It was a big weekend for awards for Duke athletics.
After picking up their seventh win of the season, the football team brought home three ACC Player of the Week honors.
First was the obvious choice of DeVon Edwards, the safety who scored three touchdowns, two on interceptions within a 16 second span. He was named the ACC Rookie of the Week. He was also named the Walter Camp Defensive Player of the Week, to go along with the Hornung Award Honor Roll, CFPA National Defensive Performer, and Defensive Back of the Week.
In just his second career start, Edwards became the first FBS player in the last ten seasons to score three non-offensive touchdowns in the same game.
Defensive end Kenny Anunike was named the ACC Lineman of the Week. He had a career-high 11 tackles on Saturday against NC State. His tackle for a loss came on a first and goal opportunity for the Wolfpack on Duke’s five yard line. It was his 11th tackle for a loss this season, which ranks him seventh in the ACC.
Kelby Brown earned his second player of the week honors this season when he was named the ACC’s Co-Linebacker of the Week. Against NC State, he had ten tackles, two for a loss. He sacked the quarterback and forced a fumble. The sack came on a third and goal opportunity, forcing the Wolfpack into a field goal.
These three and the rest of the football team will be back in action this Saturday for their final home game of the season. They play number 23 Miami, who has lost two straight and boasts an identical 3-2 ACC record. The two teams are battling for the Coastal Division crown and a spot in the ACC Championship game.
Freshman Jabari Parker was named the ACC Rookie of the Week in men’s basketball (unanimous pick). In his first ever collegiate game, Parker did not disappoint the Cameron Crazies. He scored 22 points (tied for the team high) on 8-of-10 shooting. The 22 points were the second most by a freshmen in their collegiate opener under Coach K.
He went 3-for-3 from the three point line. His first ever collegiate shot was good, as were his next four.
Parker started the game against Davidson and hauled in six rebounds, dished out two assists, and had a block.
Parker and the rest of his teammates play in Chicago tonight against number five Kansas in the Champions Classic. It will be a homecoming for the Chicago native that will be televised at 10pm ET on ESPN. They spent last night at the Bulls game.
Senior guard Chelsea Gray was named the ACC Player of the Week in women’s basketball in her homecoming against number nine Cal. She scored a game-high 22 points on 7-of-12 shooting. She dished out five assists, hauled in four rebounds, and had two steals in the huge win on the road in the season opener. Her five assists moved her into a tie for eighth all-time at Duke.
It was Gray‘s first game since sustaining the season-ending knee injury last February (she said following the game that it is a little sore). It was Duke’s first win over a top ten team on the road in a season opener.
Gray and her teammates are back on the court for their home opener on Thursday night against USC Upstate.
The women’s soccer team had four players named to the All-ACC team.
Christina Gibbons and Toni Payne were named to the All-Freshmen Team. Gibbons has started all 20 games and played a team-high 1,836 minutes. She has recorded two assists. Payne started 17 of the 20 matches and has scored three goals and collected five assists.
Natasha Anasi made the second team. She received All-ACC honors for the third straight year. She helped guide the Duke defense to 38 career shutouts. This year, she even scored a goal and had an assist.
Kim DeCesare was named to the third team. It was her second straight honor. Since moving to the forward spot last season, she has scored 20 goals and had ten assists.
The women’s soccer team found out on Monday that they will be playing in the NCAA Tournament. The Blue Devils will travel to Colorado College for a 1pm ET game on Saturday. It will be their 20th Tournament appearance and 11th in a row. With a win, Duke would play the winner of second seed Florida-Jacksonville in the second round.
Colorado College is 15-4-2 on the season and 9-0 at home. They received an automatic bid to the tourney, as they won the Conference USA Championship. They are led by Jessie Ayers, who has scored 13 goals. Their goalie, Kate Scheele, has 11 shutouts and a miniscule 0.77 goals against average.
Virginia Tech is the number one seed in Duke’s bracket, as the ACC received eight bids including all four number one seeds (Virginia, North Carolina, and Florida State are the other three).