Duke defeats Virginia 28-17

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Duke claimed its third consecutive victory over an ACC opponent on Saturday with a 28-17 victory over Virginia at Scott Stadium.

This time it took some spirited play late in the fourth quarter as the Devils scored two touchdowns and came from behind to knock off the Cavaliers. It took some guile as the Devils looked to be backed in a corner and unable to answer one of the conference's toughest defenses.

Facing third-and 9 from their 42, Duke senior quarterback Thaddeus Lewis hit freshman Conner Vernon in stride as he cut to the middle of the field on a timing route in front of Virginia defensive back Chris Cook. He raced into the end zone for the Blue Devils first touchdown of the game. 

After struggling against the ACC's top passing defense, the Devils finally found the end zone in the air, with Vernon finding space as he was covered one-on-one.

Duke would follow that drive with a crucial defensive stand. Devils' Ayanga Okapokowuruk  rushed Virginia quarterback Jameel Swell while he stood in the pocket on his 13-yardline and forced a fumble. Nose guard Charlie Hatcher recovered the fumble and ran six yards into the end zone.

With about eight minutes remaining, the Cavaliers appeared in control of this contest, though not comfortably in control. They led 17-12 after a crowd-pleasing drive at the start of the fourth quarter.

Trailing by two points , Virginia quarterback Jameel Sewell led the Cavaliers on a 60-yard touchdown drive. On the last two plays of the drive, he connected with tight end Joe Torchia.

Sewell found Torchia on two similar seam routes, with the second a 12 yard pass for a touchdown to give the Cavaliers a five-point lead. 

THIRD QUARTER 

Virginia opened the third quarter with an 66-yard drive capped by a 1-yard touchdown run by quarterback Jameel Sewell. The Cavaliers, who had struggled on offense, produced their most impressive drive of the game in taking a one-point lead over the Blue Devils.

SECOND QUARTER

A late first-quarter interception by Duke senior Leon Wright - his fourth this season - set up the Blue Devils' third field goal of the game in the opening seconds of the second quarter.  Duke's junior walk-on placekicker Will Synderwine made a 34-yard field goal to extend his team's lead.  

The Devils, with the ACC's top-ranked passing offense, struggled against the Cavaliers, who forced them to punt three times.

The Cavaliers rushed and hurried the Devils, disrupting the timing of Duke senior quarterback Thaddeus Lewis, who finished the half 13 of 20 for 128 yards. He was sacked five times.

FIRST QUARTER 

Synderwine made two field goals - from 44 and 28 yards - to put the Devils on the scoreboard. 

On both scoring drives, the Devils moved the ball down the field, but were unable to penetrate Virginia's 3-4 defense. The Cavaliers, with the stingiest secondary in the ACC, denied Lewis and his league-leading wide receivers to pull down passes in the end zone. 

Lewis completed 6 of 9 pass attempts for 66 yards, though he picked up 18 yards on the ground. 

Virginia, however, collected just 1 yard of offense in the first quarter, while the Devils amassed 112 offensive yards.