CLEMSON – When the Clemson Tigers ran down the hill prior to Saturday’s game against No. 12 Notre Dame, few people thought the Tigers were going to win.

Even fewer thought the Tigers would run the football on the Irish’s stout defensive front.

Imagine their surprise when running back Phil Mafah rushed for 186 yards and two touchdowns in Clemson’s 31-23 victory over Notre Dame at Memorial Stadium.

What was even more impressive about Clemson’s performance on Saturday was the fact the Tigers were missing starting left tackle Collin Sadler (foot) and left guard Marcus Tate (knee). Tate injured his knee in practice and is likely done for the season. Sadler did not practice all week after suffering an injury at the end of last week’s game at NC State.

With Sadler out, Tristan Leigh moved back to left tackle, while Trent Howard filled in for Tate at left guard and freshman Harris Sewell started at right guard.

“Nothing starts on the outside in, it always starts on the inside out and that’s what we just kind of had to focus on each other and block out the outside noise,” said Howard on the mindset coming into the game after a rough week. “Just go out there and try and win another one this week.”

The Tigers return to Death Valley next week for their annual Military Appreciation matchup against Georgia Tech.

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