Hoos Handle Duke 34–17 Behind Dominant Defense and Explosive Playmakers

Virginia didn’t just beat Duke on Saturday — they controlled the game from the opening kick to the final whistle. In a 34–17 victory at Wallace Wade stadium, the Hoos delivered one of their most complete performances of the season, pairing a smothering defense with timely offensive fireworks to move into the bye week with momentum and confidence.

1st Quarter: Hoos Set the Tone Early

Virginia opened the game by setting an aggressive tone. Facing a 4th-and-3 on the opening drive, the Hoos quick-snapped and hit a throw right at the sticks to move the chains. Two plays later on 3rd-and-7, J’Mari Taylor ripped off a big run, and he finished the drive with a touchdown to put UVA up 7–0.

Duke’s first drive didn’t go anywhere — Mitchell Melton and Camac Fisher combined on a sack, Kam Robinson left with an injury, and the Blue Devils went three-and-out. That sequence foreshadowed the rest of the afternoon for Duke’s offense.

Virginia Keeps Pressure On, Duke Stalls Repeatedly

On UVA’s second drive, Taylor moved the chains again on a direct snap, and Trell Harris took a hard shot but walked it off. Although the drive ended in a punt, the Hoos continued controlling the tempo and the clock.

Duke’s next drives followed the same pattern: nothing. The UVA defensive line bullied the Blue Devils up front, consistently resetting the line of scrimmage and forcing three straight three-and-outs. Donovan Platt added a beautiful pass breakup in double coverage, and Melton continued to disrupt everything Duke tried.

Meanwhile, the Virginia offense kept moving the ball. Morris connected downfield with Cam Ross before an interception briefly halted momentum, but the defense immediately got the ball back again.

Hoos Break It Open Late in the Half

UVA finally extended the lead with a beautifully orchestrated drive. Trell Harris started it with a 29-yard catch, Jamal Edrine moved the sticks on a dangerous but effective throw, and on 3rd-and-5 Chandler Morris dropped a strike to Sage Ennis for a 12-yard touchdown. That pushed the lead to 14–3.

With just over a minute before halftime, Morris found Harris again — this time for 56 yards — setting up a late Bettridge field goal. The Hoos dominated the half statistically and physically.

2nd Half: Stars Shine, Defense Slams the Door

Duke opened the second half with a brief spark, but the Hoos quickly stopped a 3rd-and-4 run attempt and forced another punt.

Then the offense went right back to work.

A huge 3rd-down conversion from Morris to Harris — one of several — kick-started UVA’s first second-half drive. Cam Ross followed with an 18-yard grab, and Morris capped the possession with a gorgeous 20-yard touchdown to Trell Harris. Brooks Field erupted in “U-V-A!” chants as Harris crossed the goal line.

Duke tried to answer with a long pass, but after a wild fumble-and-recovery sequence, Virginia’s defense stood tall again. Melton added another sack — part of a monster day for him.

On the next drive? J’Mari Taylor exploded for a 78-yard touchdown, the longest of his career, stretching the lead to 31–3 and essentially putting the game away. It was Virginia’s best run play of the year and a statement moment for the sophomore back.

Duke Finds Late Life, But Hoos Close the Door

Up 31–3, Virginia briefly faltered. Duke scored its first touchdown on an 11-yard pass to Cooper Barkate, then took advantage of a pick-six on a screen pass to suddenly pull within 31–17 with over nine minutes still on the clock.

But when Virginia needed one more answer, the offense delivered a mature, clock-killing drive. Harrison Waylee ripped off runs of 5, 19, and another 5 yards, helped by a facemask penalty. Morris hit Cam Courtney to move into field-goal range, and Will Bettridge drilled a 42-yarder to make it 34–17.

Duke failed on a 4th-and-1 near midfield on the next drive — effectively ending the game — and Daniel Kaelin entered to close things out as the Hoos ran the clock with Xay Davis.

Final Stats: Hoos Return to Early-Season Form

Offense

• Chandler Morris: 23–35, 316 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT

• J'Mari Taylor: 18 carries, 133 yards, 2 TD (including a 78-yard TD)

• Harrison Waylee: 16 carries, 62 yards

• Trell Harris: 8 receptions, 161 yards, 1 TD

• Cam Ross: 7 receptions, 63 yards

• Sage Ennis: 12-yard TD reception
  
  

Defense

• Camac Fisher: 2 sacks, 6 tackles

• Mitchell Melton: Sack, forced fumble, fumble recovery, multiple pressures

• Jacob Holmes: 1 sack, 6 tackles

• Emmanuel Karnley: 3 pass breakups

• Devin Neal: 2 pass breakups, 6 tackles
  
  

The only lingering question: the health of linebacker Kam Robinson, who left in the first quarter but walked off under his own power.

Final Thoughts

Virginia dominated nearly every phase. The defense suffocated Duke for three quarters, the offense looked like the explosive early-season version of itself, and the playmakers — Taylor, Harris, Morris, Melton — all delivered big-time performances.

Now the Hoos head into the bye week with confidence, momentum, and a chance to get healthy.

Next up: a Thanksgiving weekend showdown with the rival Hokies.

Let’s go Hoos!