Football
DURHAM – Sophomore quarterback Riley Leonard and graduate student defensive back Darius Joiner both earned ACC Player of the Week honors following Duke’s 34-31 victory over Wake Forest.
Leonard was selected the ACC’s Quarterback of the Week, while Joiner garnered Co-Defensive Back of the Week nods.
Leonard, a Fairhope, Ala., native completed 29-of-41 passes for 391 yards and four touchdowns spanning 30-, 46-, 30- and 20-yards. He tallied the game-winning strike to redshirt freshman Sahmir Hagans with 2:04 remaining in the fourth quarter. His mark of completions, passing yards and touchdowns were all career-best marks.
Leonard’s four touchdown passes of 20-plus yards tied the Duke single-game record, first set by Quentin Harris against North Carolina A&T in 2019. The 6-4 signal caller helped Duke register 34 points and 507 yards of total offense against a Wake Forest defense that entered the week allowing just 28.82 points and 401.82 yards, respectively.
Joiner logged six tackles, one interception and one quarterback pressure in the Blue Devils’ victory. With Duke leading late in the fourth quarter, Joiner intercepted quarterback Sam Hartman on what would be Wake Forest’s final possession as the Blue Devils ran out the clock on the ensuing drive to secure the win.
The ACC’s other weekly honors included Florida State’s Trey Benson (running back) and Maurice Smith (offensive line), Pittsburgh’s Jared Wayne (wide receiver), Dayon Hayes (defensive line), Erick Hallett II (co-defensive back) and Javon McIntyre (rookie), Clemson’s Jeremiah Trotter Jr. (linebacker) and N.C. State’s Christopher Dunn…
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