Virginia Cavaliers vs Duke Blue Devils Match Player Stats On Oct 01, 2016

The Sports Xchange
Oct 1, 2016

DURHAM, N.C. -- Quarterback Kurt Benkert threw for three touchdowns and Virginia's defense collected six turnovers in a 34-20 victory against Duke on Saturday afternoon at Wallace Wade Stadium.

The outcome ended Virginia's streak of 17 consecutive road losses, leaving the Cavaliers one shy of the school record. It was the first Atlantic Coast Conference game for Cavaliers coach Bronco Mendenhall.

Cornerbacks Bryce Hall and Juan Thornhill each had two interceptions for Virginia (2-3, 1-0 ACC), which has won back-to-back games.

It was a rough outing for Duke redshirt freshman quarterback Daniel Jones, who was intercepted five times and lost a fumble in the end zone that resulted in a game-sealing Virginia touchdown.

Benkert completed 23 of 41 passes for 336 yards.

Duke (2-3, 0-2) was within 27-20 after running back Joseph Ajeigbe's 4-yard touchdown run with 11:34 left. The Blue Devils went 70 plays in three plays.

Virginia failed to pick up a first down and Duke took over at the Cavaliers' 43 following a failed fake punt. The Blue Devils made it to the Virginia 28 before linebacker Micah Kiser sacked Jones on fourth down.

Duke was back in business with 6:24 remaining when linebacker Ben Humphries returned an interception 11 yards to the Virginia 39, but Jones threw incomplete on fourth-and-3.

Another Virginia punt pinned Duke its 2-yard line and linebacker Jordan Mack sacked Jones in the end zone, with defensive end Eli Hanback recovering the fumble for a touchdown.

Duke, which was unable to sustain the momentum from an upset victory a week earlier at Notre Dame, picked up 324 passing yards from Jones, who completed 33 of 54 throws.

After the third of four interceptions by Jones in the first half, Virginia went 86 yards in five plays for a 13-10 lead with 4:10 to go in the second quarter.

The Cavaliers drove 65 yards after the next pick, scoring on Benkert's 12-yard pass to receiver Olamide Zaccheaus 12 seconds before halftime.

Virginia's defense had a total of two interceptions in its first four games.

With more than five minutes to go in the first half, Virginia had completed passes for more than 80 yards in consecutive games for the first time in program history.

Jones had five consecutive completions on Duke's first possession of the second half, but the 70-yard drive stalled at the Virginia 3 and the Blue Devils settled for AJ Reed's second field goal of the game.

Virginia was up 27-13 after Benkert's 3-yard pass to tight end Richard Burney.