Duke Blue Devils Stun Virginia on Trick Play

Charlottesville, V.A. – The Duke Blue Devils delivered a game-winning drive to defeat the Virginia Cavaliers 19-16 at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville. Duke scored the go-ahead touchdown with just 1:14 remaining, ending a two-game losing streak and earning a much-needed ACC victory.

THE PLAY. Duke Quarterback Walker Eget tossed a pass that looked like a standard outside zone run to Nate Sheppard, but it turned into a trick play: Sheppard converted it into a 28-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Brody Keefe with 1:14 remaining, putting Duke ahead 19–16, but the extra point was missed. Virginia’s final possession ended when Duke safety Patrick Smith-Young intercepted quarterback Beau Pribula with 36 seconds remaining on fourth down, securing the victory.

Despite the win, the Blue Devils offense was stagnant for much of the night. Surprisingly, Sheppard finished with only 55 rushing yards on 15 carries after entering the game as the ACC’s leading rusher. Duke also went on a drought without scoring a touchdown between its opening drive and the game-winning play.

In the future, the Blue Devils need to improve the following. Sustaining offensive drives and finding other ways to get receivers involved when the defense is focused on stopping the run. Convert red-zone opportunities into points, whether it’s touchdowns or field goals, ultimately putting points on the scoreboard and following it up on the defensive end.

The Blue Devils fought back from a six-point halftime deficit, tied the game in the fourth quarter on a field goal, and then pulled off one of the night’s biggest highlight plays to steal a victory on the road in a hostile environment. The 19-16 win moved Duke to 5-2 overall and 2-2 in the ACC, and the Blue Devils now turn their attention to Boston College when they return home to Wallace Wade Stadium on Saturday, October 31st, at noon.