JACKSONVILLE — Clemson’s Phil Mafah scored on a 3-yard touchdown run with 17 seconds to play Friday, lifting No. 22 Clemson to a 38-35 victory over Kentucky and winning the 79th Annual Gator Bowl Classic in Jacksonville, Fla.
Shelton Lewis sealed the victory on the next play from scrimmage by intercepting Devin Leary’s last pass of his college career with nine seconds to play.
It was a crazy final quarter of the Gator Bowl as the two teams combined for 42 points, a new Gator Bowl record. There were five lead changes in the fourth quarter and eight overall.
It looked like Kentucky (7-6) was going to win the game when Leary found tight end Jordan Dingle for a 72-yard catch-and-run, setting up Ray Davis’ 1-yard touchdown for a 35-31 lead with 2:39 to play.
However, Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik led the Tigers on a 12-play, 68-yard drive, including one fourth-down conversion with 44 seconds to play. The sophomore showed the most poise of his career to this point, as he completed 8 of 8 passes for 71 yards on the final drive.
The biggest play was a 16-yard completion to Troy Stellato on third-and-18 from midfield. That setup Mafah for a 5-yard run to keep the drive going. Klubnik then found Antonio Williams for 11 yards and tight end Jake Briningstool for 15 more to the Kentucky 3-yard line, setting up Mafah’s Gator Bowl record fourth rushing touchdown with 17 seconds to go.
Klubnik completed 30 of 41 passes for 264 yards. Leary threw for 306 yards, two touchdowns and was intercepted twice. He also lost a fumble on an Xavier Thomas sack.
Jonathan Weitz made a 52-yard field goal with 4:20 to play to give the Tigers a 30-28 lead. Weitz, who also made field goals of 39 and 28 yards earlier in the game, got enough of the kick to bounce it over the crossbar.
Weitz’s field goal was set up thanks to a 60-yard Will Shipley kickoff return.
Kentucky receiver Barion Brown scored three touchdowns – a 102-yard kickoff return, 60-yard reception and a 22-yard run.
Mafah, the game’s MVP, tallied 71 yards on the ground to go with his record-setting touchdown performance. His four touchdowns are a Clemson bowl record, as well.