FSU football: Noles falter in key moments in loss to Clemson

FSU football lost its third consecutive game Saturday night in a 34-28 loss against the Clemson Tigers. The Noles started well, scoring