FSU Football: ‘Noles offense fails in upset bid against Clemson
By Kelvin Hunt
More of the same from FSU football offense as the ‘Noles fall short in upset bid against Clemson.
1ST Half
FSU football started the game just how you wanted by winning the coin toss and deferring to the second half while getting a three and out by the defense. The FSU defense actually forced a punt on Clemson’s second possession as well.
However, that was the only positive of the first half as the FSU offense suffered from poor field position and James Blackman not playing well at all.
Blackman held the ball too long and was crushed by a Clemson defender where he fumbled and Clemson got the ball on the FSU 20 yard line. They punched it in for a touchdown on a two-yard Kelly Bryant run with 2:51 remaining in the first quarter.
The FSU offense continued to struggle with Blackman holding the ball forever with good protection from the offensive line and forced to punt again. Clemson marched 71 yards only to fumble and FSU recovered the ball on their own three yard line. Brian Burns forced the fumble on Tavien Fester as he took the handoff from Kelly Bryant.
However, it felt like it was delaying the evitable as James Blackman was sacked in the end zone and fumble but Alec Eberle picked the ball up and ran to the four yard line.
Logan Tyler hit a 59 yard bomb of a punt but Clemson’s Ray Ray McCloud returned it for 35 yards and Clemson scored on their first offensive play on a 28 yard run by Travis Ettiene with 6:34 to go in the second.
More Of The Same
The FSU offense continued to struggle, not picking up a first down and forced to punt again. Clemson drove 62 yards and fumbled AGAIN, but was able to recover it as three ‘Noles stood around and watched the ball on the ground after failing to pick it up and run with it. The Tigers kicked a 26 yard field goal to go up 17-0 with to end the half.
FSU averaged 1.4 ypp in the first half with Clemson averaging 4.35 ypp.
2nd Half
The FSU offense received the ball to start the second half and crossed midfield for the first time all game. Blackman was able to hit Nyqwan Murray a couple of times to pick up first downs, one of them a third and 11 conversion.
However, the ‘Noles couldn’t convert on a fourth and 2 from the Clemson 25 yard line. Blackman had Auden Tate wide open on a pass that should have been caught and would have been a touchdown.
The FSU defense actually forced a Clemson punt on the ensuing possession, but the FSU offense couldn’t complete a pass on three straight tries and was promptly forced to punt again.
The FSU defense forced Clemson to punt and the FSU finally got points on a 90 yard touchdown drive to cut the score 17-7 with 1:13 left in the third quarter. Jacques Patrick punched it in on a three yard run after a 39 yard pass from Blackman to Nyqwan Murray.
The FSU defense got another stop and forced Clemson to punt on the second play of the fourth quarter. However, the FSU offense missed a huge opportunity on third down as Nyqwan Murray dropped a pass where he was wide open down the sideline.
Clemson took their next offensive possession and was forced to punt by the FSU defense with 10:28 left in the fourth quarter. The momentum was palpable and the FSU offense scored a touchdown on a 60 yard TD pass from Blackman to Ryan Izzo to cut the lead to 17-14 with 8:53 left in the game.
We Had A Chance And Blew It
The FSU defense forced a huge fumble that was recovered by FSU, and just when you thought FSU had a chance James Blackman threw an interception on FSU’s first offensive play.
Clemson gained 11 yards on the exchange of turnovers and scores a touchdown to go up 24-14 with 3:05 left.
Next: Top 3 Things To Look For Against Clemson
The ‘Noles turned it over on downs on their next possession and Clemson scored a garbage time touchdown with :35 seconds left to escape with a 31-14 win to keep their College Football Playoff hopes alive.
The FSU defense held Clemson to 4.57 ypp on the game. This loss was clearly on the FSU offense.