Virginia gets back on track with 48-14 victory over Duke (10-19-19)

By: Lamonte Thomas

Headline Photo Credit: Darrell Owens-LMS Network

CHARLOTTESVILLE,VA- Saturday, October 19 was a beautiful football day in Charlottesville, VA as the Duke Blue Devils (4-2) came into town to take on the University of Virginia Cavaliers (4-2). “The Hill” was occupied with plenty of UVA faithful as the Cavaliers took the field. UVA wore a new helmet design with ‘150’ on the side to represent 150 years of college football as 52,847 people attended the game.

Joe Reed gave reason for the standing crowd to roar as he returned the opening kick for nearly 50 yards for UVA. Duke’s linebacker and leading tackler Koby Quansah suffered an injury on the first possession, though he would return a play later. Coach Bronco Mendenhall was aggressive from the gate, as he decided to go for the 1st down on 4th and 1 in Blue Devils territory. After a few connections from quarterback Bryce Perkins to receiver Joe Reed, Perkins was picked off in the endzone on third and eight by Duke’s Leonard Johnson. The contest was shaping up to be a defensive battle as there was no score in 1st quarter and both teams combined for 28 yards passing. 

UVA quarterback Bryce Perkins led a 78 yard drive at the top of the second quarter capped by his short touchdown run; providing the game’s first score (UVA 7- Duke 0). Duke quarterback Quentin Harris was then intercepted by Brenton Nelson of the Cavaliers. UVA would convert the turnover into a field goal, extending their lead to a 10-0 mark. The defensive display continued for Virginia when they shut down Quentin Harris on fourth and one in Duke territory. Receiver Terrell Chatman would then make a spectacular one-handed catch on the Blue Devils’ 1-yd line as he fought off the Duke defender, who was called for pass interference. The catch was ruled incomplete, but the penalty set up a 1-yd score by Bryce Perkins, stretching the score to 17-0 in favor of Virginia. Duke’s Mateo Durant was stripped by Linebacker Noah Taylor for a costly fumble, which was recovered by the Cavaliers’ Junior lineman Mandy Alonso. At the half, Virginia led Duke 17-0.

The second half seemed to spell out more offensive woes for the Duke Blue Devils. Running back Deon Jackson mishandled a hand-off on the first possession, only to be recovered by the Virginia 6’7 linebacker Charles Snowden. Brian Delaney kicked a 33-yard field goal as a result, pushing the Cavaliers lead to 20-0 over Duke.

The onslaught continued as Wayne Taulapapa capped off an 8 play, 70-yard drive with a three-yard touchdown run, putting Virginia up 27-0. Duke’s offense crossed midfield for the first time in the game with 5:58 left in the third quarter. Quentin Harris then threw a 36-yard touchdown pass to Scott Bracey for the Blue Devils’ first score of the day. Bright as the spot was for a struggling Duke, the dim-lit candle was put out by Joe Reed’s ensuing 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Reed’s electric return ties him for 9th all-time in the FBS for kick return touchdowns (5), as the Cavaliers continued to dominate Duke 34-7. Harris would lose a fumble to Virginia on the next possession, which led to another Bryce Perkins touchdown. 41-7 Virginia. Safety Joey Blount intercepted an overthrown Harris pass, giving Virginia the ball heading into the fourth quarter. Wayne Taulapapa added another rushing touchdown shortly after a long gain, converting the 13-second drive into seven; Cavaliers 48, Blue Devils 7. A consolation touchdown from Duke’s backup quarterback Chris Katrenick to Eli Pancol brought the score to 48-14. Virginia will go to Louisville to take on the Cardinals next week, while Duke will travel to Chapel Hill to play the University of North Carolina.