Mafah-mia: Phil Mafah runs for four touchdowns to lead #Clemson past Kentucky 38-35 (AUDIO/VIDEO)

**Phil Mafah scored three of his four touchdowns in the fourth quarter (TigerNet)**

JACKSONVILLE, FL.: As time expired Clemson’s coaches in the box ran behind the media yelling, “SEC! SEC!” after the Tigers defeated Kentucky 38-35 in a thrilling Gator Bowl at EverBank Stadium.

It took offense, defense and special teams for Clemson to pull off the last-minute victory with a Phil Mafah three-yard touchdown run with 17 seconds remaining and Shelton Lewis sealing the deal with an interception – Kentucky’s fourth turnover of the day.

Clemson finishes 2023 with back-to-back wins over SEC teams, including the 16-7 win over rival South Carolina.

Quarterback Cade Klubnik finished the game completing 30-of-41 passes for 264 yards. Running back Phil Mafah set a Gator Bowl record with four rushing touchdowns. He had 11 carries for 71 yards. Tight end Jake Briningstool was Clemson’s leading receiver with nine catches for 91 yards.

The Tigers scored on their first drive with a 39-yard field goal from Jonathan Weitz for an early 3-0 lead.

Ray Davis took the ball 43 yards to the Clemson 22 and Barion Brown finished the job on the next play finding paydirt to give Kentucky a 7-3 lead with 5:00 minutes to play in the first quarter. The drive covered 73 yards in just four plays.

Clemson scored its first offensive touchdown in six quarters on a one-yard run by Mafah to give the Tigers a 10-7 lead with 10:17 to play before halftime. Clemson ran five plays on the drive including an 18-yard run by Mafah and a 28-yard catch-and-run by Jake Briningstool.

Aided by a pass interference call, Kentucky answered on its next possession. Dane Key had a 58-yard catch down to the five-yard line and caught the touchdown pass in the back of the endzone on the next play for a 14-10 Wildcats’ lead with 7:44 to play in the second quarter.

The Wildcats received the opening kickoff of the second half, which Brown promptly took 102 yards for a touchdown to extend Kentucky’s lead to 21-10.

Late in the third quarter Clemson’s offense finally found a little bit of rhythm as they marched 70 yards down the field in 14 plays that ended with a one-yard touchdown plunge by Mafah. The Tigers couldn’t convert the two-point play but closed the gap to 21-16 with 14:56 to play.

Linebacker Barrett Carter tipped a pass to himself to set Clemson’s offense up on the 32-yard line. Weitz hit his second field goal of the day to make it 21-19 with seven minutes to play.

On the very next play from scrimmage, Khalil Barnes forced a fumble that was recovered by Carter. It was the third straight Kentucky possession that ended with a turnover. Mafah raced 29 yards on the ensuing play to the endzone for his third touchdown of the day and a 27-21 Clemson lead with 6:45 to play.

Big plays continued to bite Clemson, as Devin Leary found a wide open Brown for a 60 yard touchdown and a 28-27 Wildcat lead with 6:12 to play.

Will Shipley returned the kickoff 60 yards, but Clemson’s offense couldn’t muster a drive, however, Weitz saved the day with a 52-yard field goal that doinked good off the goal post for a 30-28 Clemson lead.

Leary then hit a wide open receiver for 72 yards to the three yard line and Kentucky punched it in for a 35-30 lead with 2:39 to play.

Kentucky elected to kick the ball short to avoid a return, so Clemson’s final possession began on the 32-yard line. After an intentional grounding call, Clemson faced a third-and-18, but Klubnik found Antonio Williams for 17 yards and the Mafah picked up the yard on fourth down. The Tigers continued to methodically work their way down the field little by little. Klubnik found Briningstool for a 15-yard gain to the three-yard line, and Mafah set a Gator Bowl record with his fourth rushing touchdown of the game and a 38-35 Clemson lead after the two-point conversion with just 17 seconds remaining.

Freshman Shelton Lewis squashed any chance of a comeback with a pick on an overthrow.