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Barr

y Jacobs F

eature
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Lewis Leaves Duke as One of All-Time Best HIGH AND MIGHTY
Top ACC Career Passing Leaders
By Barry Jacobs more opportunity to increase his statistical impact.
What’s more, at the time Bennett played, his
Most Yardage Most TD Passes Most Pass Completions
An enjoyable season can end suddenly, seem-
totals were among the best ever in NCAA competition.
Philip Rivers, NCS 13,484 Rivers, NCS 95 Rivers, NCS 1,087
ingly in the blink of an eye, taking with it a last glimpse
By the end of his senior season the 6-2 Californian
Thad Lewis, D 10,065 Chris Weinke, FSU 79 Lewis, D 877
of the individuals and team personality that made
had broken national leader John Elway’s career
Weinke, FSU 9,839 Darian Durant, NC 68 Ben Bennett, D 820
the year special. So it was with Duke’s 2009 football
records in passing yardage, attempts and comple-
Charlie Whitehurst, C 9,665 Lewis, D 67 Whitehurst, C 817
squad, which finished a 5-7 effort against Wake
tions.
Bennett, D 9,614 Joe Hamilton, GT 65 Matt Ryan, BC 807
Forest on Thanksgiving weekend at Wallace Wade
“I’m not sure if this isn’t the happiest day of my
Stadium.
life seeing him be a senior,” Clemson coach Danny
DEVILISHLY DELIGHTFUL
“You want to leave with a win, but at the same
Ford said after Bennett threw for 367 yards and four
Top Career Passers in Duke History
time you know you’ve done some things here that al-
touchdowns against the Tigers. Talk about a short
low you to be proud,” senior quarterback Thad Lewis
memory -- Ford was only two years removed from
said after facing the Demon Deacons.
winning a national championship, presumably a hap-

Most Yardage Most TD Passes Most Pass Completions
T. Lewis, 2006-09 10,065 T. Lewis 67 Lewis 877
Lewis finished in grand style, as we’ve come to
pier event.
B. Bennett, 1980-83 9,614 Ben Bennett 55 Bennett 820
expect, passing for 387 yards and three touchdowns
But Bennett’s time was more than a quarter-
S. Fischer, 1992-95 9,021 Spence Fischer 48 Fischer 786
against Wake. Next year’s Duke media guide could
century ago, and no qualifying comment or compari-

S. Slayden, 1984-87 8,004 Steve Slayden 48 Slayden 699
well include a discrete section dedicated to chronicling
son diminishes the contemporary achievements of
Leo Hart, 1968-70 6,116 D. Brown, 1989-91 42 Hart 487
the quarterback’s achievements, just as recent edi-
the tough, methodical Lewis. Any way you look at it,
tions have reserved a spot for what the 2009 version
he was a pleasure to watch from 2006 through 2009
touted as “Ben Bennett – ACC Legend.”
as he made impressive marks in league and school

Good as he was, Bennett, a prolific and charis-
record books, often despite attracting the singular
DELIGHTFULLY DEVILISH
matic signalcaller from 1980 through 1983, has been
focus of opposing defenses.
Top Single-Season Passers in Duke History
eclipsed statistically by the player whom friends call
“It’s just something that just happened over the
simply “T-Lew.”
years, from a young pup going out there just sling-
Most Yardage Most Yards Per Game Most TD Passes

For instance, where Bennett was fourth in ACC
ing the rock around to your junior and senior year,
Dilwig, 1988 3,824 Dilwig, 1988 347.6 Dilwig, 1988 24
career passing yardage, throwing for 9,614 yards,
actually knowing what you’re doing out there,” Lewis
Lewis, 2009 3,330 Bennett, 1983 280.5 Lewis, 2007 21
Lewis now stands second with 10,065. And where
said of perhaps his most impressive accomplishment,
Bennett, 1983 3,086 Lewis, 2009 277.5 Lewis, 2009 20
Bennett set the Duke mark with 820 career pass
the second-highest career passing yardage in ACC
Bennett, 1982 3,033 Bennett, 1982 275.7 Bennett, 1982 20
completions, Lewis had 877.
history.

Slayden, 1987 2,924 Slayden, 1987 265.8 Slayden, 1987 20
Granted, comparisons such as these are inher-
This past season, Lewis threw for 3,330 yards.
Brown, 1991 2,794 Brown, 1991 254.0 Brown, 1991 20
ently inexact. Records that neglect the important ad-
That was tops in the league, ninth-best in ACC history
ditional context of per-game output are limited. Lewis
and second at Duke behind Anthony Dilwig’s 3,824
in 1988. He completed 274 of 449 passes, third-most
GoDuke Weekly
played in more games than Bennett and thus had
in both categories by a Blue Devil quarterback for a
The official online magazine of Duke Athletics
single season behind Dilwig and Bennett.
Lewis passed for at least 300 yards in seven Managing Editors Jon Jackson
games in 2009, second only to Dilwig’s nine in 1988. Matt Plizga
Lewis’ 459 yards passing in a victory at N.C. State Michael Tomko
was fourth-best by a Blue Devils quarterback. That Contributors Ben Blevins, Lindy Brown
scintillating performance tied him for second in school Art Chase, Chris Cook
history with a pair of 400-yard outings, behind three Meredith Rieder, John Roth
by Bennett. Colin Small, Ashley Wolf
The records “just came along with trying to Design Chris Cook
execute and be perfect out there on Saturday,” Brad Jones
Lewis said with typical modesty. So did consecutive, Matt Plizga
well-deserved honors as the second team All-ACC Lance Thomas
quarterback. Staff Writers A.J. Carr
Lewis’ 20 touchdown passes in 2009, fourth- Al Featherston
best in the ACC, were counterbalanced by only eight Barry Jacobs
interceptions. Among the league’s leading touchdown Jim Sumner
tossers, he had the best ratio of scoring throws to Michael Tomko
picks (2.5:1). Lewis threw for 35 TDs and only 14 INTs Digital Publishing YUDU
under the tutelage of David Cutcliffe and staff. During
his first two seasons, Lewis had 32 touchdowns and Letters to the editor and general feedback:
26 interceptions. letters@duaa.duke.edu
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