JACKSONVILLE — Let’s go back to Week 1 of the 2023 Football season.

Three times Clemson had first-and-goal-to-go situations, including two at the 1-yard line. All three times, Clemson failed to score any points.

Now fast forward to Friday’s Gator Bowl win over Kentucky. The 22-ranked Tigers had four first-and-goal situations and they scored on all four of them, including three touchdowns from running back Phil Mafah, in a 38-35 come-from-behind victory.

“It feels amazing,” Clemson center Will Putnam said. “Go back to our first game of the season, our first loss, and we could not get it done. We would get in the red zone, and we could not get it done whether it was we could not punch it in, turnovers and all of that stuff.”

The Tigers (9-4) did not have any trouble when it got down into the red zone at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. Mafah banged it in from the one-yard line in the second quarter that gave Clemson a brief 10-7 lead at the time.

The junior running back again found paydirt on the first play of the fourth quarter, barreling in from the one to pull Clemson within one score at 21-16.

Then came the game-winning touchdown.

Facing first-and-goal at the three-yard line with 21 seconds to play, head coach Dabo Swinney leaned on the offensive line one more time, as Mafah powered his way into the end zone with the game-winning touchdown.

“It shows a lot about this offense, not just the O-Line,” Putnam said. “Hey! We got it done, whether they knew we were running the ball, passing the ball, it did not matter. We were going to go get it done and we did.”

It was not a perfect day for the offensive line by any stretch. The Tigers ran for just 103 yards and averaged just 2.6 yards per carry.

Quarterback Cade Klubnik was sacked eight times and hurried three other times.

However, when Clemson had to have it. When they had to get that fourth-and-two run during the game winning drive, they got it done. When they found themselves on the goal line, knocking on the door, they got it done.

“It shows a lot about our maturity and how we have grown as a team,” Putnam said. “I think two weeks ago, ten games ago, we did not get it done. But this afternoon, this game, we were able to get it done and I just think it shows a lot.”

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.