Duke beats Wake Forest 23-17 on final-play pass

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Maalik Murphy threw a 39-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Moore as time expired and Duke beat Wake Forest 23-17 on Saturday to end the regular season with three consecutive victories.

The Blue Devils (9-3, 5-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) moved 76 yards in 1:22 after forcing a Wake Forest punt. It appeared that Duke might run out of time in the slow-developing play, but Moore broke free along the right side and made it to the end zone to complete a comeback from 14 points down in the second half.

Murphy finished with 235 yards on 26-for-34 passing. Moore made five catches for 98 yards.

Hank Bachmeier threw for 207 yards and a touchdown as Wake Forest (4-8, 2-6) ended with its second straight four-win season with a four-game losing streak.

Tate Carey’s 8-yard run, Matthew Dennis’ 37-yard field goal and Horatio Fields’ 9-yard reception across 11 minutes of game time gave Wake Forest a 17-3 lead with nine minutes left in the third quarter.

Duke took advantage of a short field following a punt, moving 42 yards in four plays to score on Star Thomas’ 3-yard run. The Blue Devils recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff and converted on Murphy’s 2-yard run with 12:57 left.

Record receiver

Taylor Morin became Wake Forest’s all-time leader in receiving yards with 2,974. He picked up 47 yards on eight catches on Saturday.

Morin, in his fifth season, passed former NFL player Ricky Proehl, who had 2,929 yards in the late 1980s.

The Takeaway

Duke: The Blue Devils racked up a 4-0 record against in-state opponents, including comebacks to top North Carolina and Wake Forest. They have secured at least a nine-week season for the second time in three seasons, this one coming under first-year coach Manny Diaz.

Wake Forest: The Demon Deacons punted on their final three possessions of the season. They finished with a 1-6 record in home games.

Up next

Duke: Awaits a bowl invitation

Wake Forest: Enters the offseason with a losing record for the third time in five seasons.

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