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09/12 18:29 CDT Nate Sheppard scores 3 TDs, Duke rallies to beat Illinois 31-27
for its sixth straight win
Nate Sheppard scores 3 TDs, Duke rallies to beat Illinois 31-27 for its sixth
straight win
By STEVE STEIN
Associated Press
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) --- Nate Sheppard ran for 147 yards and a touchdown and
caught two touchdown passes to lead Duke to a come-from-behind 31-27 victory
Saturday over Illinois.
The victory was the sixth straight for the defending ACC champion Blue Devils
in a streak that dates back to November 22, 2025, when they beat North Carolina
32-25.
Duke (2-0) fell behind 24-14 in the second quarter and was down 24-21 at
halftime. The Blue Devils never trailed again after taking a 28-24 lead in the
third quarter.
Walker Eget was 15 of 21 passing for 206 yards and three scores for Duke
despite suffering a leg injury when he was sacked by Will Holmes in the fourth
quarter. Eget returned to the game.
Collin Dixon caught three touchdown passes and set career highs for receptions
and yardage for Illinois (1-1), with 11 catches for 166 yards.
Katin Houser was 24 of 35 passing for 271 yards and three touchdowns for the
Illini, but had a critical interception in the fourth quarter. Ca'Lil Valentine
rushed for 56 yards.
Houser completed his first five passes, including a 13-yard scoring catch by
Dixon, who was wide open on a 40-yard touchdown pass on a fourth-and-one play
in the second quarter.
Illinois kicker Ethan Moczulski booted two field goals. His 51-yarder in the
first quarter barely sailed over the crossbar.
The Takeaway Illinois' defense allowed UAB to rack up 413 yards and possess the ball for 41 minutes last week in a 42-23 Illini victory. Poor tackling and the transition to a new 3-5-5 defensive alignment were the big reasons for the leaky defense. The defense wasn't much better against Duke, which compiled 376 yards. Sheppard was left overcovered in the flat on his first TD catch. Duke gave up just 54 yards rushing, 258 total yards and 10 first downs last week in a 17-3 win over Tulane. The numbers were different against Illinois thanks mainly to Houser and Dixon, but the Illini scored just three points in the second half. Illinois had 382 total yards and 23 first downs. Up Next Duke hosts Stanford on Sept. 19 Illinois hosts Southern Illinois on Sept. 19. Sign up for Top 25 poll alerts here. Visit the Top 25 here and see AP's full college football coverage here. |
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