Wake Forest closes season strong

Robby Ashford couldn't have imagined a better way to close out his roller-coaster college career.

- BY STEVE REED

WAKE Forest coach Jake Dickert and his children get the traditional mayo bath.

(SCOTT KINSER Associated Press)

The six-year redshirt senior quarterback threw for 303 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 50 yards and two scores to take MVP honors, Koredell Bartley scored on a 100-yard kickoff return and Wake Forest beat Mississippi State 43-29 in the Duke's Mayo Bowl on Friday night.

Ashford, who arrived at Wake Forest this season eager for a chance to start, threw touchdown passes of 14 yards to Kamrean Johnson, 64 yards to Jack Foley and 62 yards to Ty Clark III and had scoring runs of two and one yards for the Demon Deacons (9-4).

Wake Forest finished the season winning seven of its final nine games, this one sending coach Jake Dickert to a celebratory mayonnaise bath.

"When I got to Wake Forest, I was in a rough spot mentally and physically," said Ashford, who transferred from South Carolina after also spending time at Oregon and Auburn. "I was kind of down on myself, almost at a point where I didn’t know if I wanted to keep playing.

"These guys just instilled just so much in me, and, just helped me in so many ways and instilled that confidence back in me."