Duke Dominates Second Half to Rout California 45-21
Duke dominated California 45-21 in Week 6, with the Blue Devils controlling the game through a dominant second quarter and strong fourth-quarter finish. Duke quarterback Darian Mensah led the offense with 265 passing yards, connecting with receiver Cooper Barkate for 66 yards. Running back Nate Sheppard rushed for 91 yards and capped the victory with a 46-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
California struck first with 14 points in the opening quarter, but Duke answered with 24 second-quarter points to seize control. The Golden Bears managed just seven more points in the second quarter before being completely shut out in the third and fourth quarters combined. Duke's defense recorded multiple crucial turnovers, including two interceptions of California quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele in the second and fourth quarters. The game featured six lead changes and remained competitive early before Duke's offensive surge put the contest out of reach. Duke covered the 3.5-point spread while the game went over the 54.5-point total.
AI-generated recap · Aug 10, 2026
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Duke | 7 | 24 | 0 | 14 | 45 |
 California | 14 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 21 |
Scoring Timeline
Drive Chart
Box Score
| Statistic | Duke | California |
|---|---|---|
| Passing | 22-30 | 20-32 |
| Pass Yards | 265 | 245 |
| Rush Yards | 178 | 41 |
| Total Yards | 443 | 286 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 4 |
| 3rd Down | 5-11 | 5-11 |
| Penalties | 7-63 | 6-43 |
| Possession | 31:03 | 28:57 |
Player Leaders
Player Leaders
Play-by-Play
Kendrick Raphael run for a loss of 1 yard to the CAL 24
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele pass complete to Jacob De Jesus for 12 yds to the CAL 36 for a 1ST down
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele pass complete to Trond Grizzell for 2 yds to the CAL 38
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele pass complete to Jacob De Jesus for 6 yds to the CAL 44
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele pass complete to Jacob De Jesus for 3 yds to the CAL 47 for a 1ST down
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele pass complete to Mason Mini for 24 yds to the DUKE 29 for a 1ST down
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele pass complete to Kendrick Raphael for a loss of 1 yard to the DUKE 30
California Penalty, False Start (-5 Yards) to the DUKE 35
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele pass complete to Trond Grizzell for 19 yds to the DUKE 16 for a 1ST down
Duke Penalty, Defensive Offside (Semaj Turner) to the DUKE 11
Kendrick Raphael run for 6 yds to the DUKE 5 for a 1ST down
Kendrick Raphael run for a loss of 1 yard to the DUKE 6
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele pass complete to Jordan King for 6 yds for a TD (Chase Meyer KICK)
Duke Penalty, Personal Foul (15 Yards) to the 50 yard line
Chase Meyer kickoff for 50 yds , Jayden Moore return for 24 yds to the DUKE 24
Darian Mensah pass complete to Sahmir Hagans for 3 yds to the DUKE 27 Duke Penalty, Offensive Holding (-10 Yards) to the DUKE 17
Darian Mensah pass incomplete to Cooper Barkate
Nate Sheppard run for 5 yds to the DUKE 22
Darian Mensah sacked by Jayden Wayne for a loss of 7 yards to the DUKE 15
Kade Reynoldson punt for 57 yds , Jacob De Jesus returns for 17 yds to the CAL 45
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele pass complete to Trond Grizzell for 29 yds to the DUKE 26 for a 1ST down
California Penalty, Offensive Holding (Jordan Spasojevic-Moko) to the DUKE 36
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele pass incomplete
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele pass complete to Jordan King for 22 yds to the DUKE 14 for a 1ST down Duke Penalty, Personal Foul (Bradley Gompers) to the DUKE 7 for a 1ST down
Kendrick Raphael run for 2 yds to the DUKE 5
Kendrick Raphael run for 5 yds for a TD (Chase Meyer KICK)
Chase Meyer kickoff for 64 yds , Sahmir Hagans return for 22 yds to the DUKE 23
Darian Mensah pass complete to Cooper Barkate for 15 yds to the DUKE 46 for a 1ST down
Darian Mensah pass complete to Andrel Anthony for 8 yds to the DUKE 31
Nate Sheppard run for 8 yds to the CAL 46
Darian Mensah pass incomplete to Andrel Anthony
Darian Mensah pass complete to Jake Taylor for 16 yds to the CAL 30 for a 1ST down
Nate Sheppard run for no gain to the CAL 30
Darian Mensah pass complete to Que'Sean Brown for 18 yds to the CAL 12 for a 1ST down
Nate Sheppard run for 12 yds for a TD (Todd Pelino KICK)
Todd Pelino kickoff for 63 yds , Jacob De Jesus return for 18 yds to the CAL 20 Jacob De Jesus fumbled, recovered by CAL Jacob De Jesus
LJ Johnson Jr. run for 7 yds to the CAL 27
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele pass complete to Jacob De Jesus for 6 yds to the CAL 33 for a 1ST down
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele pass incomplete to Jaiven Plummer
LJ Johnson Jr. run for 3 yds to the CAL 36
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele pass complete to Jordan King for 10 yds to the CAL 46 for a 1ST down
Kendrick Raphael run for 2 yds to the CAL 48
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele pass complete to Jacob De Jesus for 30 yds to the DUKE 22 for a 1ST down
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele pass incomplete to Trond Grizzell
Sagapolutele, Jaron-Keawe pass incomplete to Grizzell, Trond, PENALTY DUKE pass interference (Robinson, Kimari) 11 yards to the DUKE11, NO PLAY, 1ST DOWN CAL.
