The Seminoles opened the scoring on a long 75-yard touchdown run by All American Dalvin Cook on the opening drive of the game, quieting the home crowd and giving FSU an early 7-0 lead, but the defense didn’t allow another touchdown and dominated the second half, keeping the team’s National Championship hopes alive and well.
Watson was shaky in the first half, but the Tigers signal caller finished the game completing 28 of 42 passes for 297 yards and a touchdown. The young signal caller was also the leading ground gainer for the team with 107 yards on just 16 carries, but it was his late-game experience and poise that proved most valuable in one of the biggest victories in school history.
Cook finished the contest with a game-high 194 yards, but after a strong first quarter, the young sophomore didn’t have much room to run over the final thirty minutes of play.
Backup quarterback Sean Maquire didn’t prove much help as the youngster completed 16 of 29 passes for 165 yards and an interception, but his lack of big plays, especially when needed on crucial downs, played a big role in the outcome of the game.
The loss knocks Florida State out of contention for an ACC Championship and out of the running for a berth in the NCAA Football Playoffs. Clemson still has three conference games remaining, but the school will be big favorites in all three. It appears the biggest roadblock could be North Carolina if they win the Coastal Division and play the Tigers in the Conference Championship next month.
