Miami, Fla. – In a high‑scoring ACC showdown on Saturday, the No. 5 Miami Hurricanes edged the Duke Blue Devils 36‑25, bringing the team one win away from clinching a spot in the conference title game in Charlotte, N.C.
Offensive fireworks from Mensah and Mallory
Quarterback Darian Mensah, a former Duke star, completed 30 of 41 passes for 382 yards and a touchdown, surpassing the 3,000‑yard mark for the season. He said he felt “a little bit weird” stepping onto his old field, but could not stop smiling because of his affection for his former teammates.
Wide receiver Javian Mallory, also a Duke alumnus, contributed three touchdowns, including a 39‑yard run that sealed the victory late in the fourth quarter. Cooper Barkate, another former Duke player, recorded his first 100‑yard receiving game, hauling in eight catches for 134 yards.
Supporting contributions and key moments
Running back Mark Fletcher Jr. added a rushing touchdown, bringing his career total in a Miami uniform to 36, tying the school record. Duke’s leading rusher, Nate Sheppard, accounted for 240 total yards – 131 rushing, 93 receiving and 16 passing – and scored twice, becoming the first Duke player with two runs of 40 yards or more in an ACC game since Daniel Jones in 2018.
Miami’s defense forced a crucial interception by Xavier Lucas with 6:54 left, setting up Mallory’s decisive run. The Blue Devils managed 18 punts and forced six fourth‑down stops, but could not overcome the Hurricanes’ offensive rhythm.
Implications for the ACC race
The win, combined with Wake Forest’s victory over SMU, puts Miami on the cusp of securing a berth in the ACC title game scheduled for Dec. 5. The Hurricanes need just one more win in their final two conference matchups – against Virginia Tech on Nov. 21 and Boston College later in the season – to lock in the spot.
“Our goal is definitely to get to Charlotte, and beyond that,” Barkate said after the game.
Looking ahead
Miami will host Virginia Tech next week, while Duke travels to face Clemson on Friday. Both programs remain focused on finishing the regular season strong and positioning themselves for postseason opportunities.
Original reporting: KSAT Sports (San Antonio) — read the source article.
