The Florida State Seminoles were competitive with the Clemson Tigers from the very beginning of the game and even led in the late stages of the final quarter on Saturday afternoon. They gave up two touchdowns and loss for the sixth straight time in the rivalry, with The Tigers winning 30-20.
The game was thought to be a defensive slug fest, but it featured its fair share of offense in the early going of the game. Clemson depended on the legs of freshman running back Will Shipley for most of its success, while FSU used a combination of their quarterback and their skill players.
In the first quarter, Clemson took a 3-0 lead on a 47-yard field goal made by BT Potter. There was 5:32 remaining in the quarter. FSU came right back and scored on a 1-yard touchdown pass by Jordan Travis to Jashun Corbin with 19 seconds left. At the end of the quarter, the score was 6-3 in favor of FSU.
Coming out to start the second quarter, Clemson went on a four play, 77-yard drive, culminating in an 11-yard touchdown pass from quarterback DJ Uiagalelei to Davis Allen.
A highlight of the game was when signal caller Jordan Travis connected with Lawrance Toafili on a wheel route. Toafili was pulled down but landed on a defender, which allowed him to regain his balance and score a 75-yard touchdown. Clemson answered FSU with a 10-play, 83-yard methodical drive down the field. Shipley ran the ball into the end zone from 2 yards out. The Tigers led 17-13 at the half.
FSU was halted on 4th and 2 from the 48-yard line to open the second half. Corbin was stopped in his tracks by the Clemson defensive line. Clemson missed their second field goal of the day as Potter missed from 37 yards out. Cooper got his first career interception, but FSU could not take advantage of the opportunity. At the end of 3, the score remained 17-13.
Clemson started off the fourth quarter with a completed pass by signal caller Uiagalelei to E.J. Williams, but FSU created a fumble on the pass. On the next play, FSU turned it over when running back Treshaun Ward fumbled and the Tigers recovered. Place kicker Potter missed a 30-yard chip shot field goal making him 1-4 on the afternoon.
FSU punted the ball away with just over ten minutes remaining. Jermaine Johnson stripped the ball from Uiagalelei and returned it for a touchdown, which gave FSU the slim lead, 20-17.
Shipley’s 21-yard touchdown scamper vaulted Clemson back in the lead, 24-20. It was capped by two costly Florida State penalties, a pass interference and a personal foul.
On 3rd and long, Travis was pressured significantly and sacked. FSU punted the ball away with less than two minutes remaining in the game. Even though Clemson went 3-and-out, they forced FSU to go through their timeouts. The Tigers booted the ball with 34 seconds left. The final play saw FSU try to lateral it repeatedly, but loss control of the ball, Clemson recovered and scored a touchdown as time expired.
With the victory, Clemson improves to 5-3 this season and 4-2 in ACC play, while FSU falls to 3-5 and 2-3.
D.J. Uiagalelei ended the game with 19 of 31 passes for 189 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Will Shipley had a career high on Saturday, finishing with 124 yards and had a 2-yard touchdown run. Jordan Travis had 176 passing yards and two touchdown passes.
Florida State returns home to face North Carolina State on Saturday. Clemson plays its last ACC road game of the season at Louisville playing the Cardinals on Saturday.
