The Blue Devil Nation continues to share what is normally saved for premium members in an effort to shine the light on Duke Football. Here is the audio from yesterdays media call in show where Cutcliffe answered a few questions. Please feel free to link BDN's football coverage for we have supported and covered Duke Football from the start.
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The Duke Blue Devils won their third consecutive ACC game by beating Virginia in Charlottesville 28-17 on Saturday. Maybe it's time to start believing in this team for a quick look at the standings shows that the Blue Devils are in sole possession of second place in the ACC's Coastal Division.
Coach Cutcliffe and his staff continue to surprise the college football world in just their second year in Durham and a change in culture is happening in more ways than one.. Duke and Virginia went toe to toe for most of the game, but a consistent and resilient game plan allowed Duke to push their record to 3-1 in the ACC and 5-3 overall.
Thaddeus Lewis made big plays when it counted and was cool under pressure while Nick Snyderwine connected on 5 of 5 field goals, showing what it means to have consistency in the kicking game. Plenty of other Devils helped as well and we'll continue coverage on this key win mid afternoon. Until then, check out the links page.
Duke utilized a clutch fourth quarter performance to defeat Virginia 28-17, on the road, in Charlottesville, to improve to 5-3 (3-1 ACC) on the season. The victory was the third straight conference victory for the Blue Devils. Duke scored the games final 16 points to comeback from a 17-12 deficit.
Duke dominated first quarter action by limiting the Cavaliers to 1 yard total offense. However, Virginia's defense bent but didn't break by limiting Duke to two field goals. Will Snyderwine kicked a third field goal five seconds into the second quarter to expand Duke's lead to 9-0.
Virginia managed a field goal in the second quarter and then took the second half kickoff and marched 66 yards in eight plays for a touchdown and a 10-9 lead. There were no additional points scored in the third quarter.
After three low scoring quarters, the two teams exploded for 26 points in the final stanza with Duke outscoring Virginia 19-7 for the victory. Thaddeus Lewis threw a 42 yard touchdown pass to Conner Vernon and Charlie Hatcher returned a Jameel Sewell fumble seven yards for another score. The fumble was forced by defensive lineman Ayanga Okpokowuruk. Will Snyderwine added his fourth and fifth field goals of the game.
Thaddeus Lewis completed 24-40 passes for 343 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Lewis has now thrown for 9,050 yards in his career and has passed Spence Fisher to move into second place all time behind Ben Bennett.
Donovan Varner (113 yards) and Conner Vernon (103 yards) each had seven receptions to pace seven Duke receivers. Varner and Vernon both recorded over 100 yards receiving for the second consecutive game.
On the defensive side of the ball, Leon Wright recorded his fourth interception of the season, while Vincent Rey led the team with 10 tackles. Jeremy Ringfield and Vince Oghobaase each recorded a sack.
DUKE
Last time out
Duke defeated Maryland in a wet Wallace Wade Stadium, 17-13. Thad Lewis completed 30/43 passes for 371 yards and 2 touchdowns, connecting with six different receivers. The outstanding trio of Kelly, Varner, and Vernon led the way for the receiving corps, with a combined 22 receptions for 289 yards. Sophomore Donovan Varner led all receivers with 120 yards on eight catches, including a 25-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter, which put Duke up 7-0. Freshman standout Conner Vernon also eclipsed the 100-yard plateau with five catches, making him the first receiver in Duke history to post multiple 100-yard receiving games in his freshman season. The Duke rushing attack was limited again, posting 34 yards on 24 carries.
The Duke defense held the Maryland offense to 249 total yards, 67 of which came on a single pass with blown coverage. Maryland’s rushing attack was never able to gather momentum, finishing with 67 yards on 31 attempts. Chris Turner completed 16/23 passes for 182 yards; however, with an opportunity to take the lead in the 4th quarter, Turner’s pass was intercepted by Vinnie Rey at the Maryland 36-yard line. Special teams sealed the win for Duke with Brandon King’s recovery of a fumbled punt return late in the 4th quarter.