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele run for 1 yd to the DUKE 10
Kendrick Raphael run for 6 yds to the DUKE 4
Kendrick Raphael run for 4 yds for a TD (Chase Meyer KICK)
Chase Meyer kickoff for 62 yds , Sahmir Hagans return for 39 yds to the DUKE 42
Darian Mensah pass complete to Andrel Anthony for a loss of 2 yards to the DUKE 40
Darian Mensah pass complete to Anderson Castle for 1 yd to the DUKE 41
Darian Mensah pass complete to Cooper Barkate for 15 yds to the CAL 44 for a 1ST down
Anderson Castle run for 8 yds to the CAL 36
Anderson Castle run for 7 yds to the CAL 29 for a 1ST down
Darian Mensah pass complete to Cooper Barkate for 15 yds to the CAL 14 for a 1ST down
Anderson Castle run for 1 yd to the CAL 13
Mensah, Darian pass incomplete to King, Landen, PENALTY CAL pass interference 6 yards to the CAL7, NO PLAY, 1ST DOWN DUKE.
Anderson Castle run for 1 yd to the CAL 6
Anderson Castle run for 4 yds to the CAL 2
Anderson Castle run for 2 yds for a TD (Todd Pelino KICK)
Kendrick Raphael run for 29 yds to the DUKE 46 for a 1ST down
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele pass intercepted Andrew Pellicciotta return for 34 yds to the DUKE 12 Duke Penalty, Offensive Holding (Landan Callahan) to the DUKE 38
Darian Mensah pass complete to Landen King for 33 yds to the CAL 29 for a 1ST down
Nate Sheppard run for 3 yds to the CAL 26
Darian Mensah pass complete to Que'Sean Brown for 26 yds for a TD (Todd Pelino KICK)
Kendrick Raphael run for a loss of 2 yards to the CAL 23
Duke Penalty, Defensive Offside (Wesley Williams) to the CAL 28
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele sacked by Elliott Schaper and Wesley Williams for a loss of 8 yards to the CAL 20
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele sacked by Vincent Anthony Jr. and Elliott Schaper for a loss of 7 yards to the CAL 13
Michael Kern punt for 25 yds, downed at the CAL 38
Jaquez Moore run for 11 yds to the CAL 27 for a 1ST down
Darian Mensah pass incomplete to Cooper Barkate
Jaquez Moore run for 1 yd to the CAL 26
Darian Mensah pass complete to Que'Sean Brown for 23 yds to the CAL 3 for a 1ST down
Anderson Castle run for 2 yds to the CAL 1
Anderson Castle run for 1 yd for a TD (Todd Pelino KICK)
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele pass incomplete to Mason Mini
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele pass incomplete to Kendrick Raphael
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele sacked by Elliott Schaper for a loss of 15 yards to the CAL 10
Michael Kern punt for 51 yds, downed at the DUKE 39
Darian Mensah pass complete to Nate Sheppard for 6 yds to the DUKE 45
Darian Mensah pass complete to Que'Sean Brown for 15 yds to the CAL 40 for a 1ST down
Darian Mensah pass complete to Que'Sean Brown for 22 yds to the CAL 18 for a 1ST down
Darian Mensah pass incomplete to Cooper Barkate
Nate Sheppard run for 5 yds to the CAL 13
California Penalty, Defensive Offside (Brent Austin) to the CAL 8 for a 1ST down
Todd Pelino 25 yd FG GOOD
End of 2nd Quarter
Chase Meyer kickoff for 45 yds , Jayden Moore return for 15 yds to the DUKE 35
Nate Sheppard run for a loss of 1 yard to the DUKE 34
Nate Sheppard run for 3 yds to the DUKE 37
Darian Mensah pass incomplete to Que'Sean Brown
Kade Reynoldson punt for 46 yds , Jacob De Jesus returns for a loss of 2 yards to the CAL 35 California Penalty, False Start (7 Yards) to the CAL 8
LJ Johnson Jr. run for 4 yds to the CAL 12
Kendrick Raphael run for 8 yds to the CAL 20 for a 1ST down
Kendrick Raphael run for a loss of 1 yard to the CAL 19
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele pass incomplete to Trond Grizzell
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele pass complete to Mason Mini for 28 yds to the CAL 47 for a 1ST down
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele pass complete to Jacob De Jesus for a loss of 1 yard to the CAL 46
