Clemson wins Gator Bowl, live game recap

JACKSONVILLE, FLA. (WIS) - Clemson wins the Gator Bowl, 38-35.

FINAL

Clemson put points on the board early in the quarter. Mafah finished off a 14-play, 70-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown. The Tigers trailed 21-16 after a failed two-point conversion.

The turnover margin narrative came alive. Clemson recovered a fumble inside Wildcat territory, but Klubnik threw an interception in the end zone on the next play. Devin Leary was picked off by Barrett Carter, setting the Tigers up inside the UK 40. Clemson settled for a field goal on the drive, trailing 21-19.

The Tigers recovered another loose ball with under seven minutes to play. A 29-yard Mafah touchdown - and a successful two-point try - put Clemson back on top, 27-21.

Three plays later, the Wildcats recovered a one-point edge. Leary connected with Barion Brown for a 60-yard score, putting Kentucky back on top 28-27.

Clemson’s Jonathan Weitz nailed a field goal to the crossbar, but it doinked the right way. The Tigers took a narrow lead, 30-28.

Kentucky responded with a 72-yard Jordan Dingle reception to the Clemson three-yard line. Ray Davis punched in the touchdown to assume the lead once again, 35-30.

Clemson pushed the ball down the field in the final minutes of the quarter. An Adam Randall 11-yard pickup converted a crucial third down. Kentucky’s defense brought the heat on Klubnik, who threw it away to the sideline and drew an intentional grounding penalty.

Former Dutch Fork standout Antonio Williams brought the Tigers into the red zone and Jake Briningstool hauled in a pass at the three-yard line. Clemson took the lead again with a Mafah touchdown, the junior racking up 71 yards on 11 carries for four touchdowns. The two-point try was good for a 38-35 lead.

After a season of turnover turmoil, poetry ends the game. Justin Mascoll sealed the bowl victory with an interception. The Tigers win in the postseason for a 13th consecutive season.

Cade Klubnik finished 30-41 for 264 yards and an interception. The Wildcats outgained the Tigers 398-367, but Clemson won the turnover margin 4-1. The fourth quarter saw five turnovers and five lead changes.

3rd quarter

Kentucky opened the third quarter with a 102-yard kickoff return touchdown, the longest return in Gator Bowl history. The Wildcats took a 21-10 with the Barion Brown score.

Clemson started moving the ball toward the end of the quarter. The 21-10 score holds into the fourth.

2nd quarter

Clemson picked up its longest yardage of the day on an 18-yard Phil Mafah rush. They extended the drive with a 28-yard reception by Jake Briningstool at the one-yard line. Mafah punched it into the end zone to retake the lead, 10-7, marking the Tigers’ first offensive touchdown since the third quarter against North Carolina in week 12.

Kentucky continued its run of explosive plays with a 58-yard reception to Dante Key, who was brought down at the five-yard line. Key caught the touchdown on the next play, putting Kentucky up 14-10 into halftime.

1st quarter

The Tigers received the first possession and embarked on a seven-play, 39-yard drive. They settled for a field goal after coming up short on third down to lead 3-0.

Kentucky was held to just one first down on its first drive. The Tigers got the ball back but failed to produce.

On the Wildcats’ next drive, Ray Davis broke away for 43 yards and deep into Clemson territory. Barion Brown followed it with a 22-yard touchdown on the next play. Kentucky led 7-3 after the first quarter.

Game Preview

The Clemson Tigers are set to take on the University of Kentucky Wildcats at this year’s Gator Bowl.

The game will kick off at noon in Jacksonville, Florida.

Kentucky comes into the bowl game with a 7-5 record on the season, while Clemson finished their season 8-4.

The Tigers will see a familiar face when they line up against the Wildcats.

University of Kentucky’s starting Quarterback Devin Leary is playing his first season with the Wildcats after transferring from North Carolina State University.

Leary gave the Tigers fits the past two seasons.

In 2021, the ninth-ranked Tigers were upset by the Wolfpack 27 to 21 in double overtime. In that game, Leary threw the winning touchdown pass. That was Clemson’s first loss to an unranked team since 2017.

Kentucky comes into this matchup giving some praises to the Tigers.

Head Coach Mark Stoops and several players touched on the high level of respect they have for the Tigers.

Leary said the Wildcats have to start fast and stay strong all four quarters to keep up with the Tigers.

Clemson’s head coach Dabo Swinney said the Tigers have earned respect from being tough and physical every game, especially in a season like this one where not everything has gone their way.

Their presence in Jacksonville was enough to make one of Kentucky’s own want to compete. Kentucky star running back Ray Davis said once he learned it would be Clemson in the bowl, he had to “step up to the plate

WIS’ Rick Henry and Julia Westerman will provide updates during the game.

You can watch the game on ESPN.

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