Tigers Drop Back-And-Forth Game to Duke, 46-45
Clemson (3-5, 2-4 ACC) gained 560 total yards but fell short in a 46-45 loss to Duke (5-3, 4-1 ACC) at Memorial Stadium on Saturday. The defeat came after Duke’s late touchdown and two-point conversion with 40 seconds remaining.
Game Summary
The Tigers once held a seven-point lead following a 75-yard catch-and-run touchdown by T.J. Clemson’s defense forced a punt on the next drive, yet the team had to punt back with 5:19 left, pinning Duke deep at its own six-yard line. The Blue Devils then drove 94 yards in 11 plays over 4:39, completing two vital fourth-down attempts and the decisive two-point conversion to seize the lead.
Clemson’s final drive failed to regain the advantage, sealing Duke’s narrow victory.
Player Highlights
- Quarterback Cade Klubnik completed 27 of 36 passes for 385 yards and two touchdowns.
- Antonio Williams caught 10 passes for 142 yards and scored twice — once by reception, once by run.
- Adam Randall ran for 89 yards with two touchdowns.
- Defensive linemen Peter Woods and Jahiem Lawson each recorded one sack.
- Linebacker Sammy Brown led the defense with 10 tackles, followed by Khalil Barnes with nine.
Duke’s Strong Start
“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.”
Author’s Summary
Clemson’s explosive offense could not overcome Duke’s late-game precision, as a final drive fell short in a 46-45 thriller marked by high yardage and clutch conversions.