Jaylynn Nash-USA TODAY Sports

Football

Riley Leonard Runs for Two Touchdowns to Lead No. 21 Duke Over Northwestern 38-14

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — It all looked routine for No. 21 Duke on Saturday. Just the way the rising Blue Devils like it.

Riley Leonard ran for two touchdowns and threw for 219 yards to lead Duke to a 38-14 win over Northwestern.

“We started fast. We got a lead,” Duke coach Mike Elko said. “That’s what you want to do in a game like this.”

Jordan Waters also ran for two touchdowns and Jalon Calhoun caught five passes for 112 yards as the Blue Devils (3-0, 1-0 ACC) opened the season with three straight wins for the second year in a row.

Duke hasn’t been threatened in the strong start to Elko’s second season.

“If we keep playing how we are, I think we’re going to be fine,” cornerback Chandler Rivers said.

Leonard rushed for 97 yards and completed 15 of 20 passes in just over three quarters.

Northwestern quarterback Ben Bryant was 17-for-34 for 123 yards with a touchdown and an interception. The Wildcats (1-2, 0-1 Big Ten) had 267 yards of total offense, with 90 of those in the fourth quarter.

The Blue Devils put together 80- and 94-yard touchdown drives in the third quarter, both ending on Leonard’s short runs. Duke, which didn’t punt until the fourth quarter, had 268 rushing yards.

“Anytime you’re giving up that many yards on the ground, it’s going to be hard to have an effective day,” Braun said. “When they’re staying on schedule, standing in rhythm, they are a very dangerous operation.”

Leonard made more nifty moves with the ball and that’s something that the Blue Devils continue to benefit from.

“He makes a ton of plays,” Elko said. “It doesn’t surprise you, but it’s certainly impressive.”

Waters had the game’s first two touchdowns on runs of 24 and 2 yards. It was 17-0 after Todd Pelino’s 35-yard field goal less than 21 minutes into the game.

Northwestern scored on A.J. Henning’s 14-yard pass from Bryant with :34 to play in the first half, pulling within 17-7.

Duke hadn’t allowed a second-half point this season until Northwestern’s late touchdown.

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Duke: Saturday at Connecticut