The Duke Blue Devils executed a dramatic late-game surge to defeat the Virginia Cavaliers in a tense ACC matchup on Friday. Trailing 16-13 with under two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Duke erased a deficit that had seen Virginia lead 13-7 at halftime. The turning point came on a high-risk offensive play that showcased the Blue Devils’ versatility and composure under pressure.
Nate Sheppard’s trick pass seals stunning ACC thriller
Running back Nate Sheppard, who has been battling an undisclosed injury this season, engineered the decisive score with a sneaky double-pass trick play. After receiving a backward handoff from quarterback Walker Eget, Sheppard launched a precise throw to wide receiver Brody Keefe, who was wide open in the end zone. Although Duke missed the subsequent extra point attempt, leaving the score at 19-16, the touchdown proved sufficient to shift momentum decisively in their favor.
The game concluded when Virginia’s comeback hopes were extinguished by a critical defensive stop. On a fourth-down attempt, Virginia quarterback Beau Pribula threw an interception that was picked off by the Duke defense, securing the win for the Blue Devils. This victory highlights Sheppard’s dual-threat capability, as he continues to excel in both rushing and passing roles, proving to be an indispensable asset for Duke’s offense.
Source: Yahoo Sports
