JACKSONVILLE — Cade Klubnik grew up Friday in the Gator Bowl.
Following Ray Davis’ one-yard touchdown run with 2:39 to play, which gave Kentucky a four-point lead, it was up to Clemson’s sophomore quarterback to lead the Tigers to victory.
And he did it.
Klubnik completed all eight of his passes for 71 yards, including passes of 16, 11 and 15 yards to Troy Stellato, Antonio Williams and Jake Briningstool to set up Phil Mafah’s game-winning touchdown with 17 seconds to go, as Clemson rallied to beat the Wildcats, 38-35, in the 79th Annual Gator Bowl Classic in Jacksonville, Fla.
“Obviously, we knew that they’re going to be playing a lot of three-high structure, so they’re going to give us some throws here and there, but also two-minute drill, so we have to get rolling, got to get set fast,” Klubnik said. “We kind of knew that tempo was a problem for them coming into it, and I think that we probably gotten to a little bit of faster tempo at times throughout the game because I think they had some struggles with it.
“I like the pace of it, and I think that that was just kind of naturally something we did. It wasn’t really something that we extra emphasized. It’s just that mentality in two-minute drills, moving fast and getting the ball set.”
The biggest play of the final drive was a 16-yard completion to wide receiver Antonio Williams on third-and-18 from midfield. That set up Mafah for a 5-yard run to keep the drive going.
“I think one of the biggest plays was the fourth-and-short where everybody got set and we snapped the ball, and Phil went and got it, and the O-line opened it up for him, and he went and got it,” Klubnik said. “That was one of the biggest plays of the game in my opinion.
“If you just look at that drive, it’s fourth down. It’s that or nothing. So just so proud of him. I mean, it really started with the offensive line. I mean, they’re conditioned and ready for any tempo that we need, and they rolled around and just so proud of them the way that they came out to play today.”
Klubnik’s teammates are proud of him, too.
“He was who he always has been,” center Will Putnam said. “He went and he got it done. Other guys around him stepped up big. I think we just played complimentary football.”
Klubnik finished his day 30 of 41 for 264 yards. Even better, the young quarterback showed a lot of poise though he was sacked eight times by Kentucky and was hit even more.
“That was as good a moment for him and for us as a team,” Stellato said. “That is going to propel us for next year. That was a big-time drive to go down there and score. It was back-and-forth all game, and obviously, there was a lot of pressure in that moment, and he went down there and delivered.”
Indeed, he did, but Klubnik also grew up a little too.
To honor Clemson’s special senior class Dear Old Clemson is selling footballs signed by 7 of Clemson’s Avengers for only $100. These limited edition footballs are signed by Thomas, Orhorhoro, Davis, Mascoll, Henry, Murphy and Williams. Get one while supplies last.
