DURHAM, N.C. - Alvin Pearman hit every hole and bounced off defenders for big gains, coming just short of running into the Virginia record book. The senior ran for a career-high 223 yards and a touchdown, leading a powerful ground attack that lifted the Cavaliers past Duke 37-16 Saturday.
Pearman, who also had three catches for 44 yards, nearly matched his season rushing total and finished 1 yard shy of tying John Papit's single-game school record set against Washington & Lee in 1948.
"He was hot," coach Al Groh said. "He had a lot of heart today. He put his pads down and knocked down quite a few guys."
Wali Lundy added 82 yards and two scores for the Cavaliers (6-1, 3-1), who rebounded from a lopsided loss at Florida State last week by piling up 511 yards - 348 on the ground.
Midway through the first quarter, Pearman carried the ball 10 consecutive times for 69 yards on a drive that ended with Lundy's 1-yard touchdown. Early in the third, he carried the ball seven straight times for 42 yards.
That took pressure off quarterback Marques Hagans, who sustained a hip injury in the 36-3 loss to FSU. Hagans didn't practice much of the week.
The Blue Devils (1-6, 0-4) have lost five in a row in the series.
CLEMSON 10, MARYLAND 7: Reggie Merriweather scored from 2 yards with 23 seconds left for the host Tigers. Until the final moments, Clemson (3-4, 2-3) had little success against Maryland's defense, which had five sacks and held Clemson to a field goal over 59 minutes.
But quarterback Charlie Whitehurst, starting at his 41 yard line, suddenly found his rhythm. He hit passes of 9 and 14 yards to Kelvin Grant and 18 to Airese Currie to get to Maryland's 7. A pass interference call on cornerback Gerrick McPherson moved the ball to the 2 and Merriweather finished the comeback with his straight ahead run. Maryland (3-4, 1-3) hadn't lost in the series since 2000.
