Duke wears down pesky Elon 45-17 in season opener
DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) -- Duke came into the college football season with a lot of expectations, but had to work harder than expected against feisty Elon.
The Blue Devils entered Thursday night's home opener as a prohibitive favorite; if the Phoenix knew, they didn't care.
Duke ultimately prevailed, pulling away late to win 45-17 in a game that was much more competitive than the final score indicated.
Darian Mensah sparkled in his debut as Duke quarterback, completing 27 of 34 passes for 389 yards, including 11-for-11 in the second half.
He also tossed three touchdown passes.
The Blue Devils broke open a game that had a 10-10 halftime tie with a big fourth quarter, scoring three times in the final period.
The Blue Devils posted the final 21 points after Elon closed within 24-17 in the opening minute of the fourth quarter.
Elon's Landen Clark, a redshirt freshman in his first collegiate start, gained 61 yards on the ground with a touchdown. He also threw for 101 yards.
Mensah connected on three passes to Cooper Barkate, covering 73 yards on the first possession of the second half before hitting Sahmir Hagans for a 15-yard touchdown play.
Barkate, a transfer from Harvard, picked up 117 yards on five receptions. Hagans also caught a fourth-quarter touchdown pass.
The Blue Devils broke it open on Que'Sean Brown's 78-yard punt return for a 38-17 edge.
The Phoenix didn't reach the end zone in last year's 26-3 season-opening loss to the Blue Devils, avoiding that fate this time with Clark's 2-yard run with 3:43 left in the first half.
Mensah became the first Duke quarterback in the past 15 years to throw for more than 300 yards in his Blue Devils debut. On defense, the Blue Devils notched 10 tackles for losses.
The Associated Press contributed.
