Sheppard Throws Winning Touchdown; Defense Shines in 19-16 Win at Virginia

Friday, October 23

Charlottesville, Va.

7 p.m.

Duke University

5-2 , 2-2

Virginia

4-4 , 2-3

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Duke	7	0	3	9	19
Virginia	7	6	0	3	16

Duke freshman wide receiver Brody Keefe, wearing a blue helmet and white jersey, catches the game-winning touchdown pass at Virginia to push to a 19-16 victory on October 23, 2026.

Photo by: Duke Athletics

10/23/2026 10:52:00 PM | Football

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Duke sophomore running back Nate Sheppard threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to Brody Keefe to lead the Blue Devils to a thrilling 19-16 ACC victory over Virginia inside Scott Stadium Friday night.

Duke safety Patrick Smith-Young sealed the win with an interception with 36 seconds remaining in the game, capping a stellar second-half defensive effort. Duke held Virginia to just three second-half points, while recording four sacks in the final two quarters.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Duke took its first possession of the game and marched 78 yards on four plays to take a 7-0 lead with a 32-yard touchdown run from Sheppard with 10:59 remaining in the opening frame. A Jonah Burton 35-yard reception set up Sheppard's score.
On the next Blue Devil drive, Virginia forced a Duke punt and then took the ball 80 yards and knotted the game at 7-7 as Jekail Middlebrook plunged one yard on fourth-and-goal with 3:05 left in the first quarter.
Duke went three-and-out on the ensuing drive and the Cavaliers took a 10-7 lead on a 21-yard Will Bettridge field goal with 9:06 remaining in the opening half.
The final play of the second quarter had Bettridge convert a 32-yard field goal to make it 13-7 at intermission.
Duke took the opening kickoff of the second half and made it a 13-10 game with a 39-yard field goal from true freshman Gavin Strange. The make was the longest of Strange's career. CJ Campbell helped set up the drive with a season-long 33-yard kickoff return to start the Blue Devils at their own 37-yard line.
With Virginia facing a third-and-11 from the Duke 30-yard line, safety Ché Ojarikre came through with his first career sack, a five-yard loss, and Bettridge missed the 47-yard field goal attempt with 4:36 to go in the third quarter to keep the score 13-10 in favor of Virginia.
Duke tied the game with 8:50 remaining on a second Strange 39-yard field goal. Tight end Jake Taylor's career-long 43-yard catch put the Blue Devils in range for Strange's second make of the evening.
The Cavaliers answered with a 30-yard field goal to go back in front 16-13 with three minutes left on the clock. Virginia had a first down on Duke's 11-yard line, but the Blue Devil defense stayed strong to hold the Cavaliers to three points.
With just over a minute to play and trailing 16-13, Duke quarterback Walker Eget guided the Blue Devils down the field, going four-for-five for 45 yards to put Duke on Virginia's 30-yard line.
Two plays later, Eget threw a backwards pass to Sheppard, who found Keefe wide open in the end zone for the Blue Devils' first touchdown since the opening drive of the game. Smith-Young sealed the victory 30 seconds later with his first interception of the season.