Uninspired Devils Smashed By Wake, 42-13

The stage was supposedly set for the streak to come to an end. Both Duke and Wake Forest were coming off losses, but it was the Deacons who seemed to be reeling the most, while the Devils were apparently moving forward after playing Maryland tough. However, the Duke roster came out uninspired and quickly fell behind before packing it in by intermission.

The Deacons, who were coming off a 24-7 loss to Georgia Tech, wasted little time establishing themselves as the superior team, scoring six touchdowns in the first half to take a 42-0 halftime lead before cruising to a 42-13 victory.

Chris Barclay ran for a career best 163 yards on 22 carries in the first half before taking the second half off in favor of the third string offense, as Wake Forest handed the Blue Devils a record setting 29th straight Atlantic Coast Conference loss.

After preparing for Cory Randolph’s throwing ability, the Duke coaching staff saw Wake Forest run the ball 56 of 60 plays on the afternoon en route to a season high 256 yards on the ground.

Despite the low pass attempt total, Randolph managed to complete a 44-yard strike that set up a Nick Burney five-yard touchdown run to extend the score to 28-0.

Duke was able to avoid the shutout with the outcome firmly assured when red shirt freshman Mike Schneider scored on a two yard run as the third quarter wound down. However on the next Duke possession, Schneider injured his left shoulder while scrambling for a first down, and did not return.

After starting the season 2-1, the Blue Devils have now lost four straight games, dropping head coach Carl Franks’ to 7-45 in five seasons at Duke. As the game clock wound down, the Duke faithful were loudly voicing their displeasure with the homecoming performance.

Things don’t get any easier for the Blue Devils next week as they host North Carolina State, and Heisman Trophy candidate Phillip Rivers’ high powered offense. Following that game, Duke travels to Knoxville, TN to face the Volunteers.