The Duke Blue Devils came away with a wild 46-45 road victory over Clemson on Saturday at Memorial Stadium. And the ACC Network announcers thought Duke caught a huge break from the officials in the game\u2019s final minute.<\/p>\n
Trailing 45-38, Duke had fourth-and-10 at the Clemson 18-yard line with 49 seconds remaining. Blue Devils quarterback Darian Mensah threw an incomplete pass targeted for wide receiver Que\u2019Sean Brown just shy of the goal line.<\/p>\n
A flag was thrown at the conclusion of the play.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s a flag on the offense,\u201d ACCN color commentator Steve Addazio said. \u201cThat\u2019s going to be offensive pass interference, I believe. I think that\u2019s offensive pass interference. They tackled him because he was going to try to make an interception.\u201d<\/p>\n
Instead, it was a defensive pass interference call against Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell, giving Duke first-and-goal at the Clemson three-yard line with 43 seconds remaining.<\/p>\n
Addazio and ACCN play-by-play announcer Wes Durham couldn\u2019t believe it.<\/p>\n
\nThis pass interference call cost Clemson the game. Thoughts? pic.twitter.com\/gw3qvo3yxF<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) November 1, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\u201cTerrell is called for the pass interference, and, wow,\u201d Durham said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWow is right,\u201d Addazio responded.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow, watch Mensah throw it off his back foot,\u201d Durham said during a replay.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust throws it up there, and he\u2019s tackling him!\u201d Addazio said. \u201cWow! Holy cow! Wow!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDabo Swinney is in full tilt here,\u201d Durham said.<\/p>\n
ACCN then showed another replay angle.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, no, no!\u201d Addazio said. \u201cThat looks like offensive PI to me. They were tangled up a little bit, but then he was trying to get away from it and make a play towards the ball, and he got tackled, he got shoved. Wow! Holy cow!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOr in the mind of the official, was it the contact before the turn at the goal line?\u201d Durham asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe, but, I mean, it was two-way contact there; I don\u2019t know,\u201d Addazio said. \u201cThat would be the only explanation. The flag came so late; it looked like it was a reaction to the offensive PI to me. But, I don\u2019t know. We got no explanation.\u201d<\/p>\n
On the next play, Duke\u2019s Nate Sheppard scored on a three-yard touchdown run. And then the Blue Devils scored what would serve as a game-winning two-point conversion as Mensah connected with wide receiver Sahmir Hagans to give Duke a 46-45 lead.<\/p>\n
\nIT\u2019S GOOD! pic.twitter.com\/xC0WbubUX7<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Duke Football (@DukeFOOTBALL) November 1, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
So, the defensive pass interference ended up playing a big part in the final result. Then again, it\u2019s hard to put too much on one officiating call when the defense allows 46 points at home.<\/p>\n
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