Duke (3-6), down one in the 4th quarter, converted a critical 3rd and 18, and went on to beat Virginia for the third straight time. If you like defense, then you might not want to read on. 41 points were scored in the 4th quarter alone.
Virginia (4-5) had a chance with 33 seconds remaining and 58 yards from the Duke end-zone to tie the ballgame up, but after several errant throws by Verica, and a costly false-start on Kris Burd, the Blue Devils walked off the field with the win.
If you only read the Virginia box score after the game, it certainly looked like the Hoos pounded Duke badly. Virginia gained 641 yards of total offense, with 416 of it coming through the air, and another 225 yards coming on the ground. Marc Verica threw for 416 yards on 24-46 (4TD’s) passing, but he also threw three bad interceptions, including a terrible second quarter INT at UVA’s own 20 yard line.
Penalties killed Virginia all day as they had 11 flags thrown their way for 103 yards. Duke won their first ACC game of the season in front of the smallest crowd I have ever seen at an ACC football game.
Duke’s quarterback tandem of Sean Renfree and Brandon Connette each played brilliantly for the Blue Devils. Renfree rushed for 23 yards on 10 carries and two scores, and he threw for 220 yards as he was 17-29 through the air. Connette rushed for 77 yards, also scored two TD’s on the ground, and he passed for another 40 yards as he completed his only pass.
Virginia’s Dontrelle Inman led all receivers with 238 yards on 10 catches and 1 TD and a 23.8 average. Keith Payne was UVA’s leading rusher as he had a 6.0 yard average, 2 TD’s and 120 yards on 20 carries.
UVA’s kicker scored a sweet 20 yard rushing touchdown on a fake field goal in the second quarter to make it 21-14 Duke, and the two teams seesawed back and forth all afternoon in a nearly 4 hour contest.
Virginia only punted once, Duke just twice. I’ve never seen a game in the modern era of Virginia football where the Hoos tackled so poorly, and had such a poorly orchestrated defensive game plan.
The Wahoos return home to face Maryland on Senior Day, Saturday at Scott Stadium at 3:30 p.m. Plenty of good seats will be available. Virginia must win their remaining three games if they are to go to a bowl game in London’s first season in Charlottesville.