Wake Forest football rips off a 100-yard kick return TD in spectacular fashion against Mississippi State in the Duke's Mayo Bowl. 

Returner Kordell Bartley's electrifying play gave the Demon Deacons a crucial halftime lead in their quest for a ninth win.

Wake Forest Football Rips Off 100-Yard Kick Return TD: The Play

The defining moment came when Wake Forest football ripped off a 100-yard kick return TD.

Kordell Bartley fielded the kickoff in his own end zone and proceeded to race the length of the field untouched.

ESPN's SportsCenter highlighted the play on social media, captioning it, "100 YARDS TO THE. Wake Forest’s Kordell Bartley really did that. This touchdown was a massive momentum swing in a defensive first half.

Wake Forest Football Rips Off 100-Yard Kick Return TD: Game Context

Wake Forest football rips off a 100-yard kick return TD to take a 15-9 halftime lead.

The play supplemented a strong defensive effort that stifled Mississippi State's offense.

Veteran quarterback Robby Ashford also led a touchdown drive to help build the advantage.

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A victory would give first-year head coach Jake Dickert a 9-4 debut season and the coveted post-game mayo bath tradition of this bowl.

Looking Ahead to the Second Half and Beyond

The Demon Deacons aim to hold their lead to clinch the bowl victory.

This win would solidify a successful foundation for the program under Dickert.

 Looking ahead to 2026, Wake Forest aims to build on this season and contend in a changing ACC landscape, with aspirations of eventually reaching the College Football Playoff.

Source Information:

This game report is based on coverage from Clutch Points.

You can read their full article here:
Wake Forest football rips off 100-yard kick return TD vs. Mississippi State in Duke’s Mayo Bowl