Duke crushes Middle Tennessee to go unbeaten in non-conference play

Maalik Murphy threw for 216 yards and three touchdowns on a rainy Saturday evening in Murfreesboro, Tenn., as the Duke Blue Devils notched a 45-17 victory over Middle Tennessee State.

Murphy completed 14-of-21 passes as the Blue Devils (4-0) finished non-conference play with an unblemished record. Star Thomas paced Duke's rushing attack with 111 yards and two touchdowns. Nicky Dalmolin proved to be Murphy's favorite target on the day, hauling in four catches for 100 yards and two touchdowns.

Jaiden Credle led the Blue Raiders' offense with 125 rushing yards and a touchdown, while quarterback Nicholas Vattiato completed 21-of-33 passes for 127 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

MTSU (1-3) scored first when Credle took a handoff on a third-and-1 play and busted through Duke's defense for a 66-yard touchdown.

The Blue Devils proceeded to outscore the Blue Raiders 35-3 for the rest of the first half, capitalizing on three turnovers. After Murphy found Dalmolin for a quick 71-yard catch-and-run touchdown, Duke got the ball back when defensive tackle Kendy Charles recovered a fumble. Peyton Jones capped a short four-play drive for Duke with a 1-yard touchdown run.

With 3:47 left in the first quarter, Duke linebacker Alex Howard recovered a fumble that the offense then flipped into a 1-yard touchdown dive from Thomas. Middle Tennessee fumbled again on its next possession, and Duke safety DaShawn Stone recovered the ball. On the ensuing drive, Murphy again found Dalmolin for a score.

In the fourth quarter, Duke turned another turnover into points. Stone intercepted one of Vattiato's errant passes, and three plays later, Thomas scored again.

The Blue Devils picked up 16 first downs and piled up 340 yards of total offense.

The game was delayed due to inclement weather in the third quarter that lasted nearly two hours.

Next Saturday, Duke opens Atlantic Coast Conference play by hosting rival North Carolina.

--Field Level Media