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Duke Riley – November 28, 2021 (Postgame)

Sunday, November 28, 2021
Postgame – Carolina

LB Duke Riley

Q. On those two plays, the big play on third down and then blocking the punt back to back. What was that like for you?
DUKE RILEY: It felt amazing. It felt good to bring the energy and set the tone. You know, we wanted to set it early, and fortunately, it was me setting it. I play hard every play regardless of if it’s a special teams play or a defensive snap. Just doing my best job regardless and doing whatever the coach wants me to do.

Q. What’s been the difference for this defense the last few weeks?
DUKE RILEY: We’re just coming together. I said it before. It didn’t look too good for us in the beginning. Everybody was saying we were everywhere, but we deserve it, man. We worked so hard, and we work together. I said in another interview I want to say that this team is closer than any team I’ve been on. We are always doing stuff together off the field, and I think that’s what’s most important, and we just have fun every day. We work, and we hold each other accountable every play every day. If somebody is not doing their job, somebody is telling them. That’s something that we do well here. I’m just happy for us. We deserve it.

Q. Forgive me – was that your first blocked punt?
DUKE RILEY: That’s my first blocked punt, yeah.

Q. How did that feel?
DUKE RILEY: It felt amazing. I’ve always wanted to block a punt, but usually you get picked up, and unfortunately, they had a miscount, I want to say. I don’t know what happened, but I was the guy who came free, and you work the block drill all day. You never know when it’s going to happen, and it happened, so I was just happy that it happened during that moment. I didn’t even know we scored. I was celebrating. I turned around, and I’m, like, oh, we have to go kick off now? (laughter) What happened? It was just fun, man. It was amazing. I’m just thankful.

Q. You got pretty hyped on that celebration. What was the celebration you were doing?
DUKE RILEY: I don’t know. (laughter) I was just screaming at the top of my lungs. I’m him! I don’t know. I was just happy. A lot of emotion. I’m an emotional player and I love the game so much, and I’m just thankful that the cards are rolling my way right now.

Q. Did you see the play open up to where you knew you were going to have a great chance of getting that ball?
DUKE RILEY: Honestly, every play and every time I rush my goal and my job is to go – I’m thinking I’m going to block the punt. It doesn’t always happen, and when it does, you just have to make the play. During that moment, you just got to make it happen, and I did. I didn’t expect to, but I didn’t think – I’m always thinking I am. I just didn’t think it was going to happen right then, but me always being ready to do it, it happened, you know, so it was just the moment.

Q. Did you get it clean off your hands or was it a forearm type of deal?
DUKE RILEY: I seen a picture, and you don’t even know. I think his leg might have kicked me. I don’t even know. (laughter) I think I hit the ball with my hands, and I mean it just happened like that. Literally, it just – it was a great play. We needed it. We needed the energy. We needed the spark, and I’m just glad that it was me.

Q. Did you guys do anything different in your alignment for that play?
DUKE RILEY: No, we did what we usually do. We pretty much do the same stuff all the time, and it was just I think they may have had a miscount, and I think that’s what caused it. It could happen to us, so you know what I mean? It could happen to any team if you miscount. I think that’s the only thing that happened. Other than that, we’re just doing what we do every week.

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