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September 26, 1998

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) – Virginia’s defense forced eight turnovers and AaronBrooks atoned for a poor passing day with a 57-yard scoring run late in thethird quarter as the 11th-ranked Cavaliers beat Duke 24-0 Saturday.

Virginia (4-0, 3-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) is off to its best ACC startin three years. Meanwhile, the Blue Devils (2-2, 0-2) lost a record 20thstraight league game and were shut out for the first time in 55 games.

Safety Anthony Poindexter was the defensive hero for the Cavaliers,intercepting two passes, recovering two fumbles and causing a fumble asVirginia won for the ninth time in the last 10 games of the series.

The Cavaliers have shut out Duke three times in the 1990s, including theBlue Devils’ last home whitewashing – 59-0 in 1990.

Virginia was clinging to a 3-0 lead with Duke driving deep into Cavaliersterritory when backup quarterback Bobby Campbell was called for intentionalgrounding. On the next play, a third-and-long option play, Campbell’s fumblewas recovered at the 43 by Poindexter and the game’s complexion changed.

After an incomplete pass, Brooks avoided the Duke rush, stepped up into thepocket and took off. The senior quarterback spun freshman defensive back RonnieHamilton around with a nifty cut 15 yards downfield and then rumbled into theend zone.

Prior to his TD run, Brooks was a miserable 12-for-32 passing as Virginia’sprotection repeatedly broke down under a barrage of Duke blitzes.

After holding Duke on downs, a 32-yard punt return by Terrence Wilkins setup a 12-yard scoring run by Thomas Jones and a 17-0 lead Virginia lead. Thescore gave the Cavalier 14 points in a span of 1:10, after scoring only threein the previous 43 minutes.

Antwoine Womack capped the Virginia scoring with a 47-yard run with 4:46left.

Virginia penetrated Duke territory seven times in the first half but managedonly a 46-yard field goal by Todd Braverman in the second quarter.

Brooks, the ACC’s top-rated quarterback, had a difficult opening 30 minutes,throwing his first interception of the season on Virginia’s second series. Itwas his first in 166 attempts.

Brooks also was stopped on a fourth-and-inches quarterback sneak at the Duke17 and had two potential TD passes dropped in the end zone by Wilkins.

However, Virginia’s defense stymied Duke most of the first half. The BlueDevils did not getting past midfield until 1:42 before intermission, and onthat play, Letavious Wilks fumbled the ball to Virginia.

Jones fumbled it back on the next play, but Sims Lenhardt’s 49-yard fieldgoal attempt 46 seconds before halftime fell just short.

By DAVID DROSCHAKAP Sports Writer

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