Duke’s (10-2, 6-2 ACC) defensive MVP DeVon Edwards intercepted a pass by North Carolina (6-6, 4-4 ACC) quarterback Marquise Williams to lock up the ACC Coastal Division and a trip to the ACC Championship Game. The interception by Edwards sealed a hard-fought 27-25 victory by the Blue Devils, setting a school record with 10 wins in a single season in the process.
The two Tobacco Road rivals went back and forth all game long, and the fourth quarter was no exception. Leading 24-22, Duke saw their lead slip away midway through the fourth quarter when Thomas Moore kicked a 37-yard field goal to give the home Tar Heels a narrow 25-24 lead. Duke answered with Ross Martin capping a 11-play drive with a 27-yard field goal for the 27-25 lead with 2:22 to play. North Carolina made it interesting by moving the ball just across midfield but Edwards came up with the big defensive play at the Duke 29-yard line with 13 seconds to play. Both of North Carolina’s turnovers came in the second half of the game, with the first coming in the first 30 seconds of the half.
Duke will play in next weekend’s ACC Championship Game in Charlotte, where they will face Florida State, who could be one step away from playing for a BCS Championship. Florida State won last year’s ACC Championship Game against Georgia Tech.
North Carolina’s season is not over yet though. The Tar Heels ended the regular season with a 6-6 record which makes them eligible for a postseason bowl game.