Brennan Armstrong threw for two touchdowns and rushed for another as Virginia crushed visiting Duke 48-0 in Atlantic Coast Conference play Saturday afternoon in Charlottesville, Va.
The Cavaliers (5-2, 3-2 ACC) have won three games in a row, though the first two of the streak came by a total of three points.
Armstrong completed 25 of 45 passes for 364 yards without an interception.
Mataeo Durant gained 82 yards on 17 carries for Duke (3-4, 0-3), which has lost three straight. This came after his school-record 43 carries a week earlier against Georgia Tech.
Gunnar Holmberg completed 20 of 34 passes for 134 yards with two picks and the Blue Devils were outgained by a 528-325 margin.
Virginia produced 24 second-quarter points on the way to a 34-0 halftime edge. The last points came on Armstrong’s 7-yard pass to Jelani Woods with five seconds left in the half following a Holmberg interception.
All of Virginia’s first-half touchdown drives consisted of at least eight plays, plus there was an 11-play march that resulted in a field goal.
The longest scoring play came on Virginia’s first touchdown when Armstrong hooked up with Dontayvion Wicks on a 20-yard play. Wicks finished with 125 receiving yards on seven catches.
Duke committed two turnovers in the first half, when the Blue Devils were also damaged by penalties and dropped passes. They had their best scoring chance on their first possession but came up empty as Matt Alswanger missed a 25-yard field goal attempt when the ball bounced off the upright.
Duke reached the Virginia 18-yard line in the third quarter before stalling.
Keytaon Thompson, Devin Darrington and Ronnie Walker Jr. all ran for Virginia touchdowns. Brendan Farrell kicked field goals from 31 and 34 yards.
Darrington finished with a team-high 60 rushing yards on five attempts.
Virginia has won seven consecutive meetings with Duke.
–Field Level Media
