Nate Sheppard throws Duke into win

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Duke again played from behind for the majority of an ACC game.

This time, Nate Sheppard threw the Blue Devils into the lead and its defense held up.

Sheppard’s 28-yard touchdown pass to Brody Keefe delivered a 19-16 win by the Blue Devils against Virginia on Friday night at Scott Stadium. The star running back, who went over 2,000 career yards in this game, took a backward pass and threw to a wide-open Keefe in the end zone.

The Cavaliers (4-4, 2-3) got one first down on the ensuing drive, and then stalled. Patrick Smith-Young picked off Beau Pribula’s desperation heave on the final play.

Virginia took the lead with Will Bettridge’s 30-yard field goal with 3 minutes left.

On the ensuing drive, Walker Eget threw back-to-back passes of 12 yards to Jaivon Solomon and Jonah Burton to get the Blue Devils (5-2, 2-2 ACC) across midfield.

Eget returned for the second half after suffering a hand/finger injury in the first half. Duke got a field goal on its first possession of the second half, cutting the deficit to 13-10.

Duke’s offense crossed midfield late in the third quarter. But that drive ended when a checkdown to Nate Sheppard saw the ball popped into the air and intercepted by Kam Robinson.

The Blue Devils tied the game at 13-13 two drives later. Jake Taylor’s 43-yard catch and run set up Gavin Strange’s 39-yard field goal with 8:50 left.

Duke’s first possession of the game covered 78 yards in four plays. The chunk plays were the last two — Eget throwing a 35-yard dime to Jonah Burton, followed by Nate Sheppard’s 32-yard touchdown run.

The rest of the first half didn’t resemble any of that for Duke’s offense.

Eget suffered an apparent hand/finger injury on the throw to Burton. Mahan took over at quarterback and for Duke’s other four possessions of the first half, the Blue Devils had two first downs.

Virginia led 13-7 at halftime. Its touchdown drive that tied the game was helped along by a 15-yard facemask penalty on Che Ojarikre, and then a drive-extending pass interference penalty against Kyon Loud on third down. The Cavaliers punched that one in with a 1-yard run on fourth-and-goal.

The Cavaliers reached Duke’s red zone two more times but settled for field goals. Those were only the fourth and fifth times of the season that Duke’s opponent settled for a field goal inside the 20-yard line.