In what has become known as the Bull City Gridiron Classic, but should probably be called the Placating Political Correctness Classic, the NC Central Eagles make one of the shortest road trips in history over to Duke’s Wallace Wade Stadium. The Devils are once again heavy favorites.
Saturday, August 31
NC Central (0-0, 0-0 MEAC)
at Duke (0-0, 0-0 ACC)
4 p.m.; ESPN3
Wallace Wade Stadium (33,941)
The Series: Duke leads 2-0 overall; Duke leads 2-0 at home
The Coaches:
Dwayne Foster – interim (1st year) at NC Central; 0-0 (1st year) overall
David Cutcliffe: 21-40 (6th year) at Duke; 65-69 (12th year) overall
Last week: Season opener for both teams
Of note: The Eagles travel a little over three miles to face the Blue Devils … Duke holds a 103-31 scoring advantage in the two-game series, which was first played in 2009 … Duke returns 16 starters from the 2012 team that earned a postseason bid to the Belk Bowl … The Blue Devils play four of their first five games at home … The 2013 schedule also sees Duke play four games against in-state opponents, facing ACC rivals NC State, Wake Forest and North Carolina in addition to the opener against NCCU … NCCU returns 40 lettermen from the 2012 team that posted the program’s first winning record (6-5) since 2007 and finished tied for third place in the MEAC.
Ones to watch: NC Central RB Andre Clarke averaged 5.1 yards per carry and scored nine touchdowns in eight games before suffering a season-ending injury in 2012 … Duke All-ACC CB Ross Cockrell is coming off a 2012 season in which he carded 71 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, a quarterback sack, five interceptions,13 pass break-ups and one caused fumble.
Last meeting: Duke 54, NC Central 17 (2012) – QB Sean Renfree passed for 274 yards and three touchdowns, and Lee Butler had the Blue Devils’ first punt return for a touchdown since 2001 to key the win over the visiting Eagles. CB Ross Cockrell intercepted two passes for the Blue Devils, returning the second for a 32-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. QB Jordan Reid passed for 218 yards and ran for a touchdown for N.C. Central.
Next week: St. Augustine’s at NC Central; Duke at Memphis.