Virginia extends home dominance over Duke, 30-27

Field Level Media|published: Sat 18th November, 18:36 2023

Nov 18, 2023; Charlottesville, Virginia, USA; Virginia Cavaliers wide receiver Malik Washington (4) scores a touchdown as Duke Blue Devils safety Jaylen Stinson (2) chases during the first quarter at Scott Stadium. credits: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Anthony Colandrea threw three touchdown passes, Malik Washington broke two school records and host Virginia held off Duke 30-27 in Atlantic Coast Conference action Saturday in Charlottesville, Va.

The Cavaliers (3-8, 2-5 ACC) ended a three-game skid and gave the Blue Devils (6-5, 3-4) their fourth loss in five games.

Washington caught eight passes for 112 yards and two scores. His first touchdown broke Virginia's single-season record for receiving yards and his second TD broke the single-season mark for receptions. It was Washington's sixth straight 100-yard game and ninth of the season.

Washington has 96 catches for 1,311 yards. Olamide Zaccheaus (93 in 2018) and Dontayvion Wicks (1,203 in 2021) held the previous Virginia records.

Colandrea completed 21 of 30 passes for 278 yards and rushed for 66 yards. Malachi Fields added four catches for 74 yards and a TD.

Grayson Loftis threw for 278 yards with two touchdowns and an interception for Duke. Jaquez Moore ran for 100 yards and a touchdown and Jordan Moore gained 117 yards on nine receptions.

It was Virginia's sixth straight win at home against Duke, which hasn't won at Scott Stadium since 2013.

It was also the first ACC home victory for second-year coach Tony Elliott and ended an emotional week that marked the one-year anniversary of the shooting deaths of football players Devin Chandler, D'Sean Perry and Lavel Davis Jr.

It was 10-10 at halftime. Virginia struck first on Washington's 34-yard TD in the first quarter. Duke responded with Jalon Calhoun's 7-yard contested catch in the end zone in the second quarter.

The Cavaliers found the end zone on their first two second-half possessions. Colandrea's 29-yard TD to Fields made it 17-10. After an interception by Caleb Hardy, Colandrea found Washington from 7 yards out for a 24-10 lead.

Duke converted a fourth down from its own 31-yard line before Moore broke off a 58-yard touchdown run to pull within 27-20 with 9:03 to play.

Virginia then used a "tush push" to convert a fourth down at midfield and Will Bettridge's third field goal, from 30 yards, made it 30-20 with 3:48 left.

The Blue Devils trimmed it to 30-27 on Loftis' 2-yard TD pass to Mehki Wall with 1:13 remaining but they were not able to recover the ensuing onside kick and Virginia ran out the clock.

—Field Level Media

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