Virginia was ready for Nate Sheppard’s game at running back and receiver. The Cavaliers weren’t prepared for the Duke rusher also to be a passer.
Walker Eget threw a backward pass to Sheppard with 1:14 to go in the game, and the Blue Devils’ running back found a wide-open Brody Keefe for a 32-yard touchdown to give Duke a 19-16 lead.
Gavin Strange missed the extra point, giving the Wahoos a chance to drive down the field and tie the game, but Patrick Smith-Young intercepted a pass from Beau Pribula to seal the game for the Blue Devils.
It looked easy for Duke on the first drive as Eget found Jonah Burton for a 35-yard gain on the third play of the possession. One play later, Sheppard ran it in from 32 yards out to give the Blue Devils a 7-0 lead.
The Cavaliers responded with a one-yard touchdown run by Jekail Middlebrook on fourth down to tie the game late in the first quarter. Two field goals from Will Bettridge's leg put the Cavaliers up 13-7 at halftime.
Strange cut into the lead with a 39-yard field goal in the third quarter, then tied it 13-13 with another 39-yard field goal with 8:50 to go. Bettridge put UVA back up with three minutes to go before Sheppard’s touchdown throw put the Blue Devils ahead for good.
Sheppard ran the ball just 15 times for 55 yards and a touchdown, while Eget, who missed a majority of the first half, completed 14-of-25 passes for 211 yards.
Duke improves to 5-2 (2-2 ACC), while Virginia falls to 4-4 (2-3).
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This article originally appeared on Duke Wire: Late trick play leads Duke to 19-16 victory at Virginia