All of the talk surrounding Clemson during the bye week must’ve been plenty of motivation to blow out Florida State, 45-14, at home Saturday evening.
The Tigers started hot, when Trevor Lawrence found Tee Higgins on a 40-yard connection. On the next play, Lawrence pitched the ball to Travis Etienne, who then threw a 23-yard pass to Justyn Ross. Clemson then found themselves in a fourth-and-one situation from inside the five yard-line, when Lawrence shoveled a pass to Etienne for his first of three touchdowns.
The Seminoles struggled to get anything going early. They settled for punts on their first two possessions.
After a three-and-out on Florida State’s second series, Travis Etienne set up a first-and goal for the Tigers on a 12-yard run. Trevor Lawrence capped off the drive with a seven-yard run, his fifth rushing touchdown on the 2019 campaign.
Alex Hornibrook entered the game for the Seminoles on their third drive, but he failed to ignite the offense. Tanner Muse brought an end to Hornibrook’s Memorial Stadium debut when he picked off a pass that was behind his target.
On the ensuing drive following the interception, Trevor Lawrence caught his own pass and had a 10-yard rush before he finished the series with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Justyn Ross.
Following another FSU punt, the Tigers strung together a couple of big plays. Lawrence connected with Joseph Ngata for a 22-yard gain and then Amari Rodgers for 23-yards. The Tigers extended their lead to 28-0 when Lawrence found Justyn Ross in the end zone for the second time, awarding Clemson fans with free cajun fries at Bojangle’s before halftime.
The Seminoles could not answer, punting yet again. Trevor Lawrence gave them the ball right back though when Hamsah Nasirildeen jumped his pass for an interception.
Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons showed up huge for the Tigers after Lawrence’s first big mistake of the game. Simmons made a tackle for an 11-yard loss and then sacked Hornibrook for a seven-yard loss. Seminole punter Tommy Martin then fired off his fifth punt of the half.
The Tigers drove all the way down inside the five but could not capitalize after going for it on fourth down. The Tigers quickly got the ball back after a Blackman interception, but could not extend their lead before the half after a 24-yard missed field goal by B.T. Potter.
The second half was much of the same: total domination from the Tigers. Clemson found pay dirt on a Rodgers 29-yard end-around and a Derion Kendrick 38-yard interception return early in the third quarter.
Florida State finally located the end zone when Hornibrook found Tamorrion Terry for a long, catch-and-run score of 63 yards. The only other Seminole score was with 2:41 left, when Khalen Laborn ran it in from 40 yards out.
No. 2 Clemson (6-0) heads to Louisville to take on the unranked Cardinals. Florida State (3-3) will travel to Winston-Salem to take on Wake Forest.
