Virginia Runs Past Duke 28-14

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DURHAM, N.C. –Virginia (5-2, 3-1 ACC) scored touchdowns in two of its first three drives to lead to the 28-14 win over Duke (5-2, 1-2 ACC) on Saturday afternoon at Wallace Wade Stadium.
 
The Cavaliers finished with 376 total yards on offense and held their sixth opponent this season to under 400 yards as Duke finished with 320. Virginia scored three touchdowns, two field goals and a two-point conversion in the win.
 
UVA’s defense finished with four sacks, six tackles for loss, two interceptions and six pass breakups in the win.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Virginia scored a touchdown on its opening drive. Bryce Perkins (Queen Creek, Ariz.) passed for 21 yards, rushed for 23 yards and recorded nine receiving yards on the drive and capped it off with a 23-yard rushing touchdown. The Cavaliers took a 14-0 lead into halftime. Duke cut it to 20-14, when Perkins found Evan Butts (Springfield, Pa.) wide open for a touchdown and completed the two-point conversion to Olamide Zaccheaus (Plainfield, N.J.) to go ahead 28-14.
 
STAT LEADERS
• QB Bryce Perkins
20-32, 189 yards, 1 TD
61 yards rushing, 2 TD
 
• HB Olamide Zaccheaus
10 receptions, 66 yards
 
• CB Bryce Hall
5 tackles, 1 INT, 3 PBUs
 
• SS Juan Thornhill
8 tackles, 1 INT
 
• LB Chris Peace
7 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 2.5 TFL
 
NOTES
• UVA has won four straight against Duke for the first time since winning eight in a row from 2000-2007.
• UVA held Duke to zero points in the first half. It is the fourth half in ACC play and seventh this season the Cavaliers’ defense did not yield a touchdown.
• Olamide Zaccheaus became the second Cavalier all-time to reach 200 career receptions with his seventh catch of the game. He joins former UVA great Billy McMullen (210) with 200+ career receptions. Zaccheaus is No. 2 all-time at UVA with 203 career receptions.
• WR Tavares Kelly recorded a career-high 43-yard punt return in the first quarter. Kelly finished the game with a career-high 72 punt return yards.
• SS Juan Thornhill recorded his fourth interception of the season, 11th of his career in the second quarter. He is now tied for No. 10 all-time in career UVA interceptions. It was Thornhill’s fourth career interception of Duke’s Daniel Jones.

FROM THE LOCKER ROOM
“Our special teams and our return game was the catalyst for this victory, especially early on. Duke is very strong on defense but they were backed up consistently. Field position through our return game gave us a really nice advantage and momentum in a start after coming on the road into this environment.

“We’re starting to play more complementary football. That means if the defense stops, then the return game goes. It’s not neutral, but it actually builds off of that, and then hopefully the offense builds off of that. It’s been a while but the complementary nature of our team the last two weeks in particular is growing and becoming better.”

UP NEXT
Virginia returns home next weekend to host North Carolina on Saturday, Oct. 27 at 12:20 p.m. on Raycom Sports.