What can a single play, or moment, or drive can make in a player's career or confidence? It can be a world changer.
That feeling is exactly what Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik is currently experiencing after leading the Tigers on a game-winning drive to defeat the Kentucky Wildcats in the Gator Bowl to end the 2023 season .
Clemson trailed 21-10 entering the fourth quarter and exploded for a school-record-tying 28 fourth-quarter points and the defense forced four turnovers in the final frame to lead the Tigers to a fifth Gator Bowl victory in school history.
The Tigers tallied 367 yards of offense, including 264 through the air and 103 on the ground. Mafah scored touchdowns on four of his 11 carries, finishing with 71 yards. Sophomore quarterback Cade Klubnik completed 30-of-41 passes, including going 8-for-8 on the game-winning drive that ended with Mafah’s fourth score with 17 seconds remaining. The game featured five lead changes in the game’s final 6:45, with the Tigers striking the final blow
Clemson got the ball back with 1:41 left in the game and all three timeouts. A five-yard run from Mafah kept the drive alive on a crucial 4th-and-2. Two plays later, Klubnik found Briningstool for 15 yards and then Mafah finished the job with a three-yard touchdown run to give Clemson a 38-35 lead. Klubnik hit on all eight of his pass attempts on the final drive for 71 yards.
I think that what really made that drive special was we didn't have any superhero, crazy 360 scramble across the field, backwards throw that got us the third and 18 or whatever," Klubnik said. "No, it was just doing what we do and doing it very efficiently. We didn't need to do anything crazy to be efficient. And I think that's where this offense is very, very elite is when we're doing the simple plays and the routine plays and doing them very, very efficiently.
And when we did that, we drive with two minutes and we overcome third and 18 and we get down there and score. That just showed our offense, it doesn't have to be the crazy, crazy play that wins. Like, it's just doing what we do very efficiently. And I think that that drive is exactly what I like...So you look back at last year and there's so much promising stuff."
