Saturday, November 29
Durham, NC
3:30 p.m.
Wake Forest University
8-4 , 4-4
32
at
49
Duke
7-5 , 6-2
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Wake Forest
3
14
8
7
32
Duke
14
7
14
14
49
Demon Deacons Close Regular Season at Duke; Await Bowl Selection on Dec. 7
11/29/2025 7:58:00 PM | Football
Wake Forest fell to the Duke Blue Devils on Saturday, Nov. 29 in Durham, 49-32.
DURHAM, N.C. – The Wake Forest football team (8-4, 4-4 ACC) closed the regular season on Saturday, Nov. 29 at Duke (7-5, 6-2 ACC). Despite career nights by redshirt senior quarterback Robby Ashford and redshirt senior wide receiver Sawyer Racanelli, the Demon Deacons fell to the Blue Devils, 49-32.
Wake Forest closes the regular season with eight wins—its first eight-win campaign since 2022 and just the 11th such season in program history. With that, when the Deacs line up for their bowl game in December or January, the 2025 edition of the Demon Deacons will have a chance to become just the fourth team in program lore to win nine games in a season (2021: 11-3; 2007: 9-4; 2006; 11-3).
The Deacs recorded more than 450 yards of total offense as Racanelli led the way individually with a career-high seven catches for 123 yards and a touchdown. Racanelli and fellow redshirt senior Karate Brenson hauled in receiving touchdowns as Ashford finished with a career-high 342 passing yards in addition to 44 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
Defensively, the Deacs totaled 11 tackles-for-loss and two sacks. Individually, Wake Forest was led by redshirt sophomore Davaughn Patterson as he tallied 10 tackles with three solo efforts. Additionally, junior linebacker Aiden Hall added 10 tackles and a tackle-for-loss, while redshirt junior defensive lineman Langston Hardy notched eight tackles with a team-high 2.0 TFLs and a 0.5 sack.
Although the Deacs did not come out victorious on Saturday, Wake Forest closed the regular season winning six of its last eight games. The Deacs also went 3–2 in November, marking their first winning record in the final month of the regular season since 2008.
HOW IT HAPPENED
FROM COACH DICKERT
"As far as the game goes, a lot of disappointment. They beat us in every area of the game on offense, defense, and special teams. They took care of the ball and got stops. Credit to them and their staff. Credit to our kids playing hard and their effort. Our guys never quit. I'm really proud of the team for the effort they've given this season. I told our seniors that they've done a great job of building a foundation for Wake Forest football that we can continue to build on. We still have an opportunity to win nine games, which is a big deal for our program. Only three other teams have done it. We'll move on from this. We'll learn from this just like we've done all season. Overall, they beat us decisively in every area. I'll take that on me, and we have got to move on. I'm proud of our kids. The fight that they show is unbelievable."
UP NEXT
Looking ahead, the Demon Deacons are going bowling for the eighth time since 2016. Deacon Nation can click here for more bowl information. Additional ticket and fan event and travel information will be shared on Sunday, Dec. 7 when Wake Forest's bowl destination is selected. Wake Forest Bowl merchandise will be made available on WakeForestShop.com as it becomes available and fans can shop there for all the latest Demon Deacons gear too.
Additionally, there is no better time to reserve your spot for the much-anticipated 2026 season as season ticket deposits for home games at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium are now available, which includes a limited number of new $99 full-season Built in the Dark ticket plans are available through the Demon Deacon's December bowl game.
Wake Forest closes the regular season with eight wins—its first eight-win campaign since 2022 and just the 11th such season in program history. With that, when the Deacs line up for their bowl game in December or January, the 2025 edition of the Demon Deacons will have a chance to become just the fourth team in program lore to win nine games in a season (2021: 11-3; 2007: 9-4; 2006; 11-3).
The Deacs recorded more than 450 yards of total offense as Racanelli led the way individually with a career-high seven catches for 123 yards and a touchdown. Racanelli and fellow redshirt senior Karate Brenson hauled in receiving touchdowns as Ashford finished with a career-high 342 passing yards in addition to 44 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
Defensively, the Deacs totaled 11 tackles-for-loss and two sacks. Individually, Wake Forest was led by redshirt sophomore Davaughn Patterson as he tallied 10 tackles with three solo efforts. Additionally, junior linebacker Aiden Hall added 10 tackles and a tackle-for-loss, while redshirt junior defensive lineman Langston Hardy notched eight tackles with a team-high 2.0 TFLs and a 0.5 sack.
Although the Deacs did not come out victorious on Saturday, Wake Forest closed the regular season winning six of its last eight games. The Deacs also went 3–2 in November, marking their first winning record in the final month of the regular season since 2008.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Duke scored a touchdown on the opening drive of the game.
- The Demon Deacons responded on their opening possession with a 43-yard field goal by Connor Calvert.
- The Blue Devils extended their lead to 14-3 as time expired in the first quarter.
- The Deacs made it a four-point game on the first drive of the second quarter after quarterback Robby Ashford found Sawyer Racanelli in the back of the end zone for a 22-yard touchdown strike.
- The 10-play, 75-yard drive took 3:04 off the clock.
- Ashford also connected with Carlos Hernandez on a 23-yard reception earlier in the drive.
- Duke made it 21-10 with 1:38 remaining in the first half.
- Wake Forest responded with an eight-play, 75-yard drive capped off by Ashford connecting with wide receiver Karate Brenson for a 20-yard touchdown reception.
- This marked Brenson's first receiving touchdown of the season.
- The Demon Deacons went into halftime trailing the Blue Devils, 21-17.
- Duke added a touchdown at the 9:45 mark in the third quarter to make it 28-17.
