Holmberg aims to keep Duke moving against Northwestern

Updated Sep. 16, 2021 10:45 a.m. ET

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DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — No one was sure exactly how Gunnar Holmberg would handle his first year as Duke’s starting quarterback. He's offering some early positive signs entering Saturday’s visit from Northwestern.

The graduate student and captain is completing 71% of his passes for the Blue Devils (1-1), keeping the offense moving through running back Mataeo Durant while helping Duke avoid last year’s turnover-marred play.

“They see Gunnar’s commitment level,” Duke coach David Cutcliffe said. “It’s always been there. I think it’s more he leads through how other people respect and see his work ethic, which probably still is the greatest form of leadership there is.”

Duke was

He’s made one major mistake: a fumble on a hit as he ran toward the goal line

“I think when you go out there and it shows what you do from the practice field to the game field, you have a chance of having great ball security,” Holmberg said. “We’ve been good with that.”

Northwestern (1-1) has recovered a fumble in each of its first two games,

“They usually come in bunches – turnovers, that is,” Northwestern coach Pat Fizgerald said last weekend. “That’s kind of our goal each game, is to have three turnovers. So not to be at that point right now is something that we’ve definitely got to improve on.”

Some other things to know about Saturday’s Northwestern-Duke game:

SERIES HISTORY

Duke won the last two meetings in 2017 and 2018, with the first being a 41-17 win on its home field. Before that, Northwestern had won seven of eight meetings dating to 2000.

KEY MATCHUP

The Wildcats must slow Durant, who ran for a Duke-record 255 yards and three touchdowns against Charlotte. He followed with 41 yards and three more TDs touchdowns against North Carolina A&T.

The senior leads the Atlantic Coast Conference in rushing and the FBS ranks with those six TDs.

Northwestern held Indiana State to 31 yards rushing after giving up 326 in a season-opening loss to Michigan State.

RECORD RETURNS

Joseph showed last week he can be a dangerous punt returner in addition to top defender.

Joseph ran back the first two of his career for 111 yards, helping the Wildcats set a school record with 166 in all. He became the first Northwestern player with more than 100 in a game since Venric Mark set a school record with 134 against Syracuse in 2012.

Raymond Niro III also had a good outing against Indiana State, returning two for 55 yards. Fitzgerald wouldn’t say who would be the primary punt returner against Duke.

SOLID RUN

Evan Hull is off to a decent start as Northwestern’s No. 1 running back.

Thrust into the role after Cam Porter suffered a season-ending lower-body injury in camp, the sophomore ranks fifth in the Big Ten in yards per game (106.5) while averaging 6.9 per carry. Hull ran 22 times for 126 yards and two touchdowns against Indiana State after going for 87 on just nine attempts against Michigan State.

“Since Day 1 since he’s gotten here, he’s just worked and worked and worked,” quarterback Hunter Johnson said. “I’m really happy for him. He’s been able to show that on the field. He’s an energy guy on the team. He comes in everyday working and ready to go.”

NONCONFERENCE PLAY

Duke is playing the third of four straight nonconference games to start the year, with Kansas from the Big 12 visiting next weekend. Northwestern is playing its second of three straight nonconference games.

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AP Sports Writer Andy Seligman in Chicago contributed to this report.

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Follow Aaron Beard on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/aaronbeardap

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