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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- Thaddeus Lewis and his Duke teammates don't know if opponents are starting to believe that the rumors of the Blue Devils' vast improvement are true.

And, Lewis said, he doesn't care.

Lewis threw for 343 yards and hit Conner Vernon for a 42-yard touchdown with 3:45 to play Saturday as Duke rallied for its third consecutive ACC victory, 28-17 against Virginia.

"We just know what we have," Lewis said.

What the Blue Devils had at Virginia (3-5, 2-2) was a dynamic passing game led by Lewis, a four-year starter who shook off six sacks and made the big throws when his team needed them.

"That route was open all day," Lewis said of the go-ahead touchdown. "Donovan (Varner) did a great job of carrying the first guy, and then I saw the window open up for Conner."

The play gave the Blue Devils (5-3, 3-1 ACC) an 18-17 lead. They sealed it 23 seconds later when Ayanga Okpokowuruk forced Virginia quarterback Jameel Sewell to fumble and Charlie Hatcher recovered and took it 7 yards into the end zone.

"We're having fun right now," Okpokowuruk said.

Will Snyderwine made five field goals for the Devils, who have won three in a row for the first time since 1994.

The victory also kept Duke in the thick of the ACC Coastal Division race, with a game against division leader No. 11 Georgia Tech on Nov. 14 in Durham.

But Lewis said the Blue Devils don't care to look that far ahead, especially with a game against North Carolina in Chapel Hill next Saturday.

"We're going to let everyone talk and we're just going to continue with the plan that we have of taking it one by one, taking it a game at a time," Lewis said.

Duke 6 3 0 19 -- 28

Virginia 0 3 7 7 -- 17

Duke--FG Snyderwine 44

Duke--FG Snyderwine 28

Duke--FG Snyderwine 34

UVa--FG Randolph 33

UVa--Sewell 1 run (Jarrett kick)

Duke--FG Snyderwine 25

UVa--Torchia 19 pass from Sewell (Jarrett kick)

Duke--Vernon 42 pass from Lewis (pass failed)

Duke--Hatcher 7 fumble return (Snyderwine kick)

Duke--FG Snyderwine 43

A--41,713.

Duke Virginia

First downs 22 14

Rushes-Yards 39-81 28-89

Passing 343 107

Comp-Att-Int 24-41-1 13-38-1

Return yards 30 9

Punts-Avg. 5-35.6 6-40.2

Fumbles-Lost 0-0 1-1

Penalties-Yards 5-54 5-50

Time of Possession 35:26 24:34

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING--Duke, Hollingsworth 12-39, D.Scott 7-26, Lewis 16-13, Boyette 3-4, team 1-(minus 1). Virginia, Jackson 16-83, Simpson 5-21, Hall 1-4, Team 1-(minus 1), Sewell 5-(minus 18).

PASSING--Duke, Lewis 24-40-1-343, Kelly 0-1-0-0. Virginia, Sewell 8-22-1-86, Verica 5-16-0-21.

RECEIVING--Duke, Varner 7-113, Vernon 7-103, Huffman 3-34, Kelly 2-46, Williams 2-22, D.Scott 2-16, Hollingsworth 1-9. Virginia, Torchia 3-44, T.Smith 2-11, Simpson 2-0, Burd 1-14, Green 1-14, Hall 1-10, Freedman 1-6, Jackson 1-5, Phillips 1-3.