JACKSONVILLE, FL — Despite a phenomenal performance from sophomore Barion Brown, the Kentucky Wildcats could not hang on as the No. 22 Clemson Tigers rallied in the fourth quarter for a 38-35 win in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl on Friday afternoon.
Brown compiled three touchdowns on the day, including a kick return, a reception and a rush in the game. He accounted for 226 all-purpose yards in the game.
Quarterback Devin Leary threw for 306 yards in his final game at Kentucky (7-6). The senior went 16 of 28 through the air and two touchdowns. Running back Ray Davis had 13 carries for 63 yards and a score for the Wildcats.
Linebacker Trevin Wallace, who was also playing in his final game for Kentucky, led the defense with 11 tackles. Zion Childress and D’Eryk Jackson each had eight stops for the Wildcats.
Trailing 3-0 in the first quarter, the Wildcats would get an explosive four-play scoring drive to take the lead. Davis would break out of the pack on 43-yard run to put the Wildcats at the Clemson 22. On the next play, Brown took a handoff on a sweep left and turned up field for his rushing touchdown. Alex Raynor added the point after to give Kentucky a 7-3 lead.
Clemson would take back the lead in the second quarter on a one-yard touchdown run by Phil Mafah. Jonathan Weitz added the extra point to give the Tigers a 10-7 lead with 10:17 remaining before halftime.
Kentucky would answer despite a slow start to the drive. Leary would hit a crossing Dane Key who turned up field for 58 yards and set the Wildcats up inside the Clemson 10. Leary would find Key again on the very next play for the five-yard touchdown score to put Kentucky back ahead 14-10.
The teams would exchange punts the rest of the half and Kentucky took a 14-10 lead into the locker room.
Brown would make another big play on the opening kickoff of the second half, field the kick on the goal line, cutting to his left and turning on the jets for a 100-yard return to give the Wildcats a 21-10 lead just 13 second into the final half.
For Brown, it was his third return for touchdown this season and fourth of his career in the blue and white for a team record.
It would be the only score of the quarter and Kentucky took an 11-point lead into the final 15 minutes of play.
However Clemson would cut into the lead on the first play of the fourth quarter, as Mafah scored on a one-yard touchdown run. The Tigers' two-point conversion pass as broken up by Jordan Lovett to keep the score 21-16 with 14:56 to play.
Kentucky would commit the first turnover of the game on their next drive when Leary fumbled while being hit on third down. Clemson’s Justin Mascoll recovered the ball at the UK 25.
But Clemson would give it right back on the very next play. As quarterback Cade Klubnik would be hit by Alex Afari while attempting to pass. The ball floated into the end zone into the waiting arms of Lovett for the interception.
Unable to capitalize on the turnover, Kentucky was forced to punt the ball back to Clemson and the Tigers managed to scratch out another field goal from Weitz to make it 21-19 in favor of Kentucky with 7:00 remaining in the game.
Kentucky would suffer another miscue on their ensuing drive, as Brown fumbled the ball on a reverse. Clemson recovered and the Tigers took over at the UK 29.
The Tigers needed one play to find the end zone, as Mafah scampered 29 yards for the touchdown. Clemson converted the two-point conversion to take a 27-21 with 6:45 to play.
But Kentucky would respond with score just 33 seconds later, as Leary hit Brown on the third play of the next drive for a 60-yard touchdown. Raynor's point after put Kentucky back in front 28-27.
Clemson’s Will Shipley fielded the ensuing kickoff and returned it 60 yards to the UK 37 yard line. But Kentucky's defense stuffed the Tigers, forcing a 52-yard field goal from Weitz. The kick would hit the crossbar and tumble over, giving Clemson a slim 30-28 lead with 4:20 left.
On the very first play of the ensuing drive, Leary hit a wide open Jordan Dingle who went down the right sideline for 72 yards to the Clemson three. Two plays later, Davis bounced out around right end for the touchdown. Raynor added the extra point and Kentucky grabbed a 35-30 with 2:39 left.
But Mafah and Tigers would answer again, converting a fourth-and-two to keep the drive alive. Then three plays later Mafah scored on a three-yard run to take back the lead. The Tigers added another two-point conversion to make it 38-35 with 17 seconds remaining.
Kentucky got the ball back with three timeouts but Leary was picked off by Clemson’s Shelton Lewis to seal the game.
Clemson 3 7 0 28 — 38
Kentucky 7 7 7 14 — 35
First Quarter
CLEM—J. Weitz 39 field goal, 11:25.
UK—B. Brown 22 run (A. Raynor kick), 5:18.
Second Quarter
CLEM—P. Mafah 1 run (J. Weitz kick), 10:17.
UK—D. Key 5 pass from D. Leary (A Raynor kick), 7:55.
Third Quarter
UK—B. Brown 100 kickoff return (A. Raynor kick), 14:47.
Fourth Quarter
CLEM—P. Mafah 1 run (pass failed), 14:56.
CLEM—J. Weitz 28 field goal, 7:08.
CLEM—P. Mafah 29 run (C. Klubnik pass to T. Brown), 6:45.
UK—B. Brown 40 pass from D. Leary (A. Raynor kick), 6:12. CLEM—J. Weitz 52 field goal, 4:26.
UK—R. Davis 1 run (A. Raynor kick), 2:39.
CLEM—P. Mafah 3 run (C. Klubnik pass to J. Sapp), 0:17.
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