DURHAM, N.C. —Tyrell Sutton ran for two touchdowns and Northwestern’s defense made two critical fourth-down stops down the stretch, leading the Wildcats to a 24-20 victory over Duke on Saturday night.

Omar Conteh scored the go-ahead score for Northwestern (2-0), which was outplayed most of the game. The Blue Devils (1-1) had a 472-328 advantage in total offense and nearly doubled up the Wildcats in time of possession, but a few key mistakes kept them from winning their first two games for first-year coach David Cutcliffe.

The final one came on fourth-and-5 from Northwestern’s 24 with about 90 seconds remaining. Thaddeus Lewis scrambled around the pocket before finding Clifford Harris open for what appeared to be the winning touchdown. But tackle Cameron Goldberg was called for holding to bring it back, and Lewis’ desperation pass intended for Johnny Williams fell incomplete on the next play.

The Wildcats ran out the clock from there.