Just like last season

On an evening when ghosts sauntered the streets for treats, Virginia was haunted in a matter of minutes.

Apparently headed for their third league win and needing to run out the waning minutes, the Cavaliers stumbled and fumbled and Duke rumbled to a stunning 28-17 victory that all but dashed Virginia’s postseason aspirations.

To register their second straight win over UVa, a feat that they had not accomplished in 27 years, the Blue Devils (5-3, 3-1 ACC) scored 17 unanswered points in the final 3:45.

“We kind of gave that game away,” said Virginia running back Rashawn Jackson. “It is heartbreaking.”

The coaches and players on Duke’s sidelines were just as surprised by the scoring spree in what had been a defense-dominated contest.

“It was an explosion,” said Duke coach David Cutcliffe. “I was not surprised when Virginia came out, did a good job and took the lead.

“I was not overly concerned, but it was a pretty amazing finish on our team’s part. It does not happen just because you want it to.”

The comeback started with a 42-yard touchdown pass from Duke quarterback Thaddeus Lewis to wide receiver Conner Vernon with 3:45 remaining, which gave the Blue Devils an 18-17 lead.

Vernon, who was guarded by press coverage from cornerback Chris Cook, sprinted upfield, was jammed and escaped the coverage as the ball arrived from Lewis, who was slammed to the ground by a hit from John-Kevin Dolce.

“It takes a lot of courage against a front like that coming at your quarterback, an absolutely perfect route run by Vernon [and] focus to catch it,” Cutcliffe said. “When you are playing zero coverage, there is nobody else there.”

While it appeared that Cook slipped to the ground, Virginia coach Al Groh said he was of the opinion that it was not a factor.

After Duke failed to convert the two-point conversion, Virginia still had time to move into field-goal range.

Yet a 16-yard illegal block penalty on the kickoff called on Mike Parker and two incomplete passes left the Cavaliers facing third-and-10 at their own 13.

While scrambling in the pocket on the ensuing play, Virginia quarterback Jameel Sewell had the ball knocked from his left hand by Duke defensive end Ayanga Okpokowuruk.

“I just did a spin move,” he said. “I didn’t think it was really going to work. I turned around and [Sewell] was right there and when I tackled him, I went for the ball.”

The loose football was picked up moments later at the Virginia 6-yard line by nose guard Charlie Hatcher, who ran in untouched for a touchdown.

“The fumble return for a touchdown was not an accident either,” Cutcliffe said. “That is pressure, persistence in rush and awareness to quickly scoop and score.”

Despite a mass exit in the stands from the smallest crowd at Scott Stadium in 10 years, Virginia still had a chance for yet another comeback.

That opportunity fizzled quickly as Sewell threw three incomplete passes and was sacked for a 10-yard loss on fourth down, turning the ball over in a position that led to a 43-yard field goal from Duke’s Will Snyderwine with 1:05 left.

Groh said Virginia allowed “too many gift points” in the loss.

“Unfortunately this one looked too much like some that have preceded it,” said Groh after his team fell to 3-5 overall and 2-2 in the conference. “We played fairly well for a long time on defense against a team that is pretty proficient offensively.

“There don’t need to be very many — four, five, six, how many ever there were of the plays that cause teams to lose. It tilted it in the wrong direction. It’s unfortunate.”

Leading 17-12 in the fourth quarter, Virginia had its chance to add points or run out the clock following an interception by sophomore Chase Minnifield in the back of the end zone with 8:01 remaining.

Yet three rushes, including two from Jackson, netted just four yards and led to a punt with 5:36 remaining.

“The offense didn’t play really well when we needed to — that three-and-out was evidence of that,” said Jackson, who rushed for 83 yards on 16 carries. “I should have broken some more tackles. There were a few opportunities that we left on the field. It was a collective effort.

“Offensively, we didn’t protect well. We didn’t catch well. I didn’t run well enough and Duke won.”

Virginia was in a situation to win because of two offensive touchdowns in the second half.

In clockwork-like fashion, the Cavaliers clicked on their first offensive possession of the third quarter. In fact, Virginia gained 66 yards on eight plays, scoring on a 1-yard quarterback keeper from Sewell just 3:22 into the third quarter.

“As soon as we saw the play, got the play from the sideline, I realized, ‘Well, you know this guy is going to score and if someone if going to get in his way then I am going to help push him in,’” Jackson said. “Fortunately, I didn’t need to help push him in because he had a pretty good hole.”

After a 25-yard field goal from Snyderwine, the Cavaliers scored again as Sewell connected with tight end Joe Torchia on a 19-yard strike.

“Jameel put it perfectly,” Torchia said of his first career touchdown. “He works hard every day to put the ball where it needs to be and that’s what he did.”

Duke managed just three field goals in the first half and led 9-0 before Virginia trimmed the margin with a 33-yard field goal from Robert Randolph.

For the game, Virginia managed just 196 yards of total offense and was forced to play the final 13:50 of the first half without Sewell, who returned after the intermission.

Duke, running a game-high 80 plays, amassed 424 yards. Lewis accounted for 356 of those yards, including 343 through the air as he connected with seven different targets.

Virginia returns to action on Saturday at Miami. The start time for the game will be announced today.