Duke rallies past Virginia in ACC thriller with late trick-play touchdown

Duke rallies past Virginia in ACC thriller with late trick-play touchdown.

Key points

• This time, Manny Diaz's squad won it with some trickery as quarterback Walker Eget threw a backwards pass to running back Nate Sheppard.
• Be sure to check out USA TODAY Sports' new College Football Unfiltered podcast, hosted by USA TODAY Sports columnist Blake Toppmeyer.
• The Blue Devils move to 5-2 overall and 2-2 in ACC play with the win.
• For the second time in less than a year, Duke and Virginia discovered themselves locked in an ACC thriller that came down to the final minutes.
• Duke briefly lost Eget in the first half after he took a hit with a helmet to his index finger.

For the second time in less than a year, Duke and Virginia discovered themselves locked in an ACC thriller that came down to the final minutes. Once again, the Blue Devils came up with the decisive play.

This time, Manny Diaz's squad won it with some trickery as quarterback Walker Eget threw a backwards pass to running back Nate Sheppard. This person then unleashed it downfield to freshman Brody Keefe, who was wide open in the end zone for the go-ahead, 28-yard touchdown with 1: 14 remaining in the fourth quarter. BOLD PREDICTIONS: Who is on upset watch in Week 8?

Speaking with ESPN's Dana Boyle after the win, Diaz remarked the trick play was intentionally set up by the Blue Devils two plays prior, on a 13-yard pass from Eget to Sheppard on the left side.

"We knew it was there. We actually talked regarding it, " Diaz stated. ". We remarked we wanted to play that (play) for the win. We threw for the win."

Notably, the Blue Devils would seal the 19-16 win with an interception from Patrick Smith-Young a handful of seconds afterwards on a fourth-and-6 heave pass from Virginia quarterback Beau Pribula as Duke brought the pressure.

"We made the play at the end to win it and could not be more proud of our football team, " Diaz remarked.

Duke briefly lost Eget in the first half after he took a hit with a helmet to his index finger. Blue Devils backup quarterback Dan Mahan completed 2 of 5 passes for 17 yards in his absence. Eget was 14 of 25 passing for 211 yards and an interception himself.

In practice, the Blue Devils move to 5-2 overall and 2-2 in ACC play with the win. Duke next hosts Boston College at noon ET on Saturday, Oct. 31 in Durham.

Be sure to check out USA TODAY Sports' new College Football Unfiltered podcast, hosted by USA TODAY Sports columnist Blake Toppmeyer. You can stream on YouTube or download via Apple podcasts and Spotify. Share your feedback to support improve our site!

Taken together, the developments around duke rallies past Virginia in ACC thriller with late trick point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.