13 unanswered 4th quarter points and two key late stops propelled Clemson to a 30-24 road win. It was a frantic finish in the Derby City, to pull out a gutsy win in come back fashion. Louisville led most of the game and led by as many as 10 in the 1st half. The Tigers kept themselves within striking distance and came through in the clutch with key plays.
The Cards led early, as they struck twice on TD drives in the 1st quarter. It was the ground game that led their charge most of the night and especially early. RB Jalen Mitchell scored on a 26 yard run to give them a 7-0 lead. Clemson scored on a beautifully thrown deep ball from D.J. Uigalelei to Beaux Collins for a 46 yard scoring strike. Cards QB Malik Cunningham scored on a TD run, as he took one 26 yards to pay dirt, to put them up 14-7.
The Cards stretched the lead to double digits on a 44 yard James Turner FG with 10:32 left in the 1st half. Clemson grabbed momentum in the final 6 minutes of the 1st half. The Tigers got a 38 yard B.T. Potter FG to cut it to 17-10. They then together an 86 yard TD drive , that was capped by a Uigalelei 8 yard TD pass to Davis Allen. The game was tied at 17 at the break.
Louisville had the lone score of the 3rd quarter when they scored on another big play in the run game. Malik Cunningham looked like Randall Cunningham on a 51 yard TD scamper to put them up 24-17 with 11:29 left in the 3rd. Louisville took that one score lead into the final frame.
The 4th quarter belonged to Clemson, as they put together 3 scoring drives and shut the Louisville out the rest of the way. Clemson got a Potter 34 yard FG to close the gap to 24-20. They then took their 1st lead of the game after a 4 minute TD drive, Uigalelei capped it with an 8 yard run on a QB Keeper. That out Clemson up 24-20 with 4:12 left. Louisville gambled and went for it on 4th down on their ensuing possession in their own territory. Clemson stopped them and set up the offense on a short field. Potter got his 3rd FG of the day, that put Clemson up 30-24 with 2:19 left. Louisville had one last chance and they marched the field. The Cards got inside the Clemson 5, but the Tiger defense rose to the occasion. Clemson had two sacks in the goal line stand, including one by LB James Skalski on 4th and goal. That play sealed the hard fought, come back win for Clemson.
Clemson's passing game looked as sharp as it has all year. A key stat is that Clemson averaged over 7 yards per completion, after being held to below 6 yards per completion for most of the season. Uiagalelei was 18 of 30 for 220 yards and 2 TD's through the air. He also scored the go ahead TD on the ground, accounting for 3 total. Cards QB Malik Cunningham was held in check in the passing game, he was 12 of 20 for 174 yards and no passing TD's. Cunningham did do some business in the run game though, he went for 134 yards and 2 TD's on 22 carries. In the end, Clemson closed out the game in text book fashion.
Clemson moves to 6-3 overall and 5-2 in ACC play with the win. The Tigers have won four of their last 5 and host Uconn this Saturday for a noon kickoff.
