Duke Football Garrett Lynch reporter Spectacular Magazine
Sports

Mataeo Durant Continues Impressive Season Despite Falling to Pitt 54-29

Garrett Lynch

DURHAM NC – Despite hanging in during the first half, the Duke Blue Devils fell to Pitt 54-29 on Saturday, but running back Mataeo Durant continued his dominant 2021 season. He rushed for 89 yards on 25 carries and also caught four passes for 39 yards and a touchdown through the air. The star back came into the contest with 973 rushing yards on the campaign, needing just 27 yards to hit 1,000-yards. That landmark was hit midway through the first quarter.

The accomplishment makes Durant the first Duke running back to hit 1,000 yards since Chris Douglas, who did it back in 2003. With his production in the run game today, Durant has totaled 1,062 rushing yards on the season, needing just 174 yards to break the Duke rushing yard record in a season held by Steve Jones, who has held the record since 1972.

With three games remaining in the regular season, Durant seems very promising to break the record when the Blue Devils 2021 campaign concludes.

With the emphasis on slowing down the passing attack and making plays on defense, the Blue Devils did just that in the first half forcing a safety in the first quarter and making Pitt senior quarterback Kenny Pickett work for every yard.

Graduate student quarterback Gunnar Holmberg opened up the scoring for the Devils when he connected with junior wide receiver Jalon Calhoun on a 32-yard scoring strike. The Blue Devils also made plays on special teams when sophomore kick returner Jaylen Stinson took a kickoff 86 yards for a touchdown, using one cut and a burst of speed to get into the end zone.

In the 2nd half, however, Pickett and the panthers passing attack was too much for the Blue Devils defense to handle. Pickett threw for 416 yards and three touchdowns while also totaling 57 yards on eight carries and a touchdown on the ground.

The Blue Devils look to clean up issues on both sides of the ball to get out of their five-game slump and redeem themselves when they travel to Blacksburg to take on ACC foe Virginia Tech next Saturday at 3:30 PM.