturday vs. Minnesota
Duke: Saturday at Connecticut
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More AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football .