Tigers Drop Back-And-Forth Game to Duke, 46-45
Clemson (3-5, 2-4 ACC) amassed 560 yards of total offense but fell short in a 46-45 loss to Duke (5-3, 4-1 ACC) at Memorial Stadium on Saturday after allowing a touchdown and a two-point conversion with just 40 seconds remaining.
The Tigers held a seven-point lead following a 75-yard catch-and-run touchdown by T.J. Clemson forced a punt on Duke’s next possession but then punted back with 5:19 left, placing Duke on its own six-yard line.
Duke responded with a 94-yard drive over 11 plays in 4:39, converting two crucial fourth downs and a two-point conversion to seize the lead.
Clemson’s final push to regain the lead was unsuccessful, handing Duke the victory.
Key Player Performances
- Cade Klubnik, Clemson’s quarterback, completed 27 of 36 passes for 385 yards and two touchdowns.
- Antonio Williams led Clemson’s receivers with 142 yards on 10 catches and scored twice, once receiving and once rushing.
- Adam Randall added 89 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
Defensive Highlights
- Peter Woods and Jahiem Lawson each recorded a sack.
- Sammy Brown led the team with 10 tackles, closely followed by Khalil Barnes with nine.
Game Progression
Duke started strong, jumping to a 7-0 lead with a 19-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Darien Mensah to Que’Sean Brown at 10:08 on their opening drive.
“Duke drove 94 yards on 11 plays over the next 4:39, including two critical fourth-down conversions and a two-point conversion, to take the lead.”
The decisive play came late in the game as Duke scored a touchdown and converted for two points with only 40 seconds remaining, edging out Clemson.
Despite Clemson’s statistical production, their offense couldn’t close out the game in the final minutes.
Author’s summary: Clemson’s strong offensive outing was undone by a last-minute Duke touchdown and two-point conversion, highlighting a closely fought contest decided in the final seconds.