With star running back Will Shipley sidelined by a concussion, Phil Mafah stepped up big time in Shipley’s absence and led a strong Clemson rushing attack in the Tigers’ signature win over No. 12 Notre Dame on Saturday at Death Valley.

Clemson (5-4) leaned heavily on the ground game in the 31-23 victory over the Fighting Irish (7-3), with Mafah amassing 186 rushing yards after getting the start in Shipley’s stead.

It was a career day for Mafah, the junior running back in his third year as a Tiger. Along with recording a career high in rushing yards, he had the third two-touchdown game of his college career (all three of which have come this season) and he racked up a school-record-tying 36 carries while serving as a workhorse for Clemson’s offense throughout the day.

Mafah raced untouched into the end zone from 41 yards out for his first touchdown of the game, which gave the Tigers a 7-3 lead midway through the first quarter.

Mafah tacked on his second score in a big spot. The 6-foot-1, 230-pounder plunged in for a 1-yard touchdown run with around eight minutes left in the third quarter. It extended Clemson’s lead to 31-16 and capped a big response from Clemson’s offense after a costly interception on its first possession of the second half that led to a Notre Dame touchdown and made it a one score game.

The one blemish on Mafah’s otherwise stellar showing was his lost fumble late in the fourth quarter when Clemson led by eight points and was attempting to ice the game.

Fortunately for Mafah and the Tigers, their defense had his back and bailed him out, stepping up to seal the win by forcing a turnover on downs with less than a minute left.

After snapping a two-game skid, Clemson continues its three-game November homestand next week when the Tigers host Georgia Tech at Death Valley.

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