Durham, N.C. – The Duke football team wrapped up its spring practice on Saturday morning with the much-anticipated Blue & White game at Brooks Field, located in Wallace Wade Stadium. The defense, known as the White Team, triumphed over the offense, referred to as the Blue Team, with a score of 26-17, thanks to three interceptions and a fumble recovery.
The game consisted of two 15-minute quarters, utilizing traditional scoring for the offense while implementing unique scoring methods for the defense — earning two points for a three-and-out and five points for a turnover. To allow more players to participate, the Blue Devils incorporated walk-through series without helmets during the event.
The defense struck first, registering a three-and-out on the Blue Team’s second possession to take an early 2-0 lead. In response, the Blue Team mounted a drive that culminated in a 15-yard touchdown pass from rising redshirt freshman quarterback Dan Mahan to rising redshirt freshman wide receiver Jaivon Solomon, who managed to tap his toe in the corner of the end zone. A successful extra point from rising redshirt sophomore kicker Cosme Salas put the Blue Team ahead, 7-2.
After another defensive three-and-out increased the score to 7-4 in favor of the Blue Team, the White Team reclaimed the lead with a spectacular interception along the sideline by transfer cornerback Dylan Flowers, making the score 9-7. The first quarter concluded with the Blue Team retaking the lead at 10-7 following a 27-yard field goal from Salas.
The defenses dominated the early minutes of the second quarter, scoring 17 unanswered points in just eight minutes. Rising redshirt freshman cornerback Kaleb Lanier sparked the defense’s scoring surge with an interception that pushed the score to 14-10. A subsequent three-and-out further extended the lead to 16-10.
Transfer linebacker Jon Morris recovered a fumble, and true freshman safety KD Cotton made a diving interception in the end zone, increasing the White Team’s advantage to 26-10.
In a two-minute drill to close the game, Mahan expertly led the Blue team down the field, completing 6 of 10 passes for 52 yards, capped off by a nine-yard touchdown pass to true freshman wide receiver Brody Keefe. An extra point from Ashton Zamani sealed the final score at 26-17.
With the spring practice concluded, Duke is set to start fall camp ahead of its season opener against Tulane on September 5, also to be held at Brooks Field in Wallace Wade Stadium.
