Football
CLEMSON LOSES ANOTHER HEARTBREAKER, 28-20 IN DOUBLE OVERTIME AT MIAMI
- 2023-10-22 09:55:13
0
MIAMI GARDENS, FL - Another overtime loss! Dabo told us after the game that Cade was supposed to hand the ball off on the last play of the game, but he took it upon himself to try to make a play himself. They had first and goal at the 2 and were unable to punch it in to tie it in double overtime! For the first time this season, the Tigers were outgained by their opponent, albeit only 17 yards. But, once again, it was the monumental turnovers that cost them the game. They came into the game with a better turnover margin than Miami, but the Tigers were -2 tonight. It also didn't help that Xavier Thomas was out and Mascoll got knocked out in the second half. Backup Cade Denhoff was forced into duty at defensive end, and that really took a toll on the defense in the 4th quarter and overtime. Dabo told me after the game that XT didn't make the trip for disciplinary reasons, which is even more disappointing.
This is the most frustrating season I've ever experienced. Dabo almost never lost one-score games over the last 12 years, but they keep beating themselves with back-breaking turnovers. Seemingly every one costs them 7-14 points, and now they've lost a second overtime game. They are finding ways to lose close games when they used to always find a way to win them. I don't have any explanation for it, and Dabo doesn't seem to either. All I know is that this team is talented enough to beat any team in the country, but for whatever reason, they keep making simple mistakes at the worst times, with just enough of them to lose in overtime.
Dabo better bring in some new sports psychologists because the ones they have aren't working. Just like 2020, they are now 4-3 and must win their last 6 games to keep the historic 10-win season streak alive!
I'll have more in a bit! In the meantime, our post-game interviews with Dabo, Cade and Carter are below, along with highlights and notes.
GAME NOTES
- Clemson played its 18th overtime game in school history, its ninth under Dabo Swinney and its second of the season.
- The 2023 season joins the 2004 and 2005 seasons as the only campaigns in which Clemson has played multiple overtime games.
- The game was the fourth overtime game between Clemson and Miami all-time, joining 2004, 2005 and 2009.
- Four of Clemson’s nine ACC games against Miami all-time have gone to overtime. That includes three of the last four meetings in Miami.
- Clemson’s four overtime games against Miami are double its number of overtime games against any other opponent (two each against Auburn, Boston College, Florida State, NC State and Wake Forest).
- Clemson dropped to 8-10 all-time in overtime games.
- The game was Clemson’s seventh multiple-overtime game in school history.
- Quarterback Cade Klubnik completed 18-of-34 passes for 314 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.
- Klubnik’s 314 yards were one shy of his season-high of 315 set against Charleston Southern and six shy of his career high of 320 set against Tennessee last season.
- Klubnik entered the game having thrown 151 consecutive passes without an interception. With an interception on his 20th pass attempt of the game, his streak of 170 pass attempts without a pick ended 12 attempts shy of entering the top three by a quarterback in school history. Clemson’s streak as a team ended at 184 pass attempts, dating to Clemson’s second game of the season against Charleston Southern.
- With his third career 300-yard passing game, Klubnik tied former teammate DJ Uiagalelei (three) for the sixth-most career 300-yard passing games in Clemson history.
- Two of Klubnik’s three career 300-yard passing games have come in Hard Rock Stadium.
- Tight end Jake Briningstool recorded a career-high 126 yards on five receptions with two touchdowns, his first career multi-touchdown game.
- Briningstool’s 126 yards broke Clemson’s school record for single-game receiving yards by a tight end, surpassing Jordan Leggett’s 122 yards against Florida State in 2016.
- Briningstool became the third Clemson player to score two receiving touchdowns in a game this season, joining Tyler Brown and Antonio Williams. It is Clemson’s first time having three different players post a multi-touchdown receiving game in a season since 2020 (four).
- Briningstool became the first Clemson tight end to catch multiple touchdowns in a game since Davis Allen at Wake Forest last season.
- Briningstool tied the game at 7-7 on a 32-yard pass from Klubnik on third down in the second quarter.
- Briningstool added his second touchdown of the game on a 19-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter.
- Briningstool recorded a career-long 50-yard reception in the third quarter. His previous career long was also against Miami, a 49-yarder last season.
- Wide receiver Adam Randall recorded a career-long 34-yard reception in the first quarter.
- Defensive tackle Tyler Davis made his 46th career start to break Christian Wilkins' Clemson record for starts by a defensive tackle (45 from 2015-18). It pulled him within one start of entering the Top 10 in Clemson history across all positions.
- Davis also played his 50th career game.
- Defensive end Justin Mascoll became the sixth player in Clemson history to appear in 60 career games.
- Cornerback Sheridan Jones recorded his first interception of the season in the second quarter. It was his first since November 2021 against UConn.
- The interception was Jones’ third of his career but his second all-time against Miami. His first interception of his career came in a 42-17 win against the Hurricanes in 2020.
- Cornerback Nate Wiggins recorded his first career forced fumble in the first quarter.
- Kicker Jonathan Weitz recorded a career-long 41-yard field goal in the third quarter to give Clemson its first lead of the game.
- Weitz later added a 31-yard field goal for his first career multi-field-goal game.
- Clemson is now 36-10 in games decided by eight points or less since 2011. Clemson’s .782 winning percentage in one-score games in that span remains the highest in the nation.
- Clemson did not allow Miami to run a play in Clemson territory in the entire first half. According to Stats Perform, it was Clemson’s fifth time doing so in a half since 2019, joining its 2023 game against Charleston Southern (second half), 2022 game against Miami (first half), 2019 game against South Carolina (second half) and 2019 game against Florida State (first half).
- Clemson was outgained for the first time this season, snapping a seven-game streak in which Clemson outgained its opponents.
- Clemson has now held three straight opponents to fewer than 200 passing yards for the first time since a three-game span against Florida State, Louisville and UConn in 2021.
- Clemson and Miami met in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2004-05.
- The all-time series between Clemson and Miami is now tied at 7-7. Clemson’s edge in the series since Miami joined the ACC is now 5-3.
- Captains for the contest were defensive tackle Tyler Davis, safety Andrew Mukuba, center Will Putnam and offensive lineman Marcus Tate.
Never miss the latest news from CUTigers!
Join our free email list