Blue Devils need jolt of energy
Duke has something to play for, too, this week.
That’s one of the themes for the Blue Devils, who play their home finale against Wake Forest.
While Duke (7-5, 3-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) has secured bowl eligibility, it’s Wake Forest (5-6, 2-5) that needs to win to extend its season.
“Our mentality is that we have to be the hungrier team … and get a better bowl game,” Duke linebacker Koby Quansah said.
The roles were reversed last year when Duke was in a must-win situation when it faced a bowl-bound Wake Forest team to wrap up the regular season. The Blue Devils pulled off a victory and ended up in a bowl as well.
“We just have to match their energy,” Duke receiver T.J. Rahming said. “We know exactly how that felt (in their situation).”
The Senior Day component is something that the Blue Devils hope will drive them as they know they’ll be dealing with a desperate Wake Forest team.
“We have to remember how hungry we were last year to get that sixth win,” senior offensive lineman Zach Harmon said. “As seniors, we want to leave this field with a win.”
Duke will be trying to cap the home schedule with a victory. The Blue Devils are 3-2 in home games this season.
However, the Blue Devils have won only three of their last 13 ACC home games.
Coach David Cutcliffe said the Blue Devils have answered numerous challenges this season. They’re coming off a 35-6 road loss to second-ranked and undefeated Clemson.
Duke has had some rough November stretches, but the Blue Devils have managed to win four of their last five regular-season finales.
“We will have a hungry football team, an excited football team,” Cutcliffe said.
Going to a bowl as an eight-win team would be something to cherish. The Blue Devils have exceeded two November victories only twice in Cutcliffe’s 11 seasons, so that’s something they’re aiming to do when Wake Forest visits.
“The mindset is to finish strong leading to the bowl game,” Rahming said.
There’s a chance that Duke’s top three tacklers won’t play. That’s because linebacker Joe Giles-Harris has been out for two games and linebacker Ben Humphreys exited again at Clemson and could miss more time. Safety Dylan Singleton already has been out after surgery for a broken ankle earlier this month.
