Duke clamps down on Syracuse, pulls away 38-3

Darian Mensah, Cooper Barkate and Nate Sheppard all accounted for two touchdowns as Duke rolled over host Syracuse 38-3 on Saturday.

Mensah was 22-of-28 passing for 268 yards with both of his TDs to Barkate, who finished with 72 yards on four receptions. Sheppard rushed for 168 yards on 15 carries as Duke (3-2, 2-0 ACC) racked up 503 yards of offense.

With Syracuse starting quarterback Steve Angeli out for the season with an Achilles injury, Rickie Collins was 24 of 37 for 229 yards with an interception in his first collegiate start. Johntay Cook II had eight catches for 84 yards to pace the Orange (3-2, 1-1), although he also lost a pair of fumbles.

An early interception by Collins set up Duke on a drive that ended with Todd Pelino's 22-yard field goal. Syracuse answered with three points on its next drive, as Tripp Woody made a 29-yard field goal.

Four plays after the Syracuse field goal, Duke found the end zone as Sheppard burst through the Orange defense for a 49-yard touchdown run.

Early in the second quarter, Cook fumbled in Duke territory and the Blue Devils quickly capitalized on Mensah's 34-yard TD hookup to Barkate for a 17-3 lead.

With 1:55 remaining in the first half, Mensah and Barkate connected for another touchdown -- this time a 12-yard score to make it 24-3.

The Blue Devils averaged 8.9 yards per play in the first half.

Cook fumbled again early in the third quarter, but Duke was unable to capitalize. On their next possession, the Blue Devils found the end zone on Sheppard's 12-yard TD scamper, making it 31-3.

Anderson Castle's 13-yard TD run early in the fourth quarter capped the scoring.

Syracuse drove to the 2-yard line in the waning seconds of the contest, but Duke stopped Collins' pass attempt on fourth-and-goal.

--Field Level Media