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MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- Duke's bowl dreams evaporated in the final 26 minutes, 5 seconds of Saturday's 34-16 loss to Miami, but the Blue Devils can finish 6-6, their best record since 1994, with a win over Wake Forest in their final game.

"We fought our tails off to make the bowl game dream come true," quarterback Thaddeus Lewis said, "but it has been a long time since Duke finished 6-6, something that we can make a reality."

Lewis threw for 303 yards (20-of-37) with a 29-yard touchdown to Donovan Varner and an interception that was returned 73 yards by Miami's Darryl Sharpton. He now has 9,678 career passing yards, the most in Duke history.

The Blue Devils (5-6, 3-4 ACC) led 16-10 with 11:05 left in the third quarter following Will Snyderwine's 26-yard field goal, but Miami (8-3, 5-3) scored the last 24 points to deny Duke the possibility of the seven wins it needed for bowl eligibility.

"If we had been able to pull this off and win our final game, I would have considered us the No. 1 team in the country," coach David Cutcliffe said. "It is frustrating to have the lead at the start of the fourth quarter and not win.

"I absolutely could not be more proud of a group of players, particularly our seniors, who have seen their bowl dreams slip away with this loss, but certainly not what they have built in a two-year period."

Duke is 9-13 in two years under Cutcliffe after going 4-48 from 2004-2007.

"They work hard in every practice," Cutcliffe said, "and our young players have watched how the older players have fought in games. It will serve us well as we move forward."

Duke's improvement didn't go unnoticed by Miami coach Randy Shannon.

"Coach Cutcliffe has done a great job of changing their mentality and getting some players who can get some things done," Shannon said.

Duke was ahead Saturday until Damien Berry's 2-yard run with 13:41 remaining completed a 15-play, 90-yard drive as Miami took a 20-16 lead.

Berry had 58 yards (10 carries), and tight end Jimmy Graham converted a third-and-8 from the Miami 12 on a 14-yard completion from quarterback Jacory Harris to spark the drive.

Duke then drove to a second down at the Miami 6-yard line, where Lewis, who didn't practice the entire week because of a thigh bruise, was called for intentional grounding.

"It was a screen [to Jay Hollingsworth], and they tackled him," Cutcliffe said. "Every quarterback in the country is taught when that happens to throw the ball into the ground and that it was Thad did."

Snyderwine, who didn't practice because of quad injury, subsequently missed a 31-yard field-goal attempt, and Duke's momentum was gone.

After Harris, who finished with 348 yards (25-of-43) and two touchdowns, hit Leonard Hankerson for a 44-yard touchdown following the missed field-goal attempt, Sharpton's interception return for a score ended Duke's hopes.

With their bowl dreams gone, Lewis said the Blue Devils' goal against Wake Forest is a significant one.

"The seniors know that we are leaving the program in much better shape than it was when we arrived," he said. "To win and finish 6-6 would be special."

Cutcliffe is amazed at the how they have done it.

"It is the only place that I've been where the players carry their laptops on Fridays to finish papers," he said, "and then you see what they put into practices and games. You can't help but be proud."

Duke 3 10 3 0 -- 16

Miami 3 7 3 21 -- 34

Duke--FG Snyderwine 30

Mia--FG Bosher 33

Duke--FG Snyderwine 49

Mia--T.Johnson 5 pass from J.Harris (Bosher kick)

Duke--Varner 24 pass from Lewis (Snyderwine kick)

Duke--FG Snyderwine 26

Mia--FG Bosher 20

Mia--Berry 2 run (Bosher kick)

Mia--Hankerson 44 pass from J.Harris (Bosher kick)

Mia--Sharpton 73 interception return (Bosher kick)

A--38,200

Duke Miami

First downs 18 25

Rushes-Yards 22-55 44-148

Passing 303 348

Comp-Att-Int 20-37-1 25-43-1

Return yards 10 80

Punts-Avg. 4-42.5 3-40.7

Fumbles-Lost 1-1 1-1

Penalties-Yards 1-0 5-49

Time of possession 21:34 38:26

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING--Duke, Hollingsworth 10-32, D.Scott 10-27, Lewis 2-(minus 4). Miami, Berry 16-76, Cooper 14-42, J.James 9-33, Benjamin 1-9, team 1-(minus 1), J.Harris 3-(minus 11).

PASSING--Duke, Lewis 20-37-1-303. Miami, J.Harris 25-43-1-348.

RECEIVING--Duke, Varner 8-165, Kelly 4-31, Vernon 3-52, Hollingsworth 2-24, B.King 1-16, Parker 1-9, D.Scott 1-6. Miami, Hankerson 8-143, Graham 5-73, Benjamin 3-43, J.James 2-19, Epps 2-17, T.Johnson 2-14, A.Johnson 1-20, Byrd 1-17, Cooper 1-2.