Local News Sports

What to Know About the ‘Bull City Gridiron Classic’

@SpectacularMag

The annual Bull City Gridiron Classic has finally arrived

Every year, the Bull City Gridiron Classic is always a game to look forward to. Located fifteen minutes from each other, these neighboring schools have always strived to succeed on and off the field. Collectively, these universities represent the heart of the Durham community. This week, Duke University is also set to host their homecoming and alumni appreciation day. This will encourage fans, athletic boosters, alumni, and students from both schools to make their way to Wallace Wade Stadium. Many other native Durham residents, are also excited for this game, making it bound to be a sellout.

 

Because of both teams recent wins, there is a lot attention drawn towards this game.

Duke has begun their season to 3-0 start. Due to this, they are now being considered for the Associated Press Coaches Top 25 Poll. This will give Duke a spot in the top 25 rankings as they enter week 5. NC Central, on the other hand, most recently secured a victory against St. Augustine University (51-14). Driven by a high powered offense and tenacious defense, the Eagles were able to come out on top.

 

This year, Duke will rely heavily on their redshirt freshman quarterback Quentin Harris, who was able to step in for Daniel Jones who was injured during the season opener against Army. Duke also possesses a strong defensive unit. Most recently, Duke’s defense has forced six turnovers in the first three games, which is ranked first in the ACC. Duke is also making use out of all of their team, as they have twelve reserves scheduled to start this week. These players were also able to start last week due to the following players being listed with injuries:

 

Daniel Jones (Fractured left clavicle)

 

Mark Gilbert (Left hip)

 

Jeremy McDuffie (ACL)

 

Aaron Young (Hamstring)

 

Zach Harmon (Leg)

 

Terrell Lucas (Ankle)

 

Michael Carter II (Knee sprain)

 

Josh Blackwell (Leg)

 

Rakavius Chambers (Ankle)

 

Edgar Cerenord (Leg)

 

Christian Harris (Ankle)

 

Josh Blackwell (Leg)

 

On the other hand, NC Central seems to have found their groove since last week. Under their new interim coach Granville Eastman, they plan to rely on the strength of their defense to gain another victory. Coach Eastman has also expressed to his team the value of upholding their competitive advantage in order to dominate against schools within their conference.

 

This should be a great game. The Bull City Gridiron Classic has always been a great game for the fans. The weather shouldn’t stop play this week, as it is a clear forecast set ahead of us. The start time for this game is 3:30EST.