Duke football’s kicking game falters in stunning overtime home loss to No. 22 SMU

No. 22 SMU’s mistakes allowed Duke to use more fourth-quarter magic to reach overtime in an ACC football game Saturday night at Wallace Wade Stadium.

The Blue Devils’ blunders in the kicking game, though, allowed the Mustangs to escape with an important ACC win.

With kicker Todd Pelino having missed two field goals and an extra point, Duke tried a two-point conversion in overtime that failed, and the Mustangs won, 28-27.

Brashard Smith ran 24 yards for an SMU (7-1, 4-0 ACC) touchdown in overtime, and a successful point-after kick put the Mustangs up, 28-21.

Duke’s Maalik Murphy then fired a 25-yard touchdown pass to Eli Pancol on the Blue Devils’ first overtime play. Duke coach Manny Diaz opted for a two-point try to decide the game, and Murphy’s pass into the end zone as he rolled right fell incomplete with Pancol covered.

SMU stayed perfect in ACC play despite turning the ball over six times — including two fourth-quarter interceptions and a fumble.

But Duke (6-2, 2-2 ACC) was unable to win the game in regulation as it failed to convert any of those fourth-quarter turnovers into points. Pelino missed two field goals, including a 30-yarder at the buzzer that SMU’s Jahfari Harvey blocked after jumping over Duke lineman Caleb Krings. Pelino also missed a 42-yard attempt, in addition to a third-quarter extra point.

Having already rallied for late wins over Northwestern, Connecticut and North Carolina this season, Duke found a way to get to overtime as it erased a 21-7, second-half deficit, only to fall short in overtime.

Here are three takeaways from the thrilling game:

SMU offense dinged Duke

Duke had only allowed two teams to gain 400 yards of total offense this season before SMU managed the feat in just three quarters Saturday night.

The Mustangs had 422 yards entering the fourth quarter, more than the 407 yards Duke gave up to North Carolina and the 412 yards Georgia Tech gained against the Blue Devils.

SMU finished with 469 yards of total offense, with only 22 in the fourth quarter thanks to its three turnovers.

The Mustangs hurt Duke with two big plays in the passing game, as Kevin Jennings connected with Rod Daniels on passes gaining 72 and 81 yards. The latter went for a third-quarter touchdown that put SMU up 21-7.

Smith’s 24-yard touchdown run in overtime proved too much to overcome.

SMU reached Duke territory on six of its 12 drives and, mostly in the first half, was able to convert third-down situations more than anyone else has against Duke. The Blue Devils entered the night leading the ACC in third-down defense, allowing first downs just 27.4% of the time.

SMU was 5 of 7 in the first half. But the Mustangs fumbled five times before halftime, losing two, and also threw an interception and only led 14-7 at intermission. One of SMU’s turnovers came on a Jennings fumble at the Duke 4 on SMU’s first possession of the game.

Duke tightened up in the second half as the Mustangs were 1 of 5 on third downs to finish 6 of 12 for the game.

Duke also stood tall in a third-quarter goal-line stand, stopping the Mustangs on four running plays from the 1.

Pancol stands tall for Blue Devils

With senior wide receiver Jordan Moore out of the starting lineup and only available for limited snaps due to a lingering upper-body injury, Duke needed to find another reliable target for Murphy.

Enter Pancol.

Murphy threw the ball Pancol’s way a team-high 14 times and the senior wide receiver caught 11 of them to gain 138 yards. He also leaped high to catch a two-point conversion pass with 9:02 to play that tied the score at 21-all before his overtime touchdown catch.

Moore entered the game leading Duke in receptions (31) and receiving yards (453).

Pancol, with five, had more touchdown catches than any other Duke player this season.

Murphy threw only six passes toward Moore against SMU, with Moore catching three for 28 yards, including a 12-yard touchdown reception.

But it was Pancol who was on the field more and delivered in a big way for the Blue Devils.

SMU’s ACC-best rushing defense bent

SMU entered the game with the stingiest rushing defense in the ACC, allowing 87 yards per game and 2.6 yards per carry.

That held up in the first half when Duke gained only 23 rushing yards on eight attempts.

But as so often has been the case this season, the Blue Devils wore down an opponent and moved the ball better in the second half.

Duke finished the game with 98 rushing yards, far from a great total. But 75 of them came in the second half on 21 carries for a healthier 3.6 yards per attempt on the ground.