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Duke Beat NC State 41-3 as Sheppard Runs for 217 Yards and Three Touchdowns

Nate Sheppard scored on a 69 yard run on Duke's opening drive, finished with 217 yards and three touchdowns, and Andrew Pellicciotta returned a missed field goal 109 yards in a 41-3 win at Carter-Finley Stadium.

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Duke Beat NC State 41-3 as Sheppard Runs for 217 Yards and Three Touchdowns

Key points

  • Duke beat NC State 41-3 at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026.
  • Duke led 7-3 after the first quarter, 31-3 at half time, and added seven points in the third quarter and three in the fourth.
  • Sheppard scored on a 69 yard run four plays into Duke's opening drive.

Duke beat NC State 41-3 at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026. Nate Sheppard ran for 217 yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries, and Duke won its third straight game.

Duke led 7-3 after the first quarter, 31-3 at half time, and added seven points in the third quarter and three in the fourth. NC State scored three points in the first quarter and did not score again.

Sheppard set the tone on the opening drive

Sheppard scored on a 69 yard run four plays into Duke's opening drive. The run set the Duke single season rushing touchdown record and took Sheppard past 1,000 rushing yards for the second straight season, the Fayetteville Observer reported.

He kept going from there. Sheppard finished with 217 yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries, an average of more than 12 yards per carry. NC State never found a way to slow him down, and Duke built its whole afternoon around his running.

Eget kept Duke moving through the air

Duke quarterback Walker Eget completed 22 of 31 passes for 208 yards and a touchdown. With Sheppard running the way he was, Eget did not need to force throws. He kept drives moving and Duke stayed in control of the score from the first quarter on.

The quarter scores show how one sided it became. Duke scored 7, 24, 7 and 3 by quarter for 41 points. NC State scored 3, 0, 0 and 0 for three points.

A 109 yard return closed the first half

The play of the game came with two seconds left in the first half. NC State tried a 50 yard field goal. The kick missed, and Duke safety Andrew Pellicciotta fielded the ball and returned it 109 yards for a touchdown. Duke went into half time ahead 31-3.

Both Duke Wire and the Fayetteville Observer confirmed the 109 yard return. A close game on paper became a rout in one play, and NC State spent the second half chasing a score that was already out of reach.

Duke improved to 7-2 overall and 4-2 in the ACC with its third straight win. Duke travels to Miami on Saturday, Nov. 14.

Timeline

  1. Nov 7, 2026Nate Sheppard scores on a 69 yard run four plays into Duke's opening drive, and Duke leads 7-3 after the first quarter.
  2. Nov 7, 2026Andrew Pellicciotta returns a missed 50 yard field goal 109 yards for a touchdown with two seconds left in the first half, and Duke leads 31-3 at half time.
  3. Nov 7, 2026Duke adds seven points in the third quarter and three in the fourth to close a 41-3 win, its third straight victory.

Sources