DURHAM, N.C. — Darian Mensah threw three second-half touchdown passes in his Duke debut and the Blue Devils broke free from a halftime tie to defeat Elon 45-17 in Thursday night’s season opener.

Mensah, a transfer from Tulane, finished 27-for-34 for 389 yards, including 11-for-11 in the second half.

The Blue Devils posted the final 21 points after Elon closed within 24-17 in the opening minute of the fourth quarter.

Elon’s Landen Clark, a redshirt freshman in his first collegiate start, gained 61 yards on the ground with a touchdown. He also threw for 101 yards.

Mensah connected on three passes to Cooper Barkate covering 73 yards on the first possession of the second half before hitting Sahmir Hagans for a 15-yard touchdown play.

Barkate, a transfer from Harvard, picked up 117 yards o

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