Three takeaways from Duke football’s 17-10 Birmingham Bowl win over the Troy Trojans

Through all the craziness of the last three weeks, with a coaching change, players transferring and injuries, the Duke Blue Devils stuck to their business and finished off a memorable season with a win.

With interim head coach Trooper Taylor leading them, the Blue Devils never trailed while posting a 17-10 Birmingham Bowl win over Troy at Protective Stadium.

Selected to the Birmingham Bowl after head coach Mike Elko left to become head coach at Texas A&M, Duke (8-5) controlled the line of scrimmage to end Troy’s 10-game winning streak.

The Trojans (11-3) were looking to post the Sun Belt Conference’s first win over a Power 5 conference team in bowl play. Despite benefitting from two Duke turnovers while not turning the ball over themselves, the Trojans saw their potent running game stifled as the Blue Devils won the program’s fifth consecutive bowl game.

Jaquez Moore, a junior running back who entered the transfer portal before withdrawing to remain at Duke after new head coach Manny Diaz was hired, led the Blue Devils in rushing with 73 yards on 14 carries.

Jordan Waters, who already committed to transfer to N.C. State next season, gained 66 yards on 11 carries for the Blue Devils.

Here are three takeaways from Duke’s win:

Third downs play big role

Duke built its 14-0 halftime lead with solid play in crucial third-down situations on both sides of the ball and that continued as the Blue Devils put the win away.

Troy failed on its first six third downs of the game and only converted one of its first nine.

The Trojans finished 2 of 12 on third downs while also going 0 for 3 on fourth downs.

The Blue Devils defense kept making key plays. Duke finished with 10 pass breakups while also collecting five tackles for losses.

Defensive back Chandler Rivers led Duke in both categories as he had three pass breakups and two tackles for losses.

Conversely, Duke converted five of its first eight third-downs on offense over the first half. The Blue Devils failed on all four of their second-half conversions, allowing the Trojans to climb back into the game.

Controlling Vidal

Troy junior running back Kimani Vidal amassed 1,582 rushing yards this season, the second-most yards among Division I players entering the bowl games. He averaged 5.7 yards per carry and rushed for 14 touchdowns.

Duke’s defense, though, limited his explosiveness to stifle the Trojans offense.

Vidal finished with 79 yards on 17 carries, averaging 4.6 yards per carry. His longest run went for 12 yards.

Big day for Pelino

For the second bowl game in a row, Todd Pelino tied a Duke record by booting three field goals.

He had three in last season’s 30-13 win over UCF in the Military Bowl to tie the record Ross Martin previously set.

Pelino booted three more field goals against Troy as the Blue Devils only scored one touchdown (with a two-point conversion) while scoring 17 points.

Here are earlier updates from the game:

Troy turns Duke turnover into TD

The Troy Trojans scored their first touchdown of the Birmingham Bowl on Derrick Graham’s 2-yard run to cut Duke’s lead to 17-10 with 5:54 to play in the game.

The Trojans moved 87 yards to score after Duke missed an opportunity to create more distance on the scoreboard. Blue Devils quarterback Grayson Loftis saw his overthrown pass toward Sahmir Hagans intercepted by Troy’s Damaje Yancey at the Trojans 13.

Troy took advantage to get back in the game behind strong passing from Gunnar Watson. His biggest pass was a 30-yard pass to Payton Higgins that, combined with a roughing the passer penalty on Duke’s Aeneas Peebles, moved the Trojans to the Duke 8.

Pelino’s third FG extends Duke lead

Todd Pelino kicked his third field goal of the game, this one from 45 yards, giving Duke a 17-3 lead over Troy with 13:29 to play in the fourth quarter.

Pelino tied a Duke school record he shares with Ross Martin for most field goals in a bowl game.

Troy gets on the scoreboard

The Trojans ended Duke’s shutout bid when Scott Taylor Renfroe booted a 44-yard field goal with 1:36 left in the third quarter, cutting the Blue Devils’ lead to 14-3.

Halftime update

Duke’s solid play, particularly on third downs, on both sides of the ball helped the Blue Devils lead Troy, 14-0, at halftime of the Birmingham Bowl.

The Blue Devils’ offense is 5 of 8 on third downs, helping them possess the ball for 18:17 of the first half. Troy, meanwhile, failed to gain a first down on all six of its third downs. The Trojans also failed on a fourth-down attempt.

Duke quarterback Grayson Loftis completed 13 of 21 first-half passes for 128 yards. Sahmir Hagans and Jordan Moore each caught four passes.

Jaquez Moore led Duke in rushing with 52 yards on nine carries as the Blue Devils gained 208 yards of total offense over the first two quarters.

Troy gained just five first downs while rushing for 15 yards on 10 carries.

Pelino FG puts Duke up 14-0 at halftime

Todd Pelino’s second field goal, this one from 37 yards, extended Duke’s lead to 14-0 over Troy at halftime.

The Blue Devils dominated the second quarter, holding the ball for all but 27 seconds of the final 12:14 of the half. Duke’s final drive before halftime covered 64 yards and used 6:24 of game time. The Blue Devils converted four third-downs plays on the drive, three on Grayson Loftis passes and a fourth on a Jaylen Coleman run.

Pelino adds to Duke’s lead

Todd Pelino booted a 34-yard field goal with 6:51 left in the first half giving Duke an 11-0 lead over Troy.

On a drive that started at the Duke 33, the Blue Devils converted a pair of third downs to move into Troy territory. The first conversion came on a third-and-13 play when Troy’s Reddy Steward was called for pass interference while guarding Duke wide receiver Jordan Moore.

From the Duke 47, Grayson Loftis completed a 12-yard pass to freshman Sean Brown on a third-and-8 play. It was Brown’s first career catch.

Loftis followed that with a 23-yard pass to Sahmir Hagans moving Duke to the Troy 18.

Duke scores first

Jaylen Coleman’s 1-yard touchdown run with 2:29 to play in the first quarter gave Duke a 8-0 lead over Troy.

The score punctuated a 64-yard drive where running back Jaquez Moore carried three times for 29 yards. Duke quarterback Grayson Loftis set up the touchdown with a 26-yard pass to Jalon Calhoun on second-and-10 from the Troy 27.

Duke added the two-point conversion on a Nicky Dalmolin run.

Pregame update

Duke knew it would be playing the Birmingham Bowl game without quarterback Riley Leonard and defensive end RJ Oben, who are transferring to Notre Dame. Leonard is still recovering from the turf toe injury that required surgery to his left foot. Oben opted out of the game.

Linebacker Dorian Mausi, who is also in the transfer portal, will not play against Troy.

The Blue Devils will have running back Jordan Waters, who will transfer to play at N.C. State next season, against Troy.

Three starters -- defensive back Brandon Johnson (upper body), left tackle Graham Barton (upper body) and right tackle Jake Hornibrook (upper body) -- will miss the game due to their injuries.

With Barton and Hornibrook out, redshirt freshman Brian Parker will start at left tackle with redshirt freshman Matt Craycraft starting at right tackle.

Cam Bergeron will start in place of Johnson at nickelback.

Duke’s starters at defensive end will be redshirt freshman Wesley Williams and graduate student Anthony Nelson.