Duke 49, Wake Forest 32: Five Critical Plays

Duke defeated Wake Forest 49 – 32 to finish the regular season at 7 wins and 5 losses. For the second season in a row, Duke swept the Big Four competition as Head Coach Manny Diaz improved to 6-0 against North Carolina, N.C. State and Wake Forest.

Duke played clean football this afternoon with zero turnovers, while Wake Forest turned the ball over four times. Duke was flagged for five penalties for 50 yards, whereas Wake Forest was flagged eight times for 97 yards.

Darian Mensah completed 24 of 35 passes for 268 yards and two touchdowns plus a four yard touchdown run. Nate Sheppard rushed 23 times for 75 yards and two touchdowns. Anderson Castle added 21 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries. Cooper Barkate was Duke’s leading receiver with eight receptions for 83 yards. Sahmir Hagans and Jeremiah Hasley each caught a touchdown pass.

Play One: With two minutes remaining in the 1st quarter, on 3rd down and 2-yards to go, Darian Mensah completed a short pass to running back Anderson Castle who raced up the left sideline for 17-yards and a 1st down. Three plays later Mensah scrambled for a touchdown to give Duke a 14-3 lead.

Play Two: Wake Forest had a 1st down and 10 at the Duke 23-yard line with 8 minutes and 42 seconds remaining in the 2nd quarter. Wake Forest quarterback Robby Ashford pitched the ball to running back Demond Claiborne who could not handle the pitch. Duke defensive tackle David Anderson recovered the fumble to stop the Demon Deacons drive.

Play Three: With one minute and 43 seconds remaining in the 1st half, on 3rd down and 7-yards to go, Darian Mensah found wide receiver Que’Sean Brown for a 16-yard reception to the Wake Forest 1-yard line. On the next play, Anderson Castle rushed for his first touchdown to extend Duke’s lead to 21-10.

Play Four: On the first play of the 4th quarter, Wake Forest kicked off to Duke and Sahmir Hagans returned the kick 80-yards to the Wake Forest 13-yard line. Two plays later, Nate Sheppard ran around the left end for his second touchdown to push Duke’s lead to 42-25.

Play Five: Wake Forest quarterback Robby Ashford completed a pass to running back Demond Claiborne but Duke cornerback Chandler Rivers punched the ball out and linebacker Luke Mergott recovered the ball at the Duke 18-yard line to stop another Wake Forest drive via a turnover with six minutes and 38 seconds remaining in the game.

• Duke rolls Wake Forest to keep ACC title-game hopes alive

• Wake Forest vs Duke Game Condensed Game | 2025 ACC Football

• Mensah, Duke running backs lead Blue Devils past mistake-prone Wake Forest 49-32

• What was learned as Duke closed regular season by beating Wake Forest

• Duke sets records in decisive win over Wake Forest

• How it fell apart for Wake Forest football against Duke in ACC regular season finale

• Duke sets records in decisive win over Wake Forest

• 5 observations and more from Duke football’s first half against Wake Forest

• Duke takes advantage of Wake Forest mistakes in 49-32 win

• STATE SWEEP: Duke football forces 4 turnovers to defeat Wake Forest 49-32, defend state title

Go to the DBR Boards to find Blue Healer Auctions | Drop us a line