Woman Will Play For Duke

Kicker Heather Sue Mercer’s 28-yard field goal with 1 minute, 22 seconds left in Duke’s Blue-White scrimmage gave the Blue team a 24-22 win at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mercer assured herself of making history, too, as the first female to earn a spot on Duke’s football team.

“She is on the team,” Duke coach Fred Goldsmith said. “She’s worked hard, and has to continue to work hard.”

Mercer stole the show with the gamewinning field goal, which was set up by Kenan Holley’s 28-yard interception return to the White team’s 32. The Blue team moved the ball on the ground before being stopped, with fourth-and-1 from the 10. Mercer, who kicked the extra point after the first touchdown, trotted onto the field, awaited a snap and kicked an endover-end ball that cleared the middle of the uprights in slow-motion fashion.