Duke fell to 5-5 (4-2 in the ACC) at the hands of Virginia. The final score was 34-17 but the game was not that close. In fact, the game was not competitive, it was an old-fashioned butt whooping. The Cavaliers led 31-3 before Duke outscored Virginia 14-3 in the 4th quarter. Duke’s rally was too little, too late.
Virginia consistently converted 3rd down and long into 1st downs. The Cavaliers were 12-19 on 3rd down conversions and 1-2 on 4th down conversions.
Duke won the turnover battle two to one and penalties were not an issue but Virginia dominated the game for the first three quarters to cruise to a surprisingly easy victory over Duke.
Play One: Early in the 1st quarter, on 4th down and three at the Duke 30 yard line, Virginia opted to go for the first down and Chandler Morris completed a 3-yard pass to Cam Ross for a 1st down. Four plays later J’Mari Taylor rushed for a five yard touchdown to give Virginia a 7-0 lead. The tone of the game was set. The Duke defense could not get stops when needed.
Play Two: At the two minute mark of the 2nd quarter, with the score Virginia 7, Duke 3, Virginia faced a 3rd down and 14-yards to go for a 1st down. Chandler Morris completed a pass to Jahmal Edrine for 21-yards and a 1st down. Three plays later Morris tossed a 12-yard touchdown pass to Sage Ennis. The Duke defense failed to get off the field in another critical situation.
Play Three: With four minutes and five seconds remaining in the 3rd quarter, Duke faced a 4th down and goal at the Virginia 8-yard line. Duke had moved into scoring position via a couple long pass completions: Mensah to tight end Landon King for 32 yards, Mensah to Sahmir Hagans for 48 yards. Hagans fumbled while running after the catch but Cooper Barkate recovered the fumble for Duke. On 4th down, Mensah dropped back to pass but Virginia’s Mitchell Melton stripped the ball from Mensah’s hand.
Play Four: With two minutes and twenty-seven seconds remaining in the 3rd quarter, on 3rd down and two, Virginia running back J’Mari Taylor rambled 78-yards for a touchdown to increase Virginia’s lead to 31-3. For all intents and purposes, the game was over at this point.
Play Five: With nine minutes and thirty seconds remaining in the game, on 3rd down and 15, Virginia quarterback Chandler Morris was under pressure from Duke defensive tackle Aaron Hall and threw a pass which was intercepted by linebacker Tre Freeman who returned it 18 yards for a Pick 6 touchdown. Duke cut Virginia’s lead to 31-17 but it was too little, too late.
Go to the DBR Boards to find Blue Healer Auctions |
Drop us a line
