Duke kept rolling on Saturday, and the 62-7 win over William & Mary gave the Blue Devils exactly what a game like this is supposed to provide: another lopsided result, a chance to breathe, and some valuable reps for players farther down the roster.
The Blue Devils are now 4-0 for the second time under head coach Manny Diaz, and while this one didn’t reveal a ton about the team’s ceiling, it did show how deep the roster can be when things are going this smoothly. Duke was in control from the start at Wallace Wade Stadium and never had to leave second gear.
Walker Eget handled the opening work at quarterback and finished 16-of-22 for 182 yards and two touchdowns before redshirt freshman Dan Mahan took over. Mahan made the most of his extended opportunity.
The Burlington, NC native went 6-of-7 for 126 yards and three touchdown passes, looking composed and clean in his first real run of college action. The opponent was an FCS team, but the operation looked comfortable, and Duke has to like what it saw from a quarterback who may not need to do much in 2026 as long as Eget stays healthy.
Nate Sheppard still found the end zone and piled up 116 rushing yards on nine carries, which counts as his quietest game of the 2026 season. That says plenty about how productive he has been. With the lead secure, Duke also got a chance to give some of the backs and other reserves extra work before the bye.
There were firsts all over the field, too. Moore, Keefe and another Duke player each scored their first touchdowns as Blue Devils against William & Mary. Moore and Keefe both made impressive catches to finish off their scores, and Keefe’s grab stood out as a memorable first collegiate catch.
Duke also kept taking shots downfield and used the mismatch to test parts of the offense it may not need to lean on much later. The Blue Devils connected with double-digit receivers in the blowout, and plenty of them got something out of the day.
The defense did its part as well. After halftime, Duke shut William & Mary out over the final three quarters, continuing a season-long pattern of locking things down after the break. Through four games, the Blue Devils have allowed just six second-half points.
Now comes the bye, and Duke heads into it with momentum intact. The next stop is a road game against Georgia Tech on Oct. 10.
In Other News...
Duke Just Made An ACC Statement At No. 3 Wake Forest
Dukes field hockey team picked up a noteworthy ACC road win at No. 3 Wake Forest, rallying late to come away with a 3-2 overtime victory. The Blue Devils moved to 6-2 overall and 2-0 in conference play, a strong early marker in a league where every result tends to carry extra weight.
The comeback made the result feel even bigger, with Duke erasing a two-goal deficit in the fourth quarter before eventually cashing in in overtime. Juliette Schulten delivered the finish on a penalty corner, giving Duke a win that should travel well as the ACC schedule gets deeper and the margin for error gets thinner. [Read more 🡒]
Duke Opens ACC Play With The Response Blue Devils Fans Needed
A five-set win over Wake Forest gave Duke volleyball exactly the kind of reset it wanted to open ACC play, and it came with plenty of signs that the Blue Devils were finding their footing again. Ashby Zubchevich paced the offense with 19 kills, while multiple Duke players delivered double-doubles in a match that had the kind of back-and-forth feel conference play often brings.
Breonna Goss also made her presence felt at the net, helping Duke put together a defensive effort that matched the moment. The Blue Devils finished with a season-high 16 blocks, a strong response after a three-match skid against Wake Forest and a result that should give them some much-needed confidence heading deeper into the league schedule. [Read more 🡒]
Duke's ACC Push Just Got A Lift From An Unexpected Place
Duke went into its bye week with plenty to feel good about after a 62-7 win over William & Mary pushed the Blue Devils to 4-0. The offense made a point of leaning on the passing game, and the game also offered a look at the depth that can matter over the long haul, with several younger players contributing on both sides of the ball.
The larger picture is still what makes this stretch matter for Duke. The Blue Devils remain in the mix in the ACC championship race, but the defense is still searching for a cleaner performance after giving up a few explosive plays, a reminder that the margin will shrink once league play tightens up and the competition gets sharper. [Read more 🡒]