DURHAM, N.C. – The Duke Blue Devils outlasted the Virginia Cavaliers and became bowl eligible with a 20-13 win in front of a Homecoming crowd of 28,131 at Wallace Wade Stadium on Saturday.
The win improved Duke’s overall record to 6-1 (2-1 in the ACC), its best record through seven games since going 7-0 back in 1994.
Quarterback Anthony Boon (22-37, 176 yards, 1 TD) improved his career wins record as a starter to 16-1, while wide receiver Jamison Crowder (8 catches, 99 yards) extended his consecutive games streak with two or more receptions to 35 – the second longest streak among active NCAA receivers.
“From seeing them on tape, I feel our protection beat their pressure today,” Boone said.
Boone along with wildcat quarterback Thomas Sirk shared credit for throwing the Blue Devils’ two touchdown passes to tight ends Erich Schneider and David Reeves respectively, while place kicker Ross Martin converted two field goal attempts to help post the points needed to beat the Cavaliers (4-2, 2-1).
According to head coach David Cutcliffe, Duke played a game that was “as clean as you can get”, not turning over the ball once to the Cavaliers, who came in having scored 72 points on turnovers so far this season.
“That was as well played a football game by two teams that you can see,” Cutcliffe said.
“There was not a lot of wasted play on the field – hats off to Virginia. I thought they would play well and they did.”
ACC Digital Network – Highlights – Duke 20, Virginia 13
Duke’s defensive corps was led by linebacker David Helton (14 tackles) and safety Jeremy Cash (11 tackles) who had a pass breakup (PBU) and forced a fumble for the third time in as many games.
Safeties DeVon Edwards (10 tackles, 2 PBU’s), Deondre Singleton (5 tackles, 3 PBU’s), and Everett Edwards (1 PBU), along with cornerback Breon Borders (3 tackles, 3 PBU’s) effectively contained Virginia’s offense by swatting away 10 attempted passes between Cavaliers quarterback Matt Johns (221-44, 306 yards, 1 TD) and his receivers.
“We weren’t always clicking on all cylinders,” Cutcliffe continued.
“As you might see offensively – we did at times; defensively, the same thing – looking at the numbers. You’re talkin’ about clutch and consistently clutch play – it was there.”
A Virginia fumble forced by Cash on second down just 1:57 into the opening quarter was picked up by Jonathan Jones (2 tackles) and set up Duke’s first possession at its own 38-yard line.
Boone’s first throw of the game found Crowder around the 50 yard line and he gained 27 yards to start what eventually became a seven-play, 62-yard scoring drive.
While running back Josh Snead (4 rushes, 13 yards) and wide receiver Issac Blakeney (6 catches, 42 yards) contributed to moving the chains forward, Boone completed a one-yard pass to Schneider that put Duke ahead 7-0 at the 9:37 mark following Martin’s successful PAT.
It would be the only score of the quarter as both teams’ defensive play created unforced errors and missed pass attempts.
The second quarter saw Martin kick his first field goal of the game to extend the Duke lead to 10-0, but Johns found a way to keep the Virginia offense moving to eventually score 10 straight points and tie the game 10-10 on a Khalek Shepherd touchdown and an eventual Ian Frye 21-yard field goal that ended the half.
“Were we perfect in every aspect?” Cutcliffe asked.
“No, I’d like to have been better on third downs on both sides of the ball. But, look at the second half. Second half they went from 5-for-8 to 3-for-8 on third downs. Think how critical those stops all were. When they picked up the pass interference penalty and our defense got a stop, that was a critical part in that game – keeping them out of the end zone. No touchdown – three points in the second half. That’s good defense.”
Duke scored on its first drive of the second half as Martin converted his second field goal attempt of the game and extended the Blue Devils lead to 13-10.
With its next possession, Virginia gained momentum and good field position during an eight-play, 52-yard drive that eventually ended with another Frye field goal with 7:11 to play in the quarter.
Tied 13-13 to begin the fourth quarter, a 15-yard Duke penalty pushed the Cavaliers forward to the Duke 35-yard line and Virginia threatened to take its first lead of the game.
However, a strong Duke defensive stand on third-and-13 to go forced Virginia to punt the ball away.
After both teams traded possession once more, the Blue Devils started their next drive on their own 35-yard line and Shaquille Powell (11 carries, 68 yards) came up with key gains on the ground that put Duke in scoring position on the Virginia half of the field.
With 8:10 remaining, Boone continued to put the ball in Powell’s hands and kept the ball moving forward and eventually set up the Blue Devils’ second touchdown of the game from the three-yard line.
Sirk came in and threw a jump-pass to David Reeves that gave Duke its 20-13 lead and eventual winning margin.
The Cavaliers didn’t give up easily, but ran out of chances to score for the rest of the game when with 2:14 remaining, the Blue Devils successfully defended Virginia’s fourth down attempt with 12 yards to go from their own 40-yard line.
“We had to execute,” Powell said.
“We had to want it more than they wanted it. So we came into the game talkin’ about bein’ aggressive, we gotta’ be physical, we gotta’ execute, we need to do what we do best, and that’s just playin’ the game.
After going three-and-out, Duke successfully defended the Cavaliers’ last offensive sequence during the final 23 seconds and earned the win that would ensure they participate in postseason play for the third consecutive year.
For players like Crowder and Helton, the achievement was significant, but not overly so – not any more.
“It’s expected around here now,” Crowder said.
“A lot of guys didn’t really think about it, getting us to bowl eligibility, until Coach Cut said it after the game. It’s just something that’s expected now.”
“It’s definitely different for us,” Helton said.
“We’re not dwelling on that, it’s not part of our M.O. for the year. We’re tryin’ to make it to the ACC championship and we’re just takin’ it a game at a time. Yeah, we’re bowl eligible, but that’s not ultimately, like maybe (years) before, what we’re goin’ for.”