Calvert’s 50-Yard Field Goal Lifts Deacs to 13-12 Win Over SMU

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Kicker Caleb Calvert drilled a 50-yard field goal as time expired to lift the Demon Deacons to a dramatic home victory, as the Wake Forest football team (5-2, 2-2 ACC) extended its winning streak to three games with a victory over SMU (5-3, 3-1 ACC), defeating the Mustangs, 13-12, on Saturday inside Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium.

The win marked a gritty, come-from-behind effort for Wake Forest, who trailed for much of the second half before rallying in the final minute behind quarterback Deshawn Purdie. The redshirt freshman engineered a clutch 25-yard drive in just 12 seconds, highlighted by a 25-yard strike to junior tight end Kameron Johnson that set up Calvert's game-winning kick.

Wake's defense held SMU to 246 yards of offense, the fewest in a game for the Mustangs since Nov. 28, 2015, against Memphis. The victory also snapped SMU's streak of 20-straight conference wins in the regular season, including all 11 previous ACC contests and their final nine games as a member of the American.

This game served as the centerpiece of Wake Forest University's Homecoming Weekend as the reunions and celebrations brought the community together to witness the game.

With Saturday's win, Wake Forest completed a perfect October, including road wins over Virginia Tech and Oregon State.

Great value remains for the Demon Deacons two remaining home games at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium! Fans still interested in purchasing tickets against North Carolina (Nov. 15) and Delaware (Nov. 22) can do so by clicking HERE.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Wake Forest started strong defensively, with a four-play drive on the first possession, followed by a fourth-down stop on a pass deflected by Davaughn Patterson to keep SMU at bay in the early going.
After another 3-and-out from the defense, the Demon Deacons used a big play on special teams to flip the field.
- Zamari Stevenson and Devin Cook brought the pressure on the Mustangs punt, forcing a nine-yard punt to set up the offense at the 20-yard line.
Wake converted the short field into points with Connor Calvert connecting on a 25-yard field goal to give the Demon Deacons a 3-0 lead with 4:59 left in the opening quarter.
Defensively, Wake Forest held SMU to just 32 yards in the first 15 minutes of the game to lead 3-0 after the opening quarter.
SMU evened the score with a 36-yard field goal with 11:53 left in the first half.
With SMU at their own 15-yard line, lineman Gabe Kirschke got home for a strip sack recovered by Jayden Loving to give the Demon Deacons the ball at their own 12.
Two plays later, quarterback Robby Ashford connected with tight end Eni Falayi across the middle for the touchdown to give Wake Forest a 10-3 lead.
The Mustangs added another field goal to cut the Wake Forest advantage to 10-6.
Wake Forest picked up a pair of turnovers with defensive back Karon Prunty snagging his first interception as a Demon Deacon and Davaughn Patterson forcing a fumble to give the defense three first-half turnovers.
The Demon Deacons went into the locker room with a 10-6 advantage.
On the Mustangs' first possession of the second half, Wake Forest held strong once again, as the SMU field goal attempt sailed wide right to keep the lead at four.
SMU took its first lead with just under three minutes left in the third quarter with a six-yard rushing touchdown.
- Dallas Afalava blocked the ensuing extra point to make it 12-10 in favor of the visiting team.
Wake Forest went into the final quarter of play, trailing 12-10.
The Demon Deacons allowed just 15 yards over the first two SMU offensive possessions of the final quarter to keep the deficit at two.
Quarterback Deshawn Purdie connected with wideout Chris Barnes for 32 yards to move the ball deep into Mustang territory with less than five minutes remaining.
While the Demon Deacons drove deep into SMU territory late into the final frame, a turnover generated by the Mustangs put Wake Forest back on defense with 1:52 remaining in the fourth quarter.
The Demon Deacon defense held strong and got the ball back with just 12 seconds remaining.
From its own 42-yard line, Purdie connected with tight end Kamrean Johnson down to the SMU 33-yard line before spiking the ball to give Wake Forest one final chance at victory.
Calvert stepped up to nail a 50-yard attempt with time expiring, giving Wake its fifth win of the season while snapping SMU's 11-game ACC regular season winning streak in the process.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

