Tigers running back Phil Mafah rushed for two touchdowns and Clemson broke its two-game losing streak in its 31-23 win over No. 15 Notre Dame.
The Tigers led 24-9 at halftime and shut out the Fighting Irish in the fourth quarter. Clemson led by as many as 18 points.
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Mafah ran for his first score on a 41-yard dash with 6:57 left in the first quarter. It gave Clemson a 7-3 lead.
After field goals from both offenses, Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik found receiver Tyler Brown on a 9-yard touchdown pass stretching the Tigers’ lead to 17-6 early in the second quarter.
Clemson linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. came up with his second interception of the season and picked off Notre Dame quarterback Sam Hartman for a 28-yard pick-six that lifted the Tigers ahead 24-6 with 8:33 left to play in the first half.
Notre Dame rushed for a pair of touchdowns in the third quarter, and the longest came from Hartman who scrambled 26 yards to the end zone making it a 31-23 game with 6:05 left in the quarter.
Clemson was outgained 101 yards to 82 in the third quarter, and the Tigers surrendered a fumble, but they were able to force four-consecutive incompletions within the final two minutes as they swallowed up Hartman to secure the win.
Klubnik completed 50% of his passes for 109 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Mafah finished with 186 rushing yards.
Hartman totaled 146 passing yards. Notre Dame running back Audric Estime had 87 rushing yards and a score.
