CLEMSON, S.C. — Clemson (3-5, 2-4 ACC) piled up 560 yards of total offense but allowed a touchdown and two-point conversion with 40 seconds to play in a 46-45 loss to Duke (5-3, 4-1 ACC) at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.
Clemson held a seven-point advantage after a 75-yard catch-and-run touchdown by T.J. Moore with 10:28 to play. The Tigers forced a punt on the next drive, but ultimately punted the ball back with 5:19 left, pinning Duke on its own six-yard line. The Blue Devils 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. Clemson’s chance at a game-winning drive stalled, giving the Blue Devils the victory.
Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik went 27-for-36, throwing for 385 yards and two touchdown passes. Antonio Williams led Clemson with 142 receiving yards on 10 catches and scored two touchdowns — one receiving and one rushing. Adam Randall rushed for 89 yards and recorded two touchdowns. Defensively, Peter Woods and Jahiem Lawson each recorded a sack. Linebacker Sammy Brown led the team with 10 tackles while Khalil Barnes followed closely behind with nine.
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 Tigers responded as Antonio Williams rushed five yards into the end zone on the following possession, finishing a six-play, 75-yard drive in which Williams had a 64-yard catch-and-run to move the ball to the Duke 15-yard line. The extra point tied the game 7-7 with 6:25 to play in the quarter.
Duke capitalized on the ensuing drive as Mensah found Cooper Barkate for a 77-yard touchdown pass to reclaim the lead. After forcing Clemson to punt, the Blue Devils finished out the quarter with a 20-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Andrel for a 21-7 lead heading into the second stanza.
Clemson then responded with 21 consecutive points in the second quarter, starting when the Tigers finished a 10-play, 75-yard drive with a four-yard touchdown pass from Klubnik to Williams to make the score 21-14 with 10:26 remaining in the half. The Tiger defense forced a three-and-out on Duke’s next possession, capped by a sack from Peter Woods. On Clemson’s next drive, Adam Randall rushed two yards into the end zone to end a seven-play, 68-yard drive and tie the game 21-21 with 5:49 on the clock.
A sack by Jahiem Lawson and a pass breakup by Ashton Hampton helped Clemson hold the Blue Devil offense once again. With just over a minute remaining in the half, Clemson took its first lead of the game as Randall scored a two-yard rushing touchdown that finished a 10-play, 77-yard drive. The extra point made the score 28-21 with 1:01 to play in the half.
Duke evened the game 28-28 prior to halftime though with a 43-yard touchdown pass from Mensah to Brown with 0:11 remaining on the clock.
In the third quarter, Tyler Venables blocked a Duke punt to put the ball on the Clemson 50-yard line. On a drive that included a 19-yard catch-and-run from Williams, Woods rushed one-yard into the end zone, capping a seven-play drive and giving Clemson a 35-28 edge with 8:25 left in the quarter.
However, Duke’s Sahmir Hagans returned Clemson’s kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown, tying the game 35-35 with 8:13 on the clock. Hauser then converted a 22-yard field goal to wrap up a 15-play, 71-yard drive and give Clemson a 38-35 lead heading into the final 15 minutes of play. With 10:40 on the clock, Duke converted a 37-yard field goal to make the score 38-38.
The Tigers regained the lead on the following play from scrimmage as Klubnik connected with T.J. Moore for a 75-yard touchdown. The extra point made the score 45-38 with 10:28 on the clock.
In the final minute of regulation, Nate Sheppard rushed three yards into the end zone to cap Duke’s 94-yard drive and pull Duke within one. Duke converted on the two-point conversion, putting them in the lead 46-45 with 0:40 to play. Clemson’s attempt at a lateral play on the final snap was ultimately thwarted to give Duke the win.
