Sheppard scores 3 TDs as Duke handles Stanford, 35-7

Nate Sheppard scored on two runs and a reception, gained 154 yards on the ground and undefeated Duke beat Stanford 35-7 on Saturday

DURHAM, N.C. -- Nate Sheppard scored on two runs and a reception, gained 154 yards on the ground and undefeated Duke beat Stanford 35-7 on Saturday.

Duke (3-0, 1-0 Atlantic Coast Conference), the defending conference champion, has won five consecutive ACC openers for the first time in program history.

Sheppard carried 23 times and scored on a 2-yard play on his lone catch. Kavon Simmons and Jayvian Tanelus added touchdown runs for the Blue Devils, who compiled 268 rushing yards. Quarterback Walker Eget completed 14 of 24 passes for 202 yards.

Davis Warren was 18-for-32 for 151 yards with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Caden High for Stanford (1-2, 0-2), which was limited to 237 yards of total offense. Micah Ford rushed for 76 yards on 11 attempts.

Stanford: The Cardinal were stuck with less than 200 yards of total offense until the final seven minutes. It has failed to reach a double-digit point total in both of its ACC games.

Duke: The Blue Devils have been content to rely on Sheppard to set the tone for their rushing attack. The sophomore has more than 500 rushing yards in three games his season following his 1,132 yards on the ground last year. Duke’s only turnover came when Eget was picked off in the end zone to end its first possession.

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