JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Phil Mafah scored on a 3-yard run with 17 seconds remaining to cap a big Clemson comeback as the Tigers claimed a 38-35 Taxslayer Gator Bowl victory against Kentucky on Friday at EverBank Stadium.

Clemson and Kentucky combined for 42 points in the fourth quarter and there were five lead changes over those final 15 minutes.

The Tigers took over with 2:17 remaining and drove 68 yards in 12 plays for Mafah's winning score. Mafah, who was voted Clemson's MVP, had 71 yards on 11 carries and scored four touchdowns.

“We just found a way to make one more play,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. “You saw who we are tonight. Those guys finished. The foundational things that we built this program on were on full display tonight.”

Clemson (9-4) is 9-3 in its last 12 bowl games and it marked the 13^th consecutive year that the Tigers have posted a postseason victory. It also was the 13th consecutive season with nine or more victories for Clemson.

Kentucky, which had 398 yards of offense but four turnovers, fell to 7-6.

Tigers running back Will Shipley left the game late in the fourth quarter with an apparent leg injury when he tumbled on the sideline after a 60-yard kickoff return.

Clemson scored 10 points on two Kentucky turnovers in the span of 15 seconds in the fourth quarter for a 27-21 lead.

Linebacker Barrett Carter, who earlier this month announced he’d be returning for another season at Clemson rather than enter the 2024 NFL Draft, was the Tigers’ late-game catalyst. He tipped a pass by Kentucky’s Devin Leary and intercepted it with 10:08 remaining, setting up a 28-yard field goal with seven minutes remaining.

On Kentucky’s ensuing possession, Carter jumped on a fumble caused by Khalil Barnes with 6:52 left. The Tigers’ Phil Mafah dashed 29 yards on the next play to give Clemson the lead, 27-21.

The Tigers overcame three touchdowns by Kentucky wide receiver Barion Brown, who gave the Wildcats a 28-27 lead with a 60-yard touchdown catch with 6:12 left in the game.

Earlier Brown returned the second-half kickoff 102 yards and had a 22-yard touchdown run on a reverse.

But Jonathan Weitz booted a career-long 52-yard field goal that hit the crossbar and fell over to give Clemson a 30-28 lead with 4:20 left. Kentucky responded with a 1-yard scoring run by Ray Davis with 2:39 remaining for a 35-30 lead to set up Mafah's late-game heroics.

Kentucky’s defense sacked Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik eight times, but Klubnik rebounded to go 8-for-8 on the game-winning drive. Klubnik completed 30-of-41 passes for 264 yards and one interception.

Scott Keepfer covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at skeepfer@gannett.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @ScottKeepfer

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Clemson football beats Kentucky in Gator Bowl on late Phil Mafah TD