DURHAM, N.C. - Duke ended a 23-game losing streak, beating East Carolina 23-16 Saturday behind Alex Wade's 109 yards rushing and Brendan Dewan's 28-yard interception return for a touchdown. <br>
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Duke, which hadn't won since beating Wake Forest in November 1999, ended the nation's longest losing skid by jumping to a 20-point lead in the first half and holding off the Pirates in a steady rain at Wallace Wade Stadium. <br>
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With his team nursing a 20-16 lead early in the fourth quarter, Wade carried the ball nine straight times for 46 yards, leading to Brent Garber's 41-yard field goal with 2:57 to play. It was the first 100-yard game for Wade, a junior. <br>
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East Carolina had a chance to tie it, but Matt Zielinski sacked Paul Troth on fourth down with 1:15 to play, setting off a sideline celebration for the Blue Devils. <br>
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Fans jumped out of the stands and milled around the sideline with nine seconds left. Once time expired, many charged to the middle of the field to celebrate with the team, while others tore down both sets of uprights. <br>
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Duke coach Carl Franks didn't name a starter at quarterback until gametime, and rotated Adam Smith and Rutgers transfer Chris Dapolito under center. While neither posted stellar statistics, they both stayed away from costly mistakes. <br>
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Troth, making his first career start, looked uncomfortable early before leading the Pirates on two scoring drives in the second quarter and one in the third. <br>
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Dapolito gave the Pirates trouble with his running ability in the first half. He scrambled 29 yards on a fourth-down keeper, then finished the eight-play, 52-yard drive with a 4-yard scoring run for a 10-0 lead. <br>
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After a 56-yard field goal by Garber, Dewan picked off Troth and returned it for a score with 8:44 remaining in the first half for a 20-0 lead. <br>
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Troth settled down, leading East Carolina on a 13-play, 65-yard drive that ended with a 2-yard touchdown run by Art Brown. The Pirates scored again just before halftime, getting a 31-yard field goal by Kevin Miller to close to 20-10 at the break. <br>
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Duke did its part to help the Pirates climb back into the game, with a pair of third-down penalties. On the first scoring drive, Temo George was called for a facemask while tackling Brown, giving the Pirates a first-and-goal at the 10. <br>
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The Blue Devils were also whistled for illegal participation with five seconds remaining in the half, setting up Miller's kick.
