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FOOTBALL

Duke To Host Wake Forest For Regular Season Finale

A season ago it was Duke who was looking to become bowl eligible the last game of the regular season. This season however it is Wake Forest who will be looking to become bowl eligible the last game of the regular season when they visit Duke on Saturday while Duke meanwhile will look to bounce back from their loss to Clemson a week ago.

Duke who is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference comes into the game with a record of 7-4 while they’re 3-4 in the conference and fourth in the Coastal Division while Wake Forest comes into the game with a record of 5-6 while they’re 2-5 in the conference and sixth in the Atlantic Division. “according to http://www.espn.com/college-football/standings/_/group/1

As for Duke’s previous game, Duke lost on the road to Clemson.

Trevor Lawrence was 21 for 38 for 251 yards and two touchdowns and No. 2 Clemson overcame a slow start to beat Duke 35-6 on Saturday night to finish a perfect Atlantic Coast Conference season. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211780923&DB_OEM_ID=4200&_ga=2.91797146.1259432021.1542553013-835947093.1542553013

Clemson (11-0, 8-0) fell behind 6-0 early. Lawrence was 0 for 7 on third downs in the first half and the Travis Etienne ran for just 4 yards as the Tigers led 14-6 at the break. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211780923&DB_OEM_ID=4200&_ga=2.91797146.1259432021.1542553013-835947093.1542553013

But Etienne ran for 77 yards on four carries in the second half with touchdowns runs of 27 and 29 yards, and Lawrence broke it open with a 10-yard TD pass to T.J. Chase early in the fourth quarter -- his final play in another Clemson blowout. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211780923&DB_OEM_ID=4200&_ga=2.91797146.1259432021.1542553013-835947093.1542553013

Daniel Jones was 24 of 43 for 158 yards for Duke (7-4, 3-4). Collin Wareham made field goals of 32 and 34 yards, but missed a 42-yarder midway through the third quarter after Duke put together a 13-play drive. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211780923&DB_OEM_ID=4200&_ga=2.91797146.1259432021.1542553013-835947093.1542553013

The Blue Devils had 127 yards in the first quarter, then only 135 yards the rest of the game. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211780923&DB_OEM_ID=4200&_ga=2.91797146.1259432021.1542553013-835947093.1542553013

Clemson had four sacks, keeping the Tigers among the national leaders. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211780923&DB_OEM_ID=4200&_ga=2.91797146.1259432021.1542553013-835947093.1542553013

As for Wake Forest’s previous game, Like Duke, they lost their previous game as they lost to Pittsburgh.

Wake Forest fell to Pitt on Saturday by a score of 34-13 at BB&T Field in front of an announced attendance of 25,609. “according to https://wakeforestsports.com/news/2018/11/17/football-pitt-defeats-wake-forest-in-home-finale.aspx
 
The Demon Deacons (5-6, 2-5 ACC) led the Panthers (7-4, 6-1 ACC) at halftime 10-6 but couldn't keep up with Pitt in the second half. The visiting Panthers scored four touchdowns in the second half while holding Wake Forest to just a field goal. Pittsburgh clinched a spot in the ACC Championship game with the victory. “according to https://wakeforestsports.com/news/2018/11/17/football-pitt-defeats-wake-forest-in-home-finale.aspx
 
How It Happened:
Nick Sciba booted a 32-yard field goal to put Wake Forest up 3-0 early in the first quarter. Pitt's Darrin Hall scored a 2-yard touchdown in the latter moments of the second quarter but the extra point was blocked by Carlos Basham, Jr. as the Panthers led 6-3. “according to https://wakeforestsports.com/news/2018/11/17/football-pitt-defeats-wake-forest-in-home-finale.aspx
 
Wake Forest answered with a 20-yard pass from Jamie Newman to Alex Bachman as the Deacs led 10-6 heading into halftime. “according to https://wakeforestsports.com/news/2018/11/17/football-pitt-defeats-wake-forest-in-home-finale.aspx
 