SCOUTING THE CAVALIERS
Last time out
Virginia lost to Georgia Tech at home last Saturday, 34-9. The game was more competitive than the final score indicates, as Virginia trailed only 13-6 at halftime. The Virginia offense managed only 3 field goals (49, 19, and 30 yards) against the resurgent Yellow Jacket defense; meanwhile, the Virginia defense could not get Josh Nesbitt and the Georgia Tech offense off the field. The Yellow Jackets rushed for 362 yards on 71 attempts, resulting in 20 first downs and 4 touchdowns. Paul Johnson’s option offense kept the Virginia defense on the field for over 42 minutes, finally putting the game away with two 4th quarter touchdowns.
Season
After an 0-3 start, Virginia used their September 26 off week to simplify their approach on both sides of the ball. The changes resulted in an upset win in Chapel Hill and a three game winning streak, heading into last week’s matchup with Georgia Tech. During the three game win streak, Virginia’s defense shined, holding UNC, Indiana, and Maryland to under 10 points each (19 points, combined). On the season, however, Virginia’s defense has been on the field a lot, as the Wahoos rank last in offensive time of possession in the ACC.
Jameel Sewell, Virginia’s senior quarterback, has won the starting job after beginning the season as part of a committee, which also included Marc Verica and Vic Hall. The committee resulted in 7 turnovers in an embarrassing 26-14 opening loss to William & Mary, and Sewell has started every game since. At his best, Sewell can be a dual threat quarterback, as evidenced by his 300+ yard passing efforts against Southern Mississippi and Indiana to go along with 4 rushing touchdowns this season. At his worst, Sewell can drag down the entire offense, as he did in week one with 3 interceptions on only 9/17 passing. This inconsistency is part of the reason that Virginia ranks last in the ACC in total offense with 289 yards per game. Pass protection has been a major concern, as the Virginia offensive line also ranks last in the ACC, having allowed 26 sacks through their first 7 games.
INJURIES
Duke is expected to be without senior RB Re’quan Boyette and LB Abraham Kromah again. CB Lee Butler is also expected to miss Saturday’s game.
Virginia has a few injuries on the defensive side of the ball, thought most are expected to play on Saturday. DE Matt Conrath and LB Aaron Clark are both expected to miss Saturday’s game. Safeties Corey Mosley and Brandon Woods both have been out with shoulder injuries, but are expected to play.
TRENDS & NUMBERS
Both Duke and Virginia enter this Saturday’s matchup at 2-1 in the ACC and have both won 3 of their last 4 games.
Thad Lewis has thrown for over 300 yards in 3 straight games.
Duke won back-to-back ACC games for the first time since 1994. The last time Duke won back-to-back ACC road games was also in 1994, the season of Duke’s last bowl game.
Duke defeated Virginia 31-3 in Wallace Wade Stadium last season, giving David Cutcliffe his first ACC win. Duke’s last win in Charlottesville was in 1999.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Though few would have expected it at the start of the year, this weekend’s matchup is an intriguing one, pitting the ACC’s top passing offense against the conference’s top pass defense. Duke averages nearly 3 touchdowns per game through the air, while Virginia has allowed only 3 all season. With Boyette out again, expect Duke to stick to what it does best, moving the ball through the air. If the Blue Devils can match the intensity of a Virginia team hungry for revenge for four quarters, they have the talent to leave Charlottesville with their third straight win.
Durham, N.C. - Duke Football continued its in state recruiting success when they got a commitment from Nick Sink, a 6-6 245 pound prospect from Forsyth Country Day.
Sink becomes the 16th player in the Blue Devils class of 2010 announcing his intent on Thursday.
The newest addition to the Duke Football family plays tight end and defensive end in high school and will likely play the DE spot in college.
Duke tendered an offer after Sink attended their 17-13 victory over Maryland.
Sink had 26 catches for 426 yards and four touchdowns in nine games this past season. On defense, Sink garnered 43 tackles, 3 for sacks and several for negative yardage.
Sink starts for the basketball team and holds the school record for 3-pointers and participates with the track team where he specializes in the shot put.
Duke Football Injury Report
S Anthony Young-Wiseman (knee) -- OUT FOR SEASON
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