DURHAM, N.C. (CVILLE RIGHT NOW)  – J’Mari Taylor rushed for 133 yards and two touchdowns, and quarterback Chandler Morris returned from injury to throw two TD passes and lead Virginia to a resounding 34-17 win over Duke on Saturday in Wallace Wade Stadium.
The victory gives the Cavaliers (9-2, 6-1 ACC) the inside track for a berth in the ACC championship game and matched their best start since 2007. UVA has an open date this week and will close out the regular season needing to beat rival Virginia Tech in Charlottesville on Nov. 29 to wrap up their second appearance in the championship game and first since 2019.
Duke (5-5, 4-2) began the day as one of five teams with one loss in ACC play that were still in the running for a championship game berth.
However, Virginia dominated early and late in the first half to build a 17-3 halftime lead.
Taylor capped a 75-yard touchdown drive on the opening possession of the day, running 5 yards for the score. He added a 78-yard TD gallop in the third quarter to give UVA a 31-3 lead.
Morris, who left last week’s loss to Wake Forest with a head and neck injury, was questionable early this week. But he looked none the worse for wear and threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to tight end Sage Ennis with 1:45 left in the first half. Will Bettridge added a 44-yard field goal on the final play of the half.
Trell Harris, who had a big day receiving with eight catches for 161 yards, caught a 12-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter.
Duke made the game interesting in the fourth quarter. Darian Mensah threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Cooper Barkate, and three plays later grad linebacker Tre Freeman picked off a screen pass and returned it 17 yards for a touchdown with 9:30 remaining.
The pick-six cut UVA’s lead to 31-17 with 9:30 left to play, but the Cavaliers drove 50 yards on their ensuing possession for a 44-yard field goal by Bettridge and a 34-17 lead.
Morris finished with 23 completions in 35 attempts for 316 yards, with two interceptions.