Durham, N.C. — Darian Mensah delivered a milestone performance on Saturday, powering Duke to a 49–32 win over Wake Forest and keeping the Blue Devils’ ACC title hopes alive.
Duke (7–5, 6–2 ACC) now waits for results elsewhere in the conference to determine whether it will secure a spot in next week’s league championship game.
Mensah, a Tulane transfer, turned in one of his most complete outings of the season. He completed 24 of 35 passes for 268 yards, threw multiple touchdowns, and added his first rushing score of the year. His third-quarter strike to Sahmir Hagans gave him Duke’s single-season touchdown record with 27, and he tacked on another in the closing seconds.
The Blue Devils controlled the matchup from the opening drive. Anderson Castle and Nate Sheppard each punched in two rushing touchdowns, and Hagans followed his receiving score with a momentum-shifting 80-yard kickoff return early in the fourth quarter.
“The game played out exactly the way we thought,” Duke coach Manny Diaz said. “Not perfect, but persistent — that’s been our identity.”
Wake Forest (8–4, 4–4) saw its three-game win streak snapped despite a big effort from Robby Ashford, who threw for 342 yards and two touchdowns and added both a rushing TD and a two-point conversion. But four turnovers and 97 penalty yards proved costly for the Demon Deacons, including a fumble at the Duke 18-yard line with 6:38 remaining.
“Just a lot of disappointment,” Wake Forest coach Jake Dickert said. “They beat us in every phase—offense, defense, special teams. We didn’t take care of the football, and they made us pay.”
Duke added a dose of trickery once again. A week after a fake field goal fueled a rivalry win at North Carolina, the Blue Devils successfully executed a fake punt midway through the fourth quarter, with punter Kade Reynoldson sprinting 26 yards for a first down. The drive didn’t produce points, but it burned nearly three minutes of precious clock with Duke leading 42–32.
Hagans, playing his final home game, said the performance was everything he could’ve hoped for. “That’s the perfect ending,” he said.
The Takeaway
Wake Forest: The Demon Deacons closed the year strong with wins over SMU and Virginia, both potential ACC title contenders, but surrendered 30-plus points in each of their four losses. Duke’s 49 points marked the most allowed by Wake this season.
Duke: The Blue Devils finished unbeaten against in-state opponents and remain in the hunt for a trip to Charlotte, despite not beating a conference opponent with a winning record.
Waiting Game
Duke players left the stadium uncertain of whether they should prepare for an ACC title showdown or a bowl assignment.
“Don’t disappear into the mountains without your phones,” Diaz joked.
Special Teams Spark
In addition to Reynoldson’s fake-punt run, Hagans’ long kickoff return swung momentum back to Duke after Wake trimmed the deficit.
“Wake had just taken control,” Diaz said. “That return flipped it right back.”
Up Next:
Wake Forest: Will await its bowl destination.
Duke: Could land in the ACC Championship Game, depending on results, or head to a bowl game in early December.
