CLEMSON — Duke beat Clemson for the first time since 1980 at Memorial Stadium Saturday when Darian Mensah converted a two-point pass to Shamir Hagans to complete a 46-45 come-from-behind victory.

The Hagans’ conversion came with 40 seconds to play following a 3-yard TD run by Nate Sheppard.

The Blue Devils’ win did not come without controversy. It appeared the Tigers had the game won with 43 seconds to play, but the back judge called Avieon Terrell for pass interference while covering Duke’s Que’Sean Brown on a fourth down-and-10 play from the Clemson 18.

Mensah finished the afternoon 27 of 41 for 341 yards and 4 TDs, including three in the first quarter. Clemson’s Cade Klubnik had a career day with 385 yards and 2 TDs, while completing 27 of 36 throws.

The Tigers (3-5, 2-4 ACC) finished the game with 560 yards and were 3-for-3 on fourth down.

The Clemon defense, however, could not get the stops it needed the most. The Blue Devils converted 5 of 5 fourth downs in the game and matched Clemson score for score in the second half.

Duke (5-3, 4-1 ACC) drove 94 yards on 11 plays on the game-winning drive, as several time the Tigers had opportunities to get the ball back and end the game but failed.

Bad start

With Saturday’s loss, the Tigers fell to 3-5 overall and 2-4 in ACC play. It is the program’s worst start to a season overall and in ACC play since 1998. The 1998 Tigers finished the year 3-8 overall and 1-7 in the ACC.

Williams has big day

Clemson wideout Antonio Williams had a career-day in all-purpose yards (164). He finished the game with 10 catches for 142 yards, and also had one rushing TD and one receiving TD to lead the team. His first quarter rushing TD on Saturday was his first of the year.

Direct snap

Defensive tackle Peter Woods scored a touchdown for the second time this season when he took a direct snap from the Duke 1-yard line and scored with 8:25 to play in the third quarter. He also scored on a 2-yard run against Boston College on Oct. 11.

Freshman provides spark

Freshman running back Gideon Davidson ran for 51 yards to help a Clemson running game that totaled 175 yards. Gideon’s 51 yards was a career high. The Tigers also got 89 yards and 2 TDs from senior Adam Randall. This is the first time all season Clemson had two running backs go over 50 yards in the same game.

Big Time

T.J. Moore took a slant pass from Klubnik with 10:40 to play in the third quarter, caught a block from Tristan Smith and Tristan Leigh, split the safeties and raced for a 75-yard touchdown to give the Tigers a 45-38 lead with 10:28 to go.

The 75-yard touchdown was Moore’s second of the season. He also had a 75-yard TD reception from Williams on a trick play on the first play from scrimmage at North Carolina.

Moore finished the day with two catches for 92 yards.

Kickoff Return

Coming into the game, Clemson kick Robert Gunn the third had 29 touchbacks and just four kicks returned for 89 yards. He added five more touchbacks on Saturday. However, Duke’s Shamir Hagans returned a third-quarter kickoff 100 yards with 8:13 to play.

Hagan’s return was the first kickoff return tied the game at 35 at the time.

Injuries

Clemson right guard Harris Sewell was injured in the second quarter on a Gideon Davidson run. He was taken off the field and evaluated. He did not return and TCI notice he was wearing some kind of neck brace.

Up Next

Clemson will stay at home and take on Florida State next Saturday. Kick is set for 7 p.m.