Blue Devils' 16 unanswered points frustrates Cavaliers

By Doug Doughty

CHARLOTTESVILLE

Pity the poor youngsters who missed trick-or-treating for a chance to watch Virginia's football team play on Halloween.

It was the same feeling as ringing the door at an empty house.

There was a glimmer of hope when the Cavaliers twice overcame second-half deficits to take the lead Saturday, but a late Duke flurry resulted in a 28-17 Blue Devils triumph.

Three early October victories faded into the background as the noose tightened around the neck of ninth-year U.Va. head coach Al Groh.

U.Va. (3-5 overall, 2-2 ACC) had won 12 of its previous 13 games with Duke in Charlottesville and had not lost back-to-back games to the Blue Devils since 1981-82.

Now, Duke (5-3, 3-1) has a second-year head coach, David Cutcliffe, who is unbeaten against the Cavaliers.

The Blue Devils claimed a 31-3 victory over Virginia last year in a game that was not as lopsided as the score indicated. The Cavaliers had six turnovers that day and held Duke's high-powered attack to 258 yards.

This time, Duke outgained Virginia 424-196.

Leading the way was quarterback Thaddeus Lewis, a four-year starter who completed 24 of 40 passes for 340 yards. In the previous three games, he had passed for 359, 459 and 371 yards.

"Our guy, if you look at what he's done the last four weeks, tell me a quarterback in the country that's played better," said Cutcliffe, known as a mentor for Peyton and Eli Manning.

"I'm pretty good at evaluating quarterbacks. I'm not going to be cocky or arrogant, but I am, OK? But the guy we got never gets mentioned and that's OK, but show me one (who is) playing better. We just don't get the highlights."

A less experienced or talented quarterback might have gotten flustered after being sacked five times in the first half, as Lewis was Saturday at Scott Stadium.

The Blue Devils may have been down to their last bullet, facing a third-and-9 from the U.Va. 42-yard line and trailing 17-12 when Lewis connected with freshman Conner Vernon on the go-ahead touchdown pass with 3:45 left.

Vernon beat one of Virginia's most capable defensive backs, fifth-year senior corner Chris Cook.

A failed two-point pass left the Blue Devils with an 18-17 lead and Virginia with plenty of time to stage a late comeback, but the Cavaliers were backed up to their 13-yard line when Mike Parker was called for a block in the back on the ensuing kickoff.

After two incompletions, U.Va. quarterback Jameel Sewell was unable to escape Duke's pass rush and fumbled when he was hit by the Blue Devils' Ayanga Okpokowuruk.

Duke's Charlie Hatcher scooped up the loose ball and returned it 7 yards for a touchdown, at which point the Blue Devils had scored 13 points in 23 seconds.

That put Duke on top 25-17 but, with 3:22 left, Virginia could have sent the game into overtime with a touchdown and two-point conversion. The best shot the Cavaliers had came on a first-down bomb from Sewell that slipped through Jared Green's hands at the Duke 15.

Virginia didn't pick up a first down on any of its final four possessions, forfeiting all of the momentum created by an end zone interception by Chase Minnifield with 8:01 remaining.

The Cavaliers took over at their 20 following Minnifield's pick and ran three straight running plays as a restless crowd groaned in frustration.

Sewell and Marc Verica, who replaced an injured Sewell for two series in the first half, combined to complete 13 of 38 passes for 107 yards. Sewell was not sharp from the start; his first attempt of the day went straight to a Duke defender, who may have been so startled that he dropped it.

By the end of the afternoon, Sewell was a wreck and took a late shot that caused Verica to re-enter for the final series. Sewell was often off-target and an old habit of holding onto the ball may have led to two late sacks and the fumble.