TAXSLAYER GATOR BOWL: CLEMSON VS KENTUCKY

December 29, 2023

Phil Mafah

TIAA Bank Field

Clemson Tigers

Press Conference

Clemson-38, Kentucky-35

Q. Was that one of the crazier fourth quarters you've ever played in as a player?

PHIL MAFAH: Yeah, definitely. I feel like that was the craziest fourth quarter I ever played in. Just so much emotion, especially in the fourth quarter.

Just had to keep fighting and didn't know what the outcome would be at that point, but you just had to keep fighting and believing and trusting your teammates to get the job done and get the win.

So extremely proud of my teammates for being able to accomplish this feat.

Q. How do you kind of sum up the way you and Shipley played throughout the year? Just had each other's back, just kind of picked each other up and supported each other from start to finish. How do you sum up y'all's relationship and just your efforts out on the field with the season all said and done?

PHIL MAFAH: I would say it's always been like that. Whether it's been school, football, anything that we do, we always push each other to be better. That's my roommate, and I love that guy.

No matter what we do, we push each other, so I'm extremely appreciative for him, and I know that I wouldn't be the person I am today if he didn't come to Clemson.

I know it's vice versa for him. That's my brother. I love him. We push each other all the time.

Q. You and Will after the game, what were you all saying to each other? He was back out there after the injury.

PHIL MAFAH: We were just expressing love to each other and letting each other know that we were grateful for each other. I told him at halftime we're not going to win this game without you and that big return he had. It's one of the reasons why we won this game. Just giving all the gratitude back to him and just praying for him and hoping he gets better very soon.

Q. Do you feel the energy from the crowd, especially that last drive when you are coming towards that end zone?

PHIL MAFAH: Oh, yeah, it was crazy. I was so tired, but you could feel the energy, feel everyone just watching. That's when it's game time when you have to win the game, it's all on the line. That's when you lock in and focus. Definitely you could feel the tenacity of the crowd in there.