Florida State beats Clemson in overtime, 23-17
Jameis Winston's presence was missed from the start of the game.
With the reigning Heisman Trophy winner watching from the sideline, Clemson kept constant pressure on Florida State quarterback Sean Maguire, as the top-ranked Seminoles (3-0, 1-0 ACC) struggled mightily to move the ball in their 23-17 overtime victory over the 24th-ranked Tigers (1-2, 0-1).
In front of a crowd of 82,316 at Doak Campbell Stadium for the Atlantic Coast Conference rivalry matchup, Florida State finished with 319 total yards in its 19th consecutive victory, while allowing Clemson's offense 407 yards.
The showcase ACC Atlantic Division matchup was Florida State's first overtime game since suffering a 26-23 loss to Penn State in the 2006 Orange Bowl. And it was the Seminoles' first overtime victory since beating N.C. State 50-44 in 2003.
With Winston suspended for the game for making comments on the FSU campus that the university's administration deemed to be "offensive and vulgar," Clemson's veteran defensive front dialed up one blitz after another on Saturday night.
"Jameis is blessed and gifted so he can do a lot of things easily to help the offense out, so this week, the defense really had to step up and keep as many points as possible off the board for us to do it," said cornerback Ronald Darby of FSU winning without Winston. "It says we've got fight in us really."
While Maguire finished 21 of 39 for 305 yards, one touchdown and a pair of interceptions in his first career start, the sophomore showed off his big arm and made a game-changing play when the Seminoles needed it most.
On second and 24, with 6:04 left in regulation, Maguire completed a deep pass to an open Rashad Greene, as the senior wideout's 74-yard touchdown reception tied the game at 17-17.
"It was crazy," Maguire said. "I know there were times when we didn't play so well and it wasn't looking so good, but the crowd never gave up. I know we never gave up, so it was all pretty awesome."
With just over two minutes left in regulation and Clemson at Florida State's 17 yard line, defensive tackle Eddie Goldman came away with a forced fumble that was recovered by safety Nate Andrews, keeping the Seminoles' hopes alive.
"It was a team effort out there," Goldman said, "making plays to help my team. It is definitely a great feeling, but overall it was a team effort and I had to do what I had to do."
FSU's Chris Casher and Reggie Northrup stuffed Clemson tailback Adam Choice on fourth down, as the Seminoles got the ball on Clemson's 25 to start its overtime possession.
Senior tailback Karlos Williams strung together a pair of 13 and 12 yard runs to put the Seminoles in the endzone and keep them undefeated on the year.
"We just knew we had to get it done," Williams said. "We knew we were coming into a dog fight, the way we beat those guys last year. They are a very well-coached team, a disciplined team. They played very good football (Saturday night). We just had to tough it out and pull it out in the end."
The final two plays of FSU's first ACC victory of the season were the exception as the Seminoles' senior-laden offensive line struggled against Clemson's veteran d-line throughout the game.
FSU ran for an abysmal 13 yards – including a pair of TD runs – on 27 carries.
The reigning national champion's first touchdown of the game came on their first drive of the third quarter as sophomore tailback Mario Pender came away with the one-yard run that tied the game at 10-10.
Maguire and tight end Nick O'Leary connected on three passes for 32 yards on the scoring drive that went 68 yards on nine plays and was also the Seminoles' first trip to the red zone.
Even though FSU had trouble moving the ball, the team was 2 of 2 in the red zone.
With 2:08 left in the third quarter, quarterback Deshaun Watson connected with tight end Stanton Seckinger on 19-yard pass for a first down that put Clemson at Florida State's one-yard line.
"I can say this was a heartbreaker," Clemson defensive end Corey Crawford said. "I feel like our team played hard. In the end though, we just didn't get it done. We couldn't capitalize."
With the Tigers losing 23 yards on a snap that went over Watson's head, the Seminoles were able to come away with a critical stop that kept the game tied at 10-10 after three quarters.
Clemson kicker Ammon Lakip, who made just one of his three field goal attempts in the game, opened the fourth quarter with a missed field goal from 40 yards out.
With 5:56 left in the second quarter, Clemson scored the first touchdown of the game, which also gave the team its first lead of the contest.
Watson, who is a true freshman and came off the bench in the middle of the first quarter, led the scoring drive that ended with a one-yard run by tailback D.J. Howard.
After shanking a 23-yard field goal in the opening quarter, Lakip opened the second quarter with a 30-yard field goal that tied the game at 3-3.
Roberto Aguayo's 50-yard field goal, which is the second-longest of his career, put the Seminoles on the board first.
While FSU's defense made some key plays late, the group allowed Clemson to finish the opening quarter with 154 yards.
The game also marked the first time since FSU's 37-26 loss to Florida in 2012 that the Seminoles failed to score a touchdown in the first half.
The overtime victory puts the Seminoles in a great position in the conference, as the winner of the FSU and Clemson game has played for the ACC championship the last five years.
"We ain't lost in 19 straight games," head coach Jimbo Fisher said. "We are No. 1 'til somebody beats us."