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The original was posted on /r/cfb by /u/Kinslers_List on 2023-09-25 11:57:45.
Clemson, SC –
The Clemson Tigers played host to the #4 Florida State Seminoles on a picture-perfect fall day in Death Valley. Clemson was looking for its first ACC win of the year after being soundly beaten by the previously unranked Duke Blue Devils in Week 1. While Clemson was able to win its next two games against Charleston Southern and FAU, both games raised questions for the Tigers that they needed to answer. #4 FSU came into the game hoping to rebound after its rock fight against Boston College and build on its strong start to the season. This was FSU’s 2nd road test of the season after they beat #13 LSU in Orlando, hosted Southern Miss, and traveled to Chestnut Hill to face BC.
Both teams struggled in the first quarter with the first points coming with 1:47 left in the 1st quarter courtesy of a 30-yard FG by Clemson K Jonathon Weitz. Both teams got their offenses going in the 2nd quarter, scoring two TDs apiece. FSU tied up the game at 17-17 early in the 3rd quarter, but Clemson responded with another rushing TD to retake the lead towards the end of the 3rd. After a quick 3 and out by FSU, Clemson was on the verge of taking a two-possession lead at the end of the 3rd, but FSU LB Kalen Deloach strip-sacked Clemson QB Cade Klubnik and then returned the fumble 56 yards for a TD to tie it up again. The 4th quarter seemed to be a mirror image of the 1st quarter as Clemson was poised to re-take the lead as Weitz lined up for a 29-yard FG with 1:45 remaining, but he pushed it wide left. FSU and Clemson both saw the ball one more time before OT but were unable to do anything. FSU scored on its 2nd play of OT with a beautiful 24-yard pass and catch from QB Jordan Travis and WR Keon Coleman. Clemson was unable to match the Seminoles’ and didn’t even manage a 1st down in OT leading to a 31-24 FSU victory.
Both QBs were excellent on the day with the only mistake coming from Klubnik on the scoop and score: FSU’s Travis threw for 289 yards and 3 TDs, two through the air and one on the ground, while going 21/37 and Clemson’s Klubnik finished with 283 yards and 2 TDs, one apiece on the ground and the air, while going 25/38. Clemson’s rush defense throttled the FSU rushing attack, holding them to 22 yards on 20 rushes. FSU’s WR Keon Coleman and Clemson’s RB Will Shipley were the co-stars for their respective offenses as Coleman finished with 5 catches for 86 yards and 2 TDs and Shipley finished with 67 yards and a TD on the ground and 38 yards and a TD through the air.
The feel-good story of the game was Clemson’s K Jonathon Weitz. He was backup walk-on K for Clemson and only kicked 3 XPs from 2019-2022 and retired after the 2022 season, but Dabo invited him to come back the prior Monday after Clemson had missed 3 FGs and 1 XP through 3 games so far. He was living in Charleston while taking an online class at Clemson and was poised to start a finance job in NYC in a couple of weeks, but he put the job on hold to come back for one last season after Dabo invited him back. Saturday was the first time he put on pads due to the NCAA acclimation rules, and he immediately came out to give Clemson the lead in the 1st quarter. Unfortunately, he missed a potential game-winning FG in 4th quarter, which could have made him another legendary Clemson walk-on.
Clemson will look to rebound as they travel to Syracuse (4-0) this week in an orange ACC match-up. #4 FSU will have a week off to reflect on their first win against the Tigers since 2014 before they host Virginia Tech (1-3).