Duke fell to 5-5 (4-2 in the ACC) at the hands of Virginia in a game that ended with a final score of 34-17. However, the scoreboard didn’t tell the full story—the game was never truly competitive. In fact, it was an old-fashioned beatdown. Virginia dominated throughout, leading 31-3 before Duke managed to outscore the Cavaliers 14-3 in the fourth quarter. Unfortunately for Duke, their late rally was too little, too late.
Virginia’s consistency on third downs was a key factor in their victory. The Cavaliers converted 12 of 19 third-down attempts and also went 1-for-2 on fourth down conversions. While Duke won the turnover battle two to one and penalties did not play a significant role, Virginia’s commanding performance in the first three quarters allowed them to cruise to an unexpectedly comfortable win.
### Key Moments from the Game
**Play One:**
Early in the first quarter, facing 4th-and-3 at the Duke 30-yard line, Virginia opted to go for it. Quarterback Chandler Morris completed a 3-yard pass to Cam Ross for a crucial first down. Four plays later, J’Mari Taylor rushed for a five-yard touchdown, putting Virginia up 7-0 and setting the tone for the game. Duke’s defense struggled to make stops when it mattered most.
**Play Two:**
With just two minutes left in the second quarter and the score at Virginia 7, Duke 3, Virginia faced a daunting 3rd-and-14. Morris connected with Jahmal Edrine for a 21-yard gain, securing another first down. Three plays later, he threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Sage Ennis. Once again, Duke’s defense failed to get off the field during a critical moment.
**Play Three:**
In the third quarter, with 4:05 remaining, Duke found themselves on 4th-and-goal at Virginia’s 8-yard line. After a catch, Hagans fumbled while running, but Cooper Barkate recovered the ball for Duke. Despite this opportunity on fourth down, Mensah’s pass was stripped by Virginia’s Mitchell Melton, halting Duke’s drive.
**Play Four:**
Just two minutes and twenty-seven seconds left in the third quarter, on 3rd-and-2, Virginia’s J’Mari Taylor exploded for a 78-yard touchdown run. This play extended Virginia’s lead to 31-3 and all but sealed the game.
**Play Five:**
With 9:30 remaining in the game, on 3rd-and-15, Duke’s defense finally made a splash. Under pressure from defensive tackle Aaron Hall, Chandler Morris hurried a pass that was intercepted by linebacker Tre Freeman. Freeman returned it 18 yards for a pick-six, cutting Virginia’s lead to 31-17. However, this late score was not enough to mount a full comeback.
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In summary, Virginia’s ability to convert critical downs and maintain control for the majority of the game led to their comfortable victory over Duke. While Duke showed some fight in the fourth quarter, it wasn’t sufficient to overcome Virginia’s domination earlier in the game.
https://sports.yahoo.com/article/virginia-34-duke-17-five-051100013.html
