At a Glance
- Wake Forest tops Mississippi State 43-29 in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl.
- Robby Ashford throws 303 yards, 3 passing TDs, 50 rushing yards, 2 rushing TDs, earning MVP.
- Koredell Bartley returns kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown.
- Why it matters: The win capped Wake Forest’s best season under first-year coach Jake Dickert and sealed a bowl victory remembered for its mayonnaise bath tradition.
In a high-scoring Duke’s Mayo Bowl, Wake Forest routed Mississippi State 43-29, with senior quarterback Robby Ashford throwing 303 yards and earning MVP honors.
Game Summary
The game opened with a 100-yard kickoff return by Koredell Bartley, giving Wake Forest an early 7-0 lead. Ashford’s 303 passing yards and 50 rushing yards helped the team build a 30-12 advantage in the third quarter. Mississippi State rallied to close the gap, but Ashford’s late 62-yard touchdown run sealed the win.
- 14-yard pass to Kamrean Johnson
- 64-yard pass to Jack Foley
- 62-yard pass to Ty Clark III
Key Performances
Ashford finished with 303 yards, three passing touchdowns, and two rushing scores, earning MVP honors. Ty Clark, who stepped in after Demond Claiborne opted out, totaled 153 yards from scrimmage. Freshman Kamario Taylor of Mississippi State rushed for 60 yards and a touchdown before a leg injury forced him off the field.
| Player | Yards from Scrimmage | Passing TDs | Rushing TDs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robby Ashford | 353 | 3 | 2 |
| Koredell Bartley | 100 (kickoff) | 0 | 0 |
| Kamario Taylor | 301 | 1 | 1 |
| Ty Clark | 153 | 0 | 0 |
Coaching Highlights
Coach Jake Dickert celebrated the win with a 42.5-pound mayonnaise bath, a tradition that also drenched his three children while his wife declined to participate. Dickert credited the team’s resilience and the influx of 40 transfer players for the season’s success. He remarked, “I think we have laid a tremendous foundation here,” after the game.
Robby Ashford said:
> “When I got to Wake Forest, I was in a rough spot mentally and physically,”
Robby Ashford added:
> “Man, these guys just instilled just so much in me, and, just helped me in so many ways and instilled that confidence back in me.”
Jeff Lebby said:
> “I feel good about the initial reports.”
Jake Dickert said:
> “I couldn’t get my wife to do it. She was like, ‘Absolutely not!'”
Key Takeaways
- Wake Forest’s 43-29 win capped a nine-win season, the most for a first-year coach in program history.
- Robby Ashford’s 303 passing yards and 50 rushing yards earned him MVP honors.
- The game featured a 100-yard kickoff return and a 62-yard touchdown run, with the final play sealing the victory.
With the win, Wake Forest will host Akron on Sept. 3, while Mississippi State prepares to face Louisiana-Monroe on Sept. 5.
