DURHAM - Duke coach David Cutcliffe wanted Sean Renfree to be relaxed but excited, confident but not too confident.
And, more than anything, a winner in his first career start at quarterback.
Renfree more than did his part Saturday in the Blue Devils' season-opener against Elon, going 31-of-39 passing for 350 yards and two touchdowns in a 41-27 victory over the Phoenix.
A year ago, the Blue Devils stumbled out of the game with a troubling 24-16 opening loss to Richmond. The Devils were determined it wouldn't happen again and it didn't, but Elon made it interesting for a while -- and a little scary for blue-clad Duke fans in the sellout crowd at Wallace Wade Stadium.
When Elon quarterback Scott Riddle turned a simple sneak into an 11-yard scoring run, the Phoenix trailed 27-20 early in the fourth quarter. But Renfree and the Devils went to work on an 11-play, 67-yard drive that pushed the lead back to 14.
Renfree had key completions in the drive but the Devils also got some hard, effective running from freshman tailback Josh Snead. The former Smithfield-Selma High standout had five carries for 24 yards, bursting over the left side for a 3-yard score with 7:54 to play.
An interception by linebacker Abraham Kromah on Elon's next possession -- the Devils' second pick of the game -- put the finishing touch on the victory over the Phoenix, ranked seventh in the NCAA's FCS preseason poll. Jay Hollingsworth's short TD run finished it off as the Devils got rushing TD's from three tailbacks.
But this was Renfree's big night. A year ago, it was all about Thad Lewis at quarterback, but it's a new year, Lewis is gone and Duke has a new leader.
Renfree, who suffered a knee injury last season, was in a comfort zone much of the game, well-protected by his veteran offensive line. He completed 17 of 21 passes -- and had a couple dropped -- in the opening half for 217 yards and the two scores.
If Conner Vernon wasn't open, Donovan Varner often was. If Varner was covered, Vernon was running free in the Elon secondary and had nine catches for 125 yards by halftime.
Vernon closed with 10 catches for 129 yards while Varner had seven grabs for 123.
When the Phoenix took the opening kickoff and Riddle began firing passes, there may have been a few flashbacks of last year's Richmond debacle among the Duke faithful. Riddle, who has led the Southern Conference in passing the last three years, drove Elon to the Duke 15 and Adam Shreiner's 28-yard field goal pushed the Phoenix ahead 3-0.
But the Blue Devils began to blitz more effectively, making Riddle rush some of his throws and take a few hard licks. And Duke's offense geared up, putting together TD drives of 64, 82 and 57 yards for a 21-3 lead.
Duke's first touchdown of the season had to please Cutcliffe. Sophomore tailback Desmond Scott broke off a 34-yard run for the score, and that after a 16-yard burst.
Consider that Duke averaged a meager 2.2 yards a rush last season, when the Devils' longest run -- of the season -- was a 26-yarder. Scott, who had 59 of his rushing yards in the opening half, and Snead may help the Devils achieve better offensive balance.
Renfree had TD throws of 8 yards to Varner and 7 yards to tight end Brandon King in the first half, but he also showed off the ability to throw the long ball. Vernon, who was briefly shaken up late in the first half, hauled in a 47-yarder early in the second quarter.
The Phoenix, trailing 24-6, did put together a scoring drive late in the first half that angered Cutcliffe. Brandon Newsome's 5-yard run made it a 24-13 game, although the Devils quickly moved inside the Elon 10 and Will Snyderwine kicked a chip-shot field goal on the last play of the half.
The Devils got freshman quarterback Brandon Connette into the game in the third quarter, but didn't get a good result. Connette, on his second play, fumbled the snap on fourth-and-1 at the Elon 41.
The bobble appeared to give the Phoenix new life. Elon moved the ball well in the third quarter, but Shreiner was wide right on a field-goal try and Riddle forced a pass that was intercepted by safety Matt Daniels.
And Connette had the last laugh. He broke off a 48-yard run in the final seconds of the game.
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at 
