The last time Duke went to a bowl game, Blue Devils quarterback Thaddeus Lewis was a first-grader in Miami. UM quarterback Jacory Harris was about to enter kindergarten.

The two soon became friends at the Northwest Boys & Girls Club, where Harris and Lewis competed in Optimist football.

``He was someone I always looked up to, one of the best kids in the park,'' said Harris, who still listens to the senior's advice.

Harris said, however, that Saturday is about the UM seniors, not Duke's.

UM's sophomore quarterback wants teammates such as Javarris James and Jason Fox, Randy Phillips and Dedrick Epps, Tervaris Johnson and Chavez Grant to savor their final home game of long, and sometimes painful careers.

Even seniors such as defensive end Eric Moncur, sidelined for five games in 2009 with various injuries after being granted a sixth-year of eligibility, would like their final memories at Land Shark Stadium to be sweet.

``I don't think about it being sad and me leaving,'' Phillips said. ``When I run out of the smoke it will be just like running through another door. I'll play my last home game and leave a great memory for everyone in the stadium.''

According to the No. 21 Canes (7-3, 4-3 Atlantic Coast Conference), the Blue Devils' dream of qualifying for their first bowl game since 1994 -- they need to win Saturday and in next week's finale to do it -- will just have to wait.

Duke (5-5, 3-3) is having its best season since '94, when it went 8-4. Lewis (226 of 364 for 2,640 yards and 16 touchdowns, with six interceptions) leads the top passing offense in the ACC. He also has three rushing touchdowns.

Harris (190 of 313 for 2,655 yards and 19 touchdowns, with 16 interceptions) has thrown nine picks in his past four games, including four last week at North Carolina.

DUKE EYES BOWL BERTH

``I told him he can't expect to get a bowl-appearance win against us,'' Harris said of Lewis. ``This game does mean a lot more, because people want to see how we're going to bounce back from the tough loss -- and being a senior, you don't want to lose your last game at home.''

Last game, Harris injured what is believed to be the thumb on his throwing hand and will play with a temporary, protective covering. He missed practice Sunday and Tuesday but began practicing Wednesday, according to UM coach Randy Shannon.

If he can't go, freshman backup A.J. Highsmith would play. Highsmith has played in two games and completed 4 of 6 passes for 53 yards and a touchdown.

The Canes have been plagued with injuries, the newest casualties being tailback Lee Chambers, wide receiver and punt-return specialist Thearon Collier and cornerback Sam Shields -- listed as out for Saturday.

But Duke is ailing just as much. Lewis is playing with a sore leg, and Duke announced this week that backup quarterback Sean Renfree tore his anterior cruciate ligament, starting guard Mitchell Lederman is out with a fractured toe, and senior defensive tackle Vince Oghobasses is out with a leg injury. Those are major losses, and just a few of more than two dozen injured Blue Devils, according to coach David Cutcliffe.

If Lewis has to be replaced ``for an extended period of time,'' Cutcliffe said, he would put in scholarship quarterback Sean Schroeder, a freshman who has not yet played and whom Cutcliffe was planning to redshirt.

``He's aware of that,'' Cutcliffe said. ``Even though it's the 11th game of the year, there's just too much on the line and too many other good reasons to play him.

``We have direct snap stuff . . . but I don't know if I want to play a whole game doing that if we lose Thad.''

SENIORS' LAST HOME GAME

UM left tackle Fox will play his last home game along with right tackle Matt Pipho and center A.J. Trump. Many of their family members will be present.

``Not only has this season flown by, but my college career has flown by,'' Fox said. ``So many good memories I've had around this place, so many good people I've had the pleasure of knowing. I can't believe this is my last home game.''

Grant, a cornerback, was asked what the Canes had to play for at this point.

``To win,'' he said. ``Point blank. Period. That was our goal coming in.

``I wish we could have gone to the national championship. I'd like to play Florida again. But we're focusing on these next two weeks and whatever the NCAA brings us.''