With the win Saturday, head coach Jake Dickert earned his fifth in his first season at Wake Forest. The win now most him to a tie for sixth in program history in wins by a first-year head coach:
- 1. Bill Dooley (1987) - 7
- T2. Jim Grobe (2001) - 6
- T2. Tom Rogers (1951) - 6
- T2. F.S. "Pat" Miller (1929) - 6
- T2. Hank Garrity (1923) - 6
- T6. Jake Dickert (2025) - 5
- T6. Bill Tate (1964) - 5
- T6. James Baldwin (1926) - 5
Additionally, he has been one of the winningest first-year head coaches in the country this season:
- 2025 FBS First-Year Head Coaches – Most Victories *
- 6 – Dan Mullen, UNLV
- 5 – Jake Dickert, Wake Forest
- 5 – Charles Huff, Southern Miss
- 5 – Matt Entz, Fresno State
- 5 – Jerry Mack, Kennesaw State
- 4 – K.C. Keeler, Temple
- 4 – Charles Kelly, Jax State
- 4 – Matt Drinkall, Central Michigan
- 4 – Jason Eck, New Mexico
- 4 – Bronco Mendenhall, Utah State
- 4 – Dowell Loggains, App State
- 4 – Tony Gibson, Marshall
- 3 – Zach Kittley, Florida Atlantic
- 3 – Scott Abel, Rice
- 3 – Frank Reich, Stanford
- 3 – Willie Simmons, FIU
- 3 – Mike Uremovich, Ball State
- 3 – Jimmy Rogers, Washington State

STAGGERING STATISTICS

Wake Forest won Saturday's game on the final play of regulation as kicker Caleb Calvert drilled a 50-yard field goal as time expired.
- It marked the first win for Wake Forest on the game's final play since Oct. 9, 2021 when the Deacs won at Syracuse in overtime when Sam Hartman connected with A.T. Perry on a 22-yard touchdown pass.
- Additionally, the kick marked Wake Forest's first 50-yard field goal since Mike Weaver connected on one from that same distance on Nov. 6, 2014 against Clemson.
Going into Saturday, Connor Calvert ranks sixth in the ACC in field goal percentage (min. 12 FGA) and is sixth in the ACC after the early results of Saturday:
- Rk. Player FGM FGA FG PCT
- 1. T. Butkowski (Pitt) 15 16 93.8
- 2. A. Birr (GT) 14 15 93.3
- 3. E. Kenney (Stan) 10 12 83.3
- 4. J. Love (VT) 14 17 82.4
- 5. W. Bettridge (UVA) 12 15 80.0
- 6. C. Calvert (Wake) 11 14 78.6

FROM COACH DICKERT
"We've talked about 'Built in the Dark', and this game was the definition of it. We said one thing when we went out for the second half, and that was to have each other's backs. Every player in that locker room went around and told another player 'I have your back.' When Demond (Caliborne) walked off the field, I said 'we have your back,' and Connor did just that. We never stopped believing. I'm so fired up for our football team. These guys are gritty, tough, believe in each other and they found a way to win. It was ugly, which is awesome. Our defense did a heck of a job, both the staff and the players. These guys were incredible tonight. That was a great SMU offense and they smoked them out. We put ourselves in some tough positions and these guys never stopped going after the football. I'm so proud of this football team. Offensively, we have to improve by miles. There are plenty of things that were completely frustrating, like being aligned at times and other basics like handling the football. We disrespected the football a lot today, which many times gets you beat. I made a huge error not just centering the ball, but in kicking the ball. We were in a barrier situation and we fumbled, and that's on me. Connor had my back too and these guys never flinched. I am so proud of these guys."

UP NEXT
Wake Forest travels to Tallahassee, Fla. for a matchup with Florida State on Saturday, Nov. 1. Kickoff against the Seminoles is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on The ACC Network.

Great value remains for the Demon Deacons two remaining home games at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium! Fans still interested in purchasing tickets against North Carolina (Nov. 15) and Delaware (Nov. 22) can do so by clicking HERE.

Wake Forest Athletics

Calvert’s 50-Yard Field Goal Lifts Deacs to 13-12 Win Over SMU

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Players Mentioned

Dallas Afalava

Robby Ashford

Chris Barnes

Connor Calvert

Devin Cook

Eni Falayi

Kamrean Johnson

Gabe Kirschke

Jayden Loving

Davaughn Patterson

Karon Prunty

Deshawn Purdie

Zamari Stevenson

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