Thud |
CLEMSON – That sound you heard Saturday night in Death Valley wasn’t the Clemson faithful setting a sound record in support of the third-ranked Tigers, it was a resounding thud as Clemson’s ACC title hopes,
Tajh Boyd
Clemson head coach
Dabo Swinney Boyd finished the game 17-for-37 for 156 yards, two interceptions and one costly fumble in perhaps the worst performance of his Clemson career. He was completely outplayed by FSU freshman Jameis Winston, who finished 22-for-34 for 444 yards and three touchdowns. Nothing went well for Clemson – the offense was erratic and lethargic, and the defense was gashed for big play after big play. In all, Florida St. outgained Clemson 565 to 326. The Tigers received the opening kickoff for the 17th consecutive game, and things went awry in a hurry. Boyd completed a pass to
Stanton Seckinger Clemson got one first down on the ensuing possession, but was soon forced to punt. The ‘Noles responded by going on a 16-play drive that ended with a 28-yard field goal and 10-0 lead at the 4:18 mark of the first quarter, The Tigers picked up two first downs on the ensuing possession, but Florida St. blitzed corner Lamarcus Joyner, who sacked Boyd and forced a fumble that was picked up by Mario Edwards and returned 37 yards for a touchdown and 17-0 lead. The Tigers answered, however, with a drive that took 11 plays and covered 65 yards. Boyd settled down and hit a sliding Watkins on a three-yard slant – a ball that Watkins had to reach back for – to make it 17-7. The scoring reception was the 20th of Watkins’ career. The Tigers defense held on the next two FSU possessions, but Boyd and the offense looked out of synch the entire time, and two trips into Florida St. territory turned into zero points. The ‘Noles promptly made the Tigers pay, with Winston hitting Rashad Greene on a 72-yard touchdown pass that completed a 95-yard drive that took just four plays. At that point, the Tigers were down 24-7 with 7:08 remaining in the half. The Noles added a field goal late in the half and led 27-7 at intermission. Unfortunately for Clemson, it took the Seminoles just six plays to add to that lead to begin the second half when Winston hit Greene on a 17-yard pass that made it 34-7 barely a minute into the second stanza. From there, it was more of the same, and a late touchdown by
Cole Stoudt The Tigers head to Maryland next week to take on the Terrapins, but how far they fall in the rankings has yet to be determined. 
Tajh Boyd
RS Sr. Quarterback
#10 6-1, 225
Hampton, VA
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’s Heisman hopes and perhaps even the hopes of a BCS game came crashing down to earth.
Dabo Swinney
Head Coach
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said earlier this week that this matchup wouldn’t be for the faint of heart, and he was right as the carnage on display was difficult to watch as Florida St. steamrolled and embarrassed No.3 Clemson by a 51-14 count in Death Valley Saturday night, leaving Swinney and the coaches to pick up the pieces from yet another embarrassment of epic proportions on the national stage. The 51 points was the most ever scored by an opponent in Death Valley.
Stanton Seckinger
RS So. Tight End
#81 6-4, 210
Isle of Palms, SC
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on the first play of the game, but he promptly fumbled the ball over to the Seminoles. Three plays later, Winston hit Kelvin Benjamin on a 22-yard pitch-and-catch for a quick 7-0 Seminole lead. 
Cole Stoudt
Jr. Quarterback
#18 6-4, 205
Dublin, OH
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did nothing to erase perhaps the worst effort by a Clemson team since the Orange Bowl loss to West Virginia two years ago.
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