- The Blue Devils tacked on another touchdown on their next possession to make it an 18-point game.
- Wake Forest cut the Duke lead down to 35-25 as time expired in the third quarter on a 10-yard rushing touchdown by Ashford.
- The Hoover, Ala., native was a perfect 4-for-4 for 44 yards on the drive while also adding 13 yards on the ground.
- The Blue Devils made it 42-25.
- The Deacs marched right down the field on the next possession to make it a 10-point game.
- The 10-play, 83-yard drive was capped off by a touchdown run by Ty Clark III from one yard out.
- Duke added a passing touchdown with 23 seconds left in the game, making it 49-32.
- Wake Forest fell, 49-32.
- Redshirt senior quarterback Robby Ashford is enjoying the best stretch of play in his career as his nine touchdowns over the last three games mark the most in a three-game span in his career.
- 70-yard passing touchdown to Carlos Hernandez (3rd Quarter vs. North Carolina)
- 2-yard rushing touchdown (4th Quarter vs. North Carolina)
- 4-yard rushing touchdown (2nd Quarter vs. Delaware)
- 79-yard passing touchdown to Carlos Hernandez (2nd Quarter vs. Delaware)
- 19-yard passing touchdown to Sterling Berkhalter (3rd Quarter vs. Delaware)
- 93-yard passing touchdown to Carlos Hernandez (3rd Quarter vs. Delaware)
- 22-yard passing touchdown to Sawyer Racanelli (2nd Quarter vs. Duke)
- 20-yard passing touchdown to Karate Brenson (2nd Quarter vs. Duke)
- 10-yard rushing touchdown (3rd Quarter vs. Duke)
- His four-touchdown game against the Fightin' Blue Hens was the first of his career.
- Ashford finished with a career-high 342 passing yards and two touchdowns in addition to 44 yards and a touchdown on the ground against Duke.
FROM COACH DICKERT
"As far as the game goes, a lot of disappointment. They beat us in every area of the game on offense, defense, and special teams. They took care of the ball and got stops. Credit to them and their staff. Credit to our kids playing hard and their effort. Our guys never quit. I'm really proud of the team for the effort they've given this season. I told our seniors that they've done a great job of building a foundation for Wake Forest football that we can continue to build on. We still have an opportunity to win nine games, which is a big deal for our program. Only three other teams have done it. We'll move on from this. We'll learn from this just like we've done all season. Overall, they beat us decisively in every area. I'll take that on me, and we have got to move on. I'm proud of our kids. The fight that they show is unbelievable."
UP NEXT
Looking ahead, the Demon Deacons are going bowling for the eighth time since 2016. Deacon Nation can click here for more bowl information. Additional ticket and fan event and travel information will be shared on Sunday, Dec. 7 when Wake Forest's bowl destination is selected. Wake Forest Bowl merchandise will be made available on WakeForestShop.com as it becomes available and fans can shop there for all the latest Demon Deacons gear too.
Additionally, there is no better time to reserve your spot for the much-anticipated 2026 season as season ticket deposits for home games at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium are now available, which includes a limited number of new $99 full-season Built in the Dark ticket plans are available through the Demon Deacon's December bowl game.
Team Stats
WFU
DU
Total Yards
468
378
Pass Yards
342
268
Rushing Yards
126
110
Penalty Yards
97
50
1st Downs
27
24
3rd Downs
6
5
4th Downs
1
3
TOP
25:21
34:39
1st Quarter
WFU 0, DU 7
DU - Sheppard,Nate 5 yd run (Pelino,Todd kick), 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 04:24
WFU 3, DU 7
WFU - Calvert,Connor 42 yd field goal 10 plays, 46 yards, TOP 04:31
WFU 3, DU 14
DU - Mensah,Darian 4 yd run (Pelino,Todd kick), 10 plays, 75 yards, TOP 05:59
2nd Quarter
WFU 10, DU 14
WFU - Racanelli,Sawyer 22 yd pass from Ashford,Robby (Calvert,Connor kick) 10 plays, 75 yards, TOP 03:04
WFU 10, DU 21
DU - Castle,Anderson 1 yd run (Pelino,Todd kick), 7 plays, 34 yards, TOP 02:24
WFU 17, DU 21
WFU - Brenson,Karate 20 yd pass from Ashford,Robby (Calvert,Connor kick) 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 01:09
3rd Quarter
WFU 17, DU 28
DU - Hagans,Sahmir 30 yd pass from Mensah,Darian (Pelino,Todd kick) 2 plays, 35 yards, TOP 00:31
WFU 17, DU 35
DU - Castle,Anderson 2 yd run (Pelino,Todd kick), 8 plays, 66 yards, TOP 04:15
WFU 25, DU 35
WFU - Ashford,Robby 10 yd run (Ashford,Robby rush), 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 03:52
4th Quarter
WFU 25, DU 42
DU - Sheppard,Nate 13 yd run (Pelino,Todd kick), 2 plays, 13 yards, TOP 01:01
WFU 32, DU 42
WFU - Clark,Ty 1 yd run (Calvert,Connor kick), 10 plays, 83 yards, TOP 02:41
WFU 32, DU 49
DU - Hasley,Jeremiah 11 yd pass from Mensah,Darian (Pelino,Todd kick) 4 plays, 11 yards, TOP 01:39
Game Leaders
CMP
27
TD
2
YDS
342
INT
1
Players Mentioned
QB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
WR
/ Football
K
/ Football
RB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
DL
/ Football
WR
/ Football
DB
/ Football
WR
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Wednesday, November 26
Football Media Availability (11/25/25)
Tuesday, November 25
Wake Forest Head Coach Jake Dickert Press Conference (11/24/25)
Monday, November 24