BOX SCORE | GAME NOTES
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Running back Adam Randall scored his second touchdown of the game with 7:16 to play in the fourth quarter on fourth-and-goal as Clemson (5-5, 4-4 ACC) held on for a 20-19 win at No. 19/21 Louisville (7-3, 4-3 ACC). Randall put the Tigers in scoring position with a career-long 46-yard scamper down to the 10-yard line and then finished the drive to give Clemson a 9-1 all-time lead in the series and a 5-0 mark on the road.
After scoring, Clemson held the Cardinals scoreless on their final four drives, including a pair of missed field goals, in a game that featured four lead changes.
Randall rushed for 105 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries and added 27 receiving yards on three catches to help Clemson to 308 yards of total offense. Quarterback Cade Klubnik completed 22-of-34 passes for 187 yards, and sophomore receiver T.J. Moore recorded a team-high 68 receiving yards on six catches.
Linebacker Sammy Brown led Clemson defensively with 11 tackles (2.0 for loss) and a sack, and cornerback Avieon Terrell forced and recovered a fumble, which gave him sole possession of the Clemson record for career forced fumbles by a defensive back (seven).
Clemson received the opening kickoff and struck first, finishing a 12-play, 65-yard drive with a 27-yard field goal by Nolan Hauser. The teams traded punts on the next two possessions, then Louisville leveled the score at 3-3 late in the first quarter with a 51-yard field goal by Cooper Ranvier to cap an eight-play, 55-yard drive.
Louisville quarterback Miller Moss scored a one-yard rushing touchdown to give Louisville its first lead of the game after starting its fourth drive of the contest at the Clemson 38-yard line. The Cardinals held a 9-3 lead with 8:47 remaining in the first half following a missed extra point by Ranvier.
After a Clemson punt, Terrell stripped the ball from running back Duke Watson to give Clemson the ball in Louisville territory at the 25-yard line. On the next play, Randall rushed for a 25-yard touchdown, his longest touchdown run of the season, with 3:17 remaining in the first half, giving Clemson a 10-9 halftime lead.
Louisville received the ball to start the second half and capped a seven-play, 75-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown pass from wide receiver Caullin Lacy to Nate Kurisky to put the Cardinals in front, 16-10.
Clemson cut the deficit to 16-13 on the ensuing possession on a 48-yard Hauser field goal with 7:07 remaining in the third quarter. Louisville responded on the next drive with a 39-yard field goal of its own to extend the lead back to six points, 19-13.
Clemson reached the Cardinal one-yard line on its next possession, but a fumble recovered by Jordan Guerad on fourth-and-goal gave Louisville the ball back at its own two-yard line with 11:26 remaining in the contest.
After forcing a three-and-out, Clemson drove 56 yards in six plays, and a one-yard rushing touchdown by Randall on fourth-and-goal gave Clemson a 20-19 lead with 7:16 remaining. The key play on the drive came on a 46-yard rush by Randall up the middle and down the right sideline to give the Tigers first-and-goal.
Louisville completed a 48-yard pass on a trick play to open the next drive, but a third down sack by Sammy Brown forced a 50-yard field goal attempt, which Ranvier missed wide to the left. Clemson took over at its own 32-yard line with 4:05 remaining.
Clemson was forced to punt on fourth down, but punter Jack Smith corralled a low snap before falling down, giving the Cardinals the ball deep in Tiger territory with 2:31 remaining.
A first-down tackle for loss shared by DeMonte Capehart and Wade Woodaz and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Louisville after their second down play set the Cardinals up with third-and-29. Moss completed a third down pass to Antonio Meeks, who shook off a tackle and gained 14 yards. Louisville sent Nick Keller out to attempt a go-ahead field goal from 48 yards out, but he missed it wide to the left.
Clemson took over at its own 43-yard line after another Louisville dead-ball unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, but the Tigers were forced to punt after three plays. Louisville took over at its own eight-yard line with 30 seconds left, but Clemson forced a turnover on downs to secure the 20-19 victory.
Clemson will return home for Senior Day and Military Appreciation Day against Furman at 4:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Nov. 22. Ticket information for that home finale is available here.