Pitt retook the lead in the third quarter on a 4-yard touchdown catch from Rafael Araujo-Lopes. A 63-yard touchdown pass from the Panthers extended the Pitt's lead to 20-10 heading into the fourth quarter. “according to https://wakeforestsports.com/news/2018/11/17/football-pitt-defeats-wake-forest-in-home-finale.aspx
 
Early in the fourth quarter, Wake Forest drove down to the Pitt 1-yard line but was held to a 20-yard Sciba field goal. Leading 20-13, Pitt added a 23-yard touchdown as the Panthers held a two-score advantage halfway through the fourth quarter. Left tackle Stefano Millin scored on a 6-yard run on a bubble screen as the Panthers closed out the game 34-13. “according to https://wakeforestsports.com/news/2018/11/17/football-pitt-defeats-wake-forest-in-home-finale.aspx
 
Key Play:
Down by two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, Pitt intercepted quarterback Jamie Newman after the Deacons started the drive with a 30-yard completion on first down. The interception sealed the victory and prevented any Wake Forest comeback attempt. “according to https://wakeforestsports.com/news/2018/11/17/football-pitt-defeats-wake-forest-in-home-finale.aspx
 
Stat Leaders:
Newman completed 15 passes for 206 yards and a touchdown. Carney finished with 62 rushing yards while Bachman had four catches for 60 yards and a touchdown. Sage Surratt recorded 67 receiving yards. “according to https://wakeforestsports.com/news/2018/11/17/football-pitt-defeats-wake-forest-in-home-finale.aspx
 
Cameron Glenn had 11 total tackles with nine solo stops, a pass break up and contributed to a sack. Basham tallied two tackles for loss. “according to https://wakeforestsports.com/news/2018/11/17/football-pitt-defeats-wake-forest-in-home-finale.aspx
 
Notes:
Essang Bassey recorded his 36th-career pass breakup, which is ninth in school history behind Kenny Okoro (2009-12) who is next on the list with 38. “according to https://wakeforestsports.com/news/2018/11/17/football-pitt-defeats-wake-forest-in-home-finale.aspx
 
Pitt snapped Wake Forest's record of winning when leading at halftime this season. Coming into Saturday, Wake Forest was 4-0 when leading at halftime and 18-7 under head coach Dave Clawson. The Deacons led 10-6 at halftime against Pitt. “according to https://wakeforestsports.com/news/2018/11/17/football-pitt-defeats-wake-forest-in-home-finale.aspx

Running back Cade Carney passed the 1,500-career rushing yard mark. With 62 rushing yards on Saturday, Carney now has 1,552 for his career. “according to https://wakeforestsports.com/news/2018/11/17/football-pitt-defeats-wake-forest-in-home-finale.aspx
 
Kicker Nick Sciba has made seven-straight field goal attempts. “according to https://wakeforestsports.com/news/2018/11/17/football-pitt-defeats-wake-forest-in-home-finale.aspx
 
Wake Forest limited the Pitt rushing game to 154 yards, which is far less than the Panthers' season average of 256.9 yards per game. “according to https://wakeforestsports.com/news/2018/11/17/football-pitt-defeats-wake-forest-in-home-finale.aspx
 
Saturday marked the first-ever meeting between Pittsburgh and Wake Forest on the gridiron. The two teams are not scheduled to meet again until 2023. “according to https://wakeforestsports.com/news/2018/11/17/football-pitt-defeats-wake-forest-in-home-finale.aspx

Kick-off is set for 12:30pm from Brooks Field @ Wallace Wade Stadium. The game will be televised on the Regional Sports Network. “according to http://www.goduke.com/SportSelect.dbml?SPID=1843&SPSID=22666&DB_OEM_ID=4200&_ga=2.118747657.1259432021.1542553013-835947093.1542553013