Phil Mafah's record day lifts Clemson to wild Gator Bowl win - ESPN

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Clemson finished the Gator Bowl on Friday just like it did the season: with a flourish.

Phil Mafah ran for four touchdowns, including a 3-yarder with 17 seconds to play, and the Tigers rallied to beat Kentucky 38-35 in one of the wildest Gator Bowls to date, ending the year with a five-game winning streak.

Mafah scored three times in a back-and-forth final quarter that included five turnovers, four touchdowns and five lead changes. Clemson (9-4) outscored Kentucky 28-14 over the last 15 minutes.

«You saw who we are tonight,» Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. «Those guys, they finished.»

Cade Klubnik made the play of the game when he connected with Troy Stellato for 16 yards on third-and-18 to set up Mafah's fourth-down run that moved the chains. Mafah scored three plays later to put the Tigers up for good.

Kentucky (7-6) had a final chance, but Devin Leary's first-down pass was intercepted by Justin Mascoll.

«A very difficult loss,» Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said. «Terrific football game. We faced a lot of adversity and overcame it. Mistakes and turnovers, penalties, there was a lot of things that you're not very proud of.»

Mafah finished with 71 yards on 11 carries. His four rushing touchdowns set a Gator Bowl record. Klubnik completed 30 of 41 passes for 264 yards with no touchdowns and an interception. He completed 8 of 9 passes on the winning drive.

Clemson trailed 21-10 after Kentucky's Barion Brown, who scored three touchdowns three different ways, returned the second-half kickoff 100 yards. He is the first SEC player with a rushing TD, receiving TD and kickoff return TD in any game since Ole Miss' Deuce McAllister did it against Texas Tech in the 1998 Independence Bowl, according to ESPN Stats