DURHAM – Duke captured its second consecutive North Carolina “state championship” with a 49-32 victory over Wake Forest on Saturday at Wallace Wade Stadium, completing a season sweep of the Old North State's ACC programs.
The Blue Devils (7-5, 6-2 ACC) secured back-to-back state titles for the first time since 1961-62, defeating NC State, North Carolina and Wake Forest in successive seasons. The victory also gave Duke six ACC wins for the first time since 2013 and marked just the fourth time in program history the Blue Devils have reached that conference win total.
Quarterback Darian Mensah made history in the third quarter, throwing his 27th touchdown pass of the season to set a new Duke single-season record. The sophomore connected with Sahmir Hagans on a 30-yard scoring strike to extend the lead to 28-17 with 9:45 remaining in the third period.
Running back Nate Sheppard had a breakout performance, rushing for 75 yards and two touchdowns while establishing new Duke freshman records. His 13-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter was his ninth rushing touchdown of the season, breaking the previous freshman mark of eight. The performance also pushed Sheppard to 865 rushing yards for the year, another freshman program record.
Anderson Castle complemented Sheppard's ground game with two short touchdown runs, giving him 11 rushing scores on the season. That total ties for eighth-most in a single season in Duke program history. Castle finished with 21 yards on 12 carries.
Wake Forest (8-4, 4-4 ACC) quarterback Robby Ashford completed 27 of 43 passes for 342 yards and two touchdowns, adding a rushing score as well. However, the Demon Deacons were plagued by turnovers, losing three fumbles while Ashford threw one interception.
Duke established control early, taking a 7-0 lead on its opening drive when Sheppard scored from five yards out. The 75-yard march marked the fourth time in five games the Blue Devils had scored on their first possession.
The Demon Deacons responded with a 42-yard Connor Calvert field goal to cut the deficit to 7-3, but Mensah answered on the final play of the first quarter with a four-yard touchdown run for a 14-3 Duke advantage. The score was Mensah's first rushing touchdown as a Blue Devil and second of his career.
Wake Forest's Sawyer Racanelli caught a 22-yard touchdown pass from Ashford early in the second quarter to make it 14-10, but Duke responded after stopping the Demon Deacons on fourth down at their own 36-yard line. Castle's one-yard touchdown plunge with 1:38 left in the half extended the lead to 21-10.
Ashford connected with Karate Brenson on a 20-yard touchdown pass with 29 seconds remaining in the half to bring Wake Forest within 21-17 at the break.
The third quarter proved decisive for Duke. After both teams punted on their opening possessions, Mensah found Hagans for the record-breaking touchdown pass. Ashford answered with a 10-yard rushing touchdown and successful two-point conversion on the final play of the quarter to cut the deficit to 35-25.
Hagans provided the game's most explosive play moments later, returning the ensuing kickoff 80 yards to the Wake Forest 13-yard line. Sheppard capped the short drive with his record-setting ninth touchdown run, pushing the lead to 42-25 with 13:57 remaining.
Wake Forest's Ty Clark scored on a one-yard run to make it 42-32 with 11:13 left, but Duke's defense took control down the stretch. The Blue Devils forced fumbles on consecutive Wake Forest possessions, with linebacker Luke Mergott recovering two of them.
Mensah sealed the victory with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Jeremiah Hasley with 23 seconds remaining. The sophomore finished 24 of 35 for 268 yards and two touchdowns through the air while adding the rushing score.
Cooper Barkate led Duke's receiving corps with eight catches for 83 yards, while Sheppard added five receptions for 60 yards to complement his rushing performance.
For Wake Forest, Racanelli hauled in seven catches for 123 yards and a touchdown, while Carlos Hernandez added six receptions for 93 yards. Running back Demond Claiborne rushed for 58 yards on 13 carries.
The victory improved Duke's four-year ACC win total to 20, the second-most in program history behind only the 21 conference victories from 1960-63. The senior class tied the program record for most wins in a four-year span with 33.
Both teams will learn their bowl destinations on Dec. 7.
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