Kentucky’s fourth-quarter collapse leads to heartbreaking loss to Clemson in Gator Bowl
Kentucky football’s 2023 season ended in heartbreaking fashion when an electric fourth quarter resulted in a 38-35 loss to Clemson in the Gator Bowl.
The Wildcats looked on the verge of overcoming three turnovers on their own side of the field when it scored twice to rally from a fourth-quarter deficit and take a 35-30 lead on a 1-yard Ray Davis run with 2:39 remaining, but Clemson answered by marching down the field with a 12-play, 68-yard drive. Running back Phil Mafah converted a 3-yard run with 17 seconds left.
Kentucky led 21-10 entering the fourth quarter. The offensive meltdown began on its first possession of the fourth quarter when quarterback Devin Leary lost a fumble while being sacked at the UK 25-yard line, but the Wildcats defense erased the mistake with a Jordan Lovett interception in the end zone after defensive back Alex Afari hit Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik while he was throwing.
Kentucky’s next possession ended in another turnover, this one a Leary interception that bounced into the arms of linebacker Barrett Carter at the UK 37-yard line after it bounced off the helmet of a Clemson pass rusher. The UK defense held Clemson to a 28-yard field goal to maintain its lead, but Kentucky turned the ball over again on the first play of the ensuing drive when Barion Brown lost a fumble at the Kentucky 29-yard line.
This time the defense could not prevent another disaster. Mafah scored on a 29-yard touchdown on the first play, and Clemson added a two-point conversion to take a 27-21 lead.
Despite the three consecutive turnovers on its own side of the field, Kentucky did not fold after losing the lead. On the third play of the following drive, Leary hit Brown for a wide-open 60-yard touchdown to regain a 28-27 lead. It was Brown’s third touchdown of the game. He previously scored on a 22-yard run and a 100-yard kickoff return.
A 60-yard Clemson kickoff return gave the Tigers the ball in UK territory again, though. Kentucky’s defense stepped up again to force a 52-yard field goal, but the ball bounced off the crossbar and through the uprights for a 30-28 Clemson lead.
The first play of Kentucky’s next drive resulted in a 72-yard completion from Leary to tight end Jordan Dingle. Two plays later Davis scored to take the 35-30 lead.
Kentucky looked on the verge of securing the win when Clemson faced a third-and-18 at midfield, but Klubnik hit Troy Stellato for a 16-yard gain before Mafah gained 5 yards on a fourth-and-2 carry. Klubnik completions of 11 and 15 yards followed to set up Mafah’s game-winning score.
TURNING POINT
Kentucky’s first possession of the fourth quarter quickly stalled with a 2-yard Ramon Jefferson run and incomplete pass, but Leary tried to salvage something on third down when he was on the verge of being sacked. That decision backfired when he lost a fumble while trying to scramble forward. While UK’s defense quickly responded with the Lovett interception, that fumble was an omen of things to come with three UK turnovers in a span of eight offensive plays.
MVP
Mafah finished the game with 11 carries for 71 yards and four touchdowns. Ten of his 11 carries went for positive yards. Three of his touchdowns came in the fourth quarter.
KEY STAT
After the game looking like a defensive battle for three quarters, the two schools combined for 42 points in the fourth quarter.
This story was originally published December 29, 2023 at 3:42 PM.