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele pass intercepted Chandler Rivers return for no gain to the DUKE 41
Darian Mensah pass complete to Que'Sean Brown for no gain to the DUKE 41
Nate Sheppard run for 2 yds to the DUKE 43
Darian Mensah pass incomplete to Sahmir Hagans
Kade Reynoldson punt for 42 yds, fair catch by Jacob De Jesus at the CAL 15
Kendrick Raphael run for 2 yds to the CAL 17
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele sacked by Aaron Hall for a loss of 5 yards to the CAL 12
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele sacked by Wesley Williams for a loss of 3 yards to the CAL 9
Michael Kern punt for 44 yds , Que'Sean Brown returns for 3 yds to the 50 yard line
Anderson Castle run for 1 yd to the CAL 49
Darian Mensah pass complete to Sahmir Hagans for 4 yds to the CAL 45
Darian Mensah sacked by Luke Ferrelli for a loss of 11 yards to the DUKE 44
Kade Reynoldson punt for 56 yds for a touchback
Kendrick Raphael run for 5 yds to the CAL 25
Kendrick Raphael run for 2 yds to the CAL 27
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele pass complete to Mason Mini for 4 yds to the CAL 31 for a 1ST down
Kendrick Raphael run for 1 yd to the CAL 32
Sagapolutele, Jaron-Keawe pass complete to Raphael, Kendrick for 7 yards to the CAL39, PENALTY CAL holding (Bell, Leon) 10 yards to the CAL22, NO PLAY.
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele pass incomplete to LJ Johnson Jr.
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele pass complete to LJ Johnson Jr. for 14 yds to the CAL 36
Michael Kern punt for 60 yds, downed at the DUKE 4
Nate Sheppard run for 3 yds to the DUKE 7
Darian Mensah pass complete to Andrel Anthony for 8 yds to the DUKE 15 for a 1ST down
Darian Mensah pass complete to Cooper Barkate for 11 yds to the DUKE 26 for a 1ST down
Darian Mensah pass complete to Andrel Anthony for 15 yds to the DUKE 41 for a 1ST down
Darian Mensah pass incomplete to Jake Taylor
Darian Mensah pass complete to Sahmir Hagans for 3 yds to the DUKE 44
Darian Mensah pass incomplete
Kade Reynoldson punt for 47 yds , Jacob De Jesus returns for 7 yds to the CAL 16
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele run for no gain to the CAL 16
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele pass incomplete to Jacob De Jesus
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele pass complete to Trond Grizzell for 6 yds to the CAL 22
Michael Kern punt for 37 yds , Que'Sean Brown returns for 4 yds to the DUKE 45
Jaquez Moore run for 1 yd to the DUKE 46
Jaquez Moore run for 8 yds to the CAL 46
Anderson Castle run for 1 yd to the CAL 45 for a 1ST down
Jaquez Moore run for 32 yds to the CAL 13 for a 1ST down
Jaquez Moore run for 3 yds to the CAL 10
Darian Mensah pass complete to Cooper Barkate for 10 yds for a TD (Todd Pelino KICK)
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele sacked by Vincent Anthony Jr. for a loss of 3 yards to the CAL 22
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele pass complete to Kendrick Raphael for 13 yds to the CAL 35 for a 1ST down
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele pass complete to Kendrick Raphael for 13 yds to the CAL 48 for a 1ST down
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele pass intercepted Elliott Schaper return for 5 yds to the DUKE 49
Nate Sheppard run for 5 yds to the CAL 46
Nate Sheppard run for 46 yds for a TD (Todd Pelino KICK)
Todd Pelino kickoff for 63 yds , Jacob De Jesus return for 19 yds to the CAL 21
Kendrick Raphael run for 4 yds to the CAL 25
Kendrick Raphael run for a loss of 4 yards to the CAL 21
Devin Brown pass intercepted Moussa Kane return for no gain to the CAL 38
Travis Bates run for 1 yd to the CAL 37
Travis Bates run for 9 yds to the CAL 28 for a 1ST down
Travis Bates run for 1 yd to the CAL 27
Travis Bates run for 2 yds to the CAL 25
Henry Belin IV run for a loss of 1 yard to the CAL 26
Henry Belin IV run for 11 yds to the CAL 15 for a 1ST down
TEAM run for a loss of 2 yards to the CAL 17