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Duke star running back Nate Sheppard was bottled up for most of Friday night's game against Virginia.
His coaches found a creative way to get him loose.
Sheppard caught a backward pass from quarterback Walker Eget, then found freshman tight end Brody Keefe wide open in the end zone for a 28-yard score that turned out to be the difference in a 19-16 victory.
It was Sheppard's first career pass.
Nate's first career pass was a game-winner 😈 Duke pulled out the trick play FTW. Nate Sheppard took a lateral from Walker Eget and launched a TD pass to Brody Keefe for the go-ahead score with just 1:14 to play. @DukeFOOTBALL | @DukeATHLETICS | #GoDuke | @CPISecurity https://t.co/8M6gMdrskH
— ACC Digital Network (@theACCDN) October 24, 2026The score came with 1:14 remaining. The extra point failed, leaving the door open for Virginia to potentially tie the game with a field goal. Duke's Patrick Smith-Young intercepted Virginia's Beau Pribula to end the threat.
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Sheppard, a sophomore, entered the night as the nation's leader with 179.8 yards from scrimmage per game. He finished with 55 yards on 15 carries, including a 32-yard touchdown, and caught two passes for 11 yards.
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