Duke beat Wake Forest 24-21 with a last-second field goal on Thursday night, but the Blue Devils may have lost their top quarterback for the foreseeable future.
ESPN reported on Thursday evening that second-year starter Riley Leonard could miss “an extended period of time.” Leonard injured his left toe in last Saturday’s loss to Louisville. He was already on the mend from a high ankle sprain sustained against Notre Dame.
Leonard was shown on the sidelines Thursday during the ESPN broadcast in a boot.
True freshman Grayson Loftis started in Leonard’s absence, the third quarterback to take the reins for the Blue Devils this season. Loftis overcame a slow start to throw the game-tying touchdown pass in the fourth quarter — a 29-yard tight spiral to Jordan Moore. Todd Pelino kicked the game-winning field goal on the last play.
Loftis played at Gaffney High in South Carolina, leading the Indians to a 15-0 state championship season as a prep junior. Loftis finished his high school career with 6,965 passing yards and 55 touchdowns. Henry Belin IV had been the back-up quarterback to Leonard but he also is out with an injury.
