Duke Keeps Victory Bell, Downs Tar Heels 32-25

Saturday, November 22

Chapel Hill, N.C.

3:30 p.m.

Duke University

6-5 , 5-2

North Carolina

4-7 , 2-5

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Duke

North Carolina

Duke Keeps Victory Bell, Downs Tar Heels 32-25

11/22/2025 7:55:00 PM | Football

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Postgame Notes (PDF)Coach Diaz: Postgame Press Conference Anderson Castle: Postgame Press Conference Aaron Hall: Postgame Press Conference Jeremiah Hasley: Postgame Press Conference Todd Pelino: Postgame Press Conference Photo Gallery

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The Victory Bell will reside in Durham for another year after Duke's 32-25 comeback victory at North Carolina on Saturday afternoon inside Kenan Stadium.

With the Blue Devils (6-5, 5-2 ACC) trailing 25-24 with 2:26 remaining and facing fourth-and-three, Todd Pelino faked a field goal and ran 26 yards to the North Carolina one-yard line. From there, Anderson Castle punched in his third rushing touchdown of the game with Nate Sheppard catching a two-point conversion to account for the final points.

Duke defensive tackles Josiah Green and Aaron Hall set up the final Duke drive with sacks on consecutive plays to force a Tar Heel punt with 6:42 remaining.

The comeback heroics allowed Duke to secure bowl eligibility for a fourth consecutive season, a first for the program since a four-year stretch in 2012-13-14-15.

With the triumph, Duke also extended its winning streak against in-state opponents to seven and finished the season 4-0 in road league games to complete its ninth unbeaten road ACC season since joining the conference in 1953.

HOW IT HAPPENED

North Carolina (4-7, 2-5 ACC) covered 75 yards on its opening drive to take a 7-0 advantage as Gio Lopez punched it in from one yard away to complete the 7:03 drive.
Duke quickly evened the score on its opening drive with Anderson Castle making a one-yard run for the touchdown. Jeremiah Hasley aided the drive with a 27-yard catch on fourth-and-three.
After forcing a Tar Heel three-and-out, the Blue Devils took the ensuing possession and scored on a 14-yard touchdown pass to Hasley to lead 14-7 with 10:25 to play in the half. A roughing the kicker penalty extended the drive and Duke took advantage on the first play following the foul.
Another three-and-out led to a 17-7 lead for the Blue Devils as Todd Pelino drilled a 33-yard field goal with 2:33 to play in the second quarter.
The Tar Heels cut the lead to 17-10 at the half with a 49-yard field goal with just seven seconds left in the frame.
Duke recovered an attempted onside kick by North Carolina to open the second half and took the ball 44 yards to pay off with Castle's second touchdown of the game, another from one yard away. The Blue Devils led 24-10 with 9:15 to go in the third.
The Tar Heels answered on their next drive with a 20-yard touchdown pass from Lopez to Jordan Shipp. UNC went for two and converted with a pass to Shipp to make it a 24-18 affair with 4:52 to play in the third.
UNC regained the lead with 13:13 left in the game with a 12-yard rush by Davion Gause. The Tar Heels covered 91 yards on nine plays to go back ahead.
After consecutive sacks forced a North Carolina punt, Duke took over for its game-winning drive with 6:37 to play.
The 11-play, 68-yard march was highlighted by Pelino's fake field goal and Castle's third score of the contest.
After the score, North Carolina had one final chance, going four plays for minus-three yards. Luke Mergott put the exclamation point on the defensive stand with his first career sack, forcing the Tar Heels into a fourth-and-13 with just 1:22 to play.
The Tar Heel pass fell incomplete and Duke kneeled out the final 1:18.

UP NEXT

Duke hosts Wake Forest next Saturday to complete the regular season. Kickoff time and television network will be determined after all of this week's game are complete.

For more information on Duke Football, follow the Blue Devils on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "DukeFOOTBALL".

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