Cavaliers Dominate Blue Devils, Hold On for 34–17 Win

photo by UVA Athletics

Nov, 15, 2025, 8:56pm

Blog By Walker Johnson

DURHAM — The No. 19 Virginia Cavaliers picked up a big road victory Saturday, defeating the Duke Blue Devils 34–17 to keep momentum alive in the ACC championship race. Virginia struck early and set the tone. Running back J’Mari Taylor opened the scoring with a 5-yard touchdown run on the Cavaliers’ opening drive, giving UVA a lead it would never relinquish.  

The Cavalier offense kept rolling. Quarterback Chandler Morris threw a 12-yard touchdown to Sage Ennis just before halftime to extend the lead, and kicker Will Bettridge added a 44-yard field goal right before the break to make it 17–3.

Virginia blew the game open in the third quarter with two more touchdowns — one via Trell Harris on a 20-yard pass from Morris, and another monster 78-yard run from Taylor, who burst through Duke’s defense for a go-ahead score. 

Duke tried to fight back in the fourth quarter: quarterback Darian Mensah threw a touchdown pass, and Duke returned an interception for another score. But Virginia closed it out with a late field goal from Bettridge, icing the game.

Standout Performers

• Chandler Morris (Virginia): Threw for 316 yards and two touchdowns, despite tossing two interceptions.  

• J’Mari Taylor: Gashed Duke’s defense with 133 rushing yards and two scores, including that signature 78-yard run.  

• Trell Harris: Caught 8 passes for 161 yards, providing a massive boost in the passing game.  

• Virginia Defense: Held strong in the second half, limiting Duke to just one fourth-quarter touchdown and making key stops when needed.

413’s Bottomline

This was one of Virginia’s most complete performances of the season. They executed in all three phases offense, defense, and special teams and looked poised under pressure. Morris and Taylor paced the offense, while the defense tightened up when Duke threatened.

For Duke, it’s a disappointing loss. The offense had too many breakdowns, and while the late scores made things interesting, the Blue Devils couldn’t overcome Virginia’s dominance in the first three quarters.

Virginia now prepares for its regular-season finale with a chance to lock up a spot in the ACC Championship Game. With the way they played today, they look like a team that won’t go quietly.

Up Next

Virginia: Bye week prepping for the Commonwealth Cup against Virginia Tech 11/29.

Duke: Travel to Chapel Hill for rivalry showdown with the Tar Heels next Saturday.