Tigers Drop Narrow 46-45 Loss to Duke in Back-and-Forth Game
Clemson (3-5, 2-4 ACC) amassed 560 total offensive yards but fell short in a thrilling 46-45 defeat to Duke (5-3, 4-1 ACC) at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.
Game Summary
The Tigers held a seven-point lead after T.J. made a 75-yard catch-and-run touchdown. Clemson forced a punt on Duke’s subsequent drive but later had to punt themselves with 5:19 remaining, leaving Duke at their own six-yard line.
Duke responded with an impressive 94-yard drive over 11 plays and 4:39 minutes, featuring two key fourth-down conversions and a successful two-point conversion, ultimately taking the lead.
Clemson’s final attempt to score stalled, securing the Blue Devils’ victory.
Key Player Performances
- Quarterback Cade Klubnik completed 27 of 36 passes for 385 yards and two touchdowns.
- Antonio Williams stood out with 142 receiving yards on 10 receptions, scoring two touchdowns (one receiving, one rushing).
- Adam Randall contributed 89 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
- Defensively, Peter Woods and Jahiem Lawson each recorded a sack.
- Linebacker Sammy Brown led Clemson with 10 tackles, followed by Khalil Barnes with nine.
Duke's Early Impact
“Duke jumped to a 7-0 lead on its first possession when quarterback Darien Mensah connected with Que’Sean Brown on a 19-yard touchdown pass with 10:08 on the clock.”
The competitive matchup featured multiple lead changes and critical plays that decided the outcome in Duke’s favor.
Author's summary: Clemson's strong offensive effort fell short as Duke executed a late rally with key conversions and a two-point play to clinch a 46-45 win.