Leonard Throws Duke Past Wake, 34-31

Saturday, November 26

Durham, N.C.

3:30 p.m.

Duke University

8-4 , 5-3

Wake Forest

7-5 , 3-5

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Wake Forest

Duke

Leonard Throws Duke Past Wake, 34-31

11/26/2022 8:34:00 PM | Football

Box Score Box Score Postgame Notes Postgame Quotes Photo Gallery Postgame Interview: Coach Elko Postgame Interview: Jalon Calhoun Postgame Interview: Sahmir Hagans Postgame Interview: DeWayne Carter Postgame Interview: Riley Leonard

DURHAM – Sophomore quarterback Riley Leonard found redshirt freshman Sahmir Hagans in the front corner of the end zone for the game-winning score to help propel Duke to a 34-31 victory over Wake Forest on Saturday night at Brooks Fields at Wallace Wade Stadium.

With the win, the Blue Devils conclude the regular season with an 8-4 overall record, including a 5-3 mark in ACC play. Head coach Mike Elko becomes the first Duke head coach to win eight games in their first season at the helm since Fred Goldsmith did so in 1994 (8-4).

Leonard's pass to Hagans was a 20-yard touchdown reception and capped a night where the Fairhope, Ala., native set career marks in completions (29), passing yards (391), and passing touchdowns (four). Leonard also connected on three other long-yardage scores of 30-, 46-, and 30- yards.

Hagans finished with a career-best 139 receiving yards on eight receptions with two touchdowns, while teammate Jalon Calhoun added a game-high 11 receptions for 174 yards, also career high marks.

The Duke defense was led by redshirt senior Shaka Heyward, who compiled 13 tackles to lead all players. Datrone Young and Cam Dillon chipped in with 10 tackles each, while Darius Joiner intercepted Sam Hartman on 4th-and 10 to ultimately secure Duke's win late in the fourth quarter.

How It Happened

Duke started the scoring with a 42-yard field goal by freshman Todd Pelino on its opening possession for the game's first points.
Wake Forest responded with an 11-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to pull in front 7-3.
The home side put together back-to-back scoring drives by Hagans and Calhoun to take a 17-7 edge midway through the second quarter.
The Demon Deacons answered with 10-straight points to knot the score at 17-17 with 1:50 remaining in the opening half.
The Blue Devils used nearly all of the time left in the quarter to drive 60 yards in 10 plays to record a 32-yard field goal to take a 20-17 lead into the break.
Duke extended its advantage to 27-17 after Leonard found Jordan Moore for a 30-yard touchdown reception.
Wake Forest ended the Blue Devils' scoring spurt with consecutive scores to take a 31-27 advantage with 12:31 remaining in the game.
After Duke's defense forced a Demon Deacons punt with 2:57 left, the Blue Devils used two plays to go 65 yards for Hagans' go-ahead score.
With time winding down, Wake Forest picked up one first down on its ensuring drive before Duke forced three incomplete passes and an interception to get the ball back with 1:22 remaining.
The Blue Devils then recorded a needed first down to ultimately secure themselves their eighth win of the year.

Notables

With the victory, Duke earned its most ACC wins since 2014 when it finished 5-3 and secured a trip to the Sun Bowl.
With its 507 yards of total offense in the game, Duke has now recorded three games with 500-plus yards of total offense.
Calhoun finished with a game-high 174 receiving yards, including 101 yards in the opening quarter.
He and Hagans become the first Duke pair to record 100-plus yards in a single game since Calhoun and Eli Pancol both tallied 100-yards against Northwestern earlier this season.
Saturday's game also marked the first time Duke had a 100-yard receiver in back-to-back games since Calhoun achieved the mark in consecutive contests against North Carolina and Georgia Tech in 2021.
Leonard finished his night 29-of-41 passing for 391 yards with four touchdowns after converting on all 12 of his pass attempts to begin the game.
Leonard's four touchdown passes of 20-plus yards tie him with Quentin Harris' 2019 single-game program record.
Leonard now has 11 touchdown passes of 20-plus yards to tie with Ben Bennett, Sean Renfree and Daniel Jones for the most in a single-season.
Heyward finished with double digit tackles for the fourth time this year and 12th time in his career.
Heyward registered one sack to pull into a tie with Dan Yellott, Scott Youmans, and Travis Pearson for 14th all-time on Duke's career sacks chart with 11.5.
Jaylen Stinson recorded three kick returns for 82 yards.
Pelino earned a season-long 42-yard field goal and converted on both of his FG attempts in the game.