Wake Forest Demon Deacons vs. Duke Blue Devils: Full Highlights
DURHAM, N.C. — \u2014 Duke had the right response after trailing for large chunks of Thursday night\u2019s game.
Todd Pelino<\/a> kicked a 26-yard field goal on the game\u2019s final play and the Blue Devils, despite using a third-string quarterback, beat Wake Forest 24-21.
\u201cHopefully this will put to bed all the talk about whether this team will respond,\u201d Duke coach Mike Elko said.
Pelino\u2019s field goal gave the Blue Devils (6-3, 3-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) their only lead of the game as they snapped a two-game losing streak and became bowl eligible.
Grayson Loftis<\/a>, a true freshman from Gaffney, South Carolina, was called upon to handle quarterback duties for the Blue Devils. He was 7-for-19 for 86 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
\u201cI think it was easy to have confidence going into the game when you\u2019ve got a group of guys who have devoted so much of their time to pump you up,\u201d Loftis said.
Wake Forest knows what it\u2019s like to win with a third-stringer because two games ago the Demon Deacons played a third-string quarterback in a win over Pittsburgh.
\u201cIt really stings,\u201d Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson said. \u201cI thought that we outplayed them. But we just made some really undisciplined, stupid penalties down the stretch that cost us the football game.\u201d
Starter Mitch Griffis<\/a> was back for the second straight game for Wake Forest, completing 16 of 19 passes for 241 yards and an interception.
Duke\u2019s Ryan Smith<\/a> intercepted Griffis with 4:12 left. Shortly after, the Blue Devils faced second-and-21, but got moving, aided by a third-down pass interference penalty and later a personal-foul infraction on the winning drive.
\u201cLet\u2019s rely on our guys, and our guys made plays,\u201d Loftis said.
Duke was down two quarterbacks, playing without first-stringer Riley Leonard<\/a> and backup Henry Belin IV<\/a> because of injuries. Elko said after the game that Leonard will be out \u201cfor a while\u201d with an injury to his left foot following a right ankle injury that had been hampering him.
Enter Loftis.
\u201cHe played his best quarter of the night in the fourth quarter,\u201d Elko said.
Wake Forest (4-5, 1-5) went ahead on Griffis\u2019 5-yard scramble in the third quarter, which was set up by his 61-yard pass play to Taylor Morin<\/a>.
Duke got even with 11:40 remaining on Loftis\u2019 29-yard pass to Jordan Moore<\/a>.
The Blue Devils avoided what would have been their first three-game losing streak in coach Mike Elko\u2019s two seasons.
Wake Forest finished with a 400-267 edge in total yards.
\u201cWe couldn\u2019t finish drives,\u201d Clawson said.
The teams alternated touchdowns in the first half, going to the break at 14-14.
Tate Carney<\/a> ran 3 yards for Wake Forest in the first quarter. The rest of the scoring came in the second quarter, beginning with Jaquez Moore\u2019s 32-yard run for Duke.
Griffis rambled 8 yards for Wake Forest\u2019s next touchdown. Duke scored on Jordan Waters\u2019 4-yard run with 1 minute to play in the first half.
Wake Forest kicker Matthew Dennis<\/a> missed on field goal attempts from 27 and 39 yards.
FAMILY MATTERS
For Carney, a redshirt freshman, the production wasn\u2019t as big as his brother\u2019s first game on Duke\u2019s field, but it was notable. Cade Carney ran for 108 yards and three touchdowns as a true freshman when the Demon Deacons won at Duke in 2016.
This was the second year in a row that the Demon Deacons visited Duke. Tate Carney played here a year ago as well when Duke won 34-31.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Duke entered the national rankings after the first week of the season and stayed there until the latest poll. This outcome won\u2019t likely be enough to move the Blue Devils back into the Top 25.
THE TAKEAWAY
Wake Forest: The Demon Deacons put up a strong effort on defense after giving up a season-high 41 points Saturday vs. No. 4 Florida State. But the offense wasn\u2019t productive enough, particularly after some good field position at times in the game.
Duke: The Blue Devils don\u2019t look like the team that made waves across the first month or so of the season. Much of that has to do with the absence of Leonard, who played in the two previous games despite ongoing ailments.
UP NEXT
Wake Forest: Nov. 11 home vs. North Carolina State
Duke: Nov. 11 at North Carolina
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