Nate Sheppard runs all over Tulane, leads Duke to opening win
Sophomore running back Nate Sheppard had career-highs in rushing yards and carries as the Blue Devils defeated the Tulane Green Wave 17-3.
Duke's football team secured an impressive opening victory against Tulane on Saturday evening, with a score of 17-3. The star player throughout the game was sophomore running back Nate Sheppard. He amassed an astonishing 35 carries for 227 yards, which set new career highs for both yardage and touchdowns. This marked a stark contrast to the start of last season, as Sheppard had been outplayed in his earlier games this year, accumulating fewer touches in the first half of the Tulane contest than he did against them on Saturday.
The Blue Devils' defense was equally dominant, conceding only three points, a fourth-quarter field goal. Bryce Davis was the defensive standout, recording two sacks, three tackles for loss, and four solo tackles. With their first win under their belt, Duke now stands at 1-0. They are set to face off against Illinois on the road on September 12 in a much-anticipated matchup.
The Illini themselves are also undefeated with a record of 1-0, having defeated UAB 42-23. For the latest coverage of Duke news, notes, and opinions, stay tuned to @DukeWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like their Facebook page.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
