Duke Slips Past Carolina On Senior Day, 32-25

Saturday, November 22

Chapel Hill, N.C.

3:30 P.M.

North Carolina

4-7 , 2-5

Duke

6-5 , 5-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Duke

North Carolina

November 22, 2025 | Football

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By: Justin Wilson

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – One or two plays usually decide the outcome of rivalry games, and that was the case Saturday afternoon at Kenan Stadium as the Duke Blue Devils made a few more plays to slip past North Carolina, 32-25.

After taking a 25-24 lead with 13:13 remaining in the fourth quarter and forcing a fourth-down stop, the Tar Heels seemed to have grabbed the momentum in the game, but Duke wouldn't go away.

Facing a 4th down and 3 on the UNC 27-yard line, the Blue Devils executed a perfect fake field goal, as kicker Todd Pelino took the pitch from holder Kade Reynoldson and picked up 26 yards before he was pushed out of bounds at the 1-yard line. Running back Anderson Castle scored on the next play to make it 32-25 after the two-point conversion, and that proved to be the difference, as Carolina was unable to score on its next drive.

"I'm really proud of the effort everybody gave all week and tonight," said head coach Bill Belichick. "Obviously we came up a few plays short, and it was disappointing. But, give Duke credit. They made a few more plays than we did at critical times, and ultimately that was the difference in the game."

Duke jumped out to a 17-7 lead in the first half, but a 49-yard field goal from Carolina kicker Rece Verhoff cut the deficit to seven at the intermission. The Tar Heels opened the game with one of their best drives of the season, amassing 75 yards on 13 plays capped by a 1-yard Gio Lopez touchdown run.

The Blue Devils responded by scoring on their first three drives of the game with two touchdowns and a field goal, as Duke recorded 183 yards in the first half and held an 18:07 to 11:53 advantage in the time of possession.

It was a different story in the second half, however. Carolina scored touchdowns on its first two drives thanks to a leaping grab from Jordan Shipp and a 12-yard run from Davion Gause. Lopez was 10-for-11 with 108 yards and a touchdown in the third quarter, while Duke did not complete a pass during the period.

The Tar Heels' longest drive of the season by distance put the program in front of their counterparts from Durham early in the fourth quarter, as UNC marched 91 yards on nine plays after a punt. Carolina rushed for 52 yards on the drive and Lopez passed for 39 yards to put the home team ahead just minutes into the fourth quarter.

After stopping a trick play on fourth down with 8:53 remaining, UNC's offense took over looking to put together another strong drive. Duke's defense had other plans, as the Blue Devils forced the Tar Heels to go three-and-out, highlighted by consecutive sacks of Lopez on second and third down.

The UNC defense came up big again on their next drive, as they appeared to force a Duke field goal on fourth down at the 27-yard line, but a heads up played from the Blue Devils extended the drive and helped them score what proved to be the game-winner.

Duke was 5-for-6 on fourth-down conversions after converting just six third downs, which helped put the Blue Devils over the top.

Offensively, Carolina was headlined by Lopez completing 21-of-27 passes for 204 yards with a score, while Shipp reeled in a career-best eight receptions for 83 yards and a touchdown. On Senior Day, Kobe Paysour secured five passes for 63 yards and Will Hardy paced the defense with eight tackles.

Carolina will conclude its season at NC State next weekend, as Saturday's kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. on ACC Network from Carter-Finley Stadium.