Clemson Tigers vs Florida State Seminoles Football Recap

Clemson 35, FSU 30

With the national stage again (after ending Auburn’s 17-game winning streak last week), Clemson had a chance to do what they’ve developed a reputation for lately – coming from ahead to lose in a big game (or just falling flat on their face).

In a game not without its share of the dramatic, the Tigers didn’t crumble under the pressure by downing No. 11 Florida State, 35-30 to an undefeated September (4-0, 1-0 ACC).

The drama, in the second half, was largely due to the Tigers letting the Seminoles (2-2, 0-1 ACC) back in it.

Up 21-10 at the half on the opening drive of the third quarter, Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd, as his knee hit the ground for what would’ve been a sack, hurled a lifeless pass (later ruled a fumble) into the arms of FSU defensive end Bjoern Werner for a 25-yard interception touchdown return to draw the Seminoles within four points.

After Clemson reclaimed a 28-17 lead, backup Seminoles quarterback Clint Trickett, who started in place of an injured E.J. Manuel, fired a deep shot which triggered a pass interference flag, setting up a 30-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Rashad Greene, to make the score 28-23 with 14:55 to go in the fourth quarter (FSU didn’t convert on the two-point conversion).

The Tigers struck back, and quick, going 80 yards in six plays in under two minutes with a 62-yard touchdown pass to star freshman wide receiver Sammy Watkins, gaining a 35-23 edge with 13:06 to go.

After an FSU three-and-out, the game looked all but sealed, until Clemson got careless.

On the Seminoles’ next possession, Trickett fumbled a snap, recovered and rolled right – finding Greene down the sidelines for a 32-yard completion, and the Tigers tacked on 15 more yards to the play by a roughing the passer flag. Just like that, FSU moved from their 33 yard-line to Clemson’s 20, and took two plays to find the endzone again with a dart over the middle from Trickett to wide receiver Kenny Shaw for a 9-yard touchdown, bringing the score to 35-30 Tigers with 7:21 to go.

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Clemson would move the ball into FSU territory at the 23 on their next drive, and faced what’s typically an easy decision on 4th-and-one for most schools – kick the medium-range field goal and go up eight points, but this is Clemson, a school with a tortured history with clutch-kicks and sophomore kicker Chandler Catanzaro had already missed an attempt earlier – Tigers coach Dabo Swinney didn’t hesitate, he was going for it.

After a timeout, Clemson ran a toss sweep to the right side of the field with running back Andre Ellington – stuffed at the line. Florida State, and their redshirt freshman quarterback, would have a chance with 2:49 to go to win on the road.

First Seminoles play – seven-yard completion, then, a six-yard pass for the first down, with a stunned orange-clad crowd – Florida State was moving the ball. The Tigers’ defense had to make a stand, and this set of downs, they did. Ramping up the pressure, Trickett’s next two passes fell incomplete, and a third was short of the sticks – setting up a fourth down and four yards to go.

After a false start penalty, largely due to a deafening crowd – Clemson’s defensive line got the push they needed and defensive tackle Rennie Moore sacked Trickett to finish the pulse-pounding classic, and keep his Tigers undefeated.

The Clemson win sets up a battle of ACC unbeatens at Virginia Tech (4-0) next Saturday for a night game in Lane Stadium. FSU goes on a bye before their second conference game at Duke in two weeks.

By: Brandon Rink
DFN Sports Staff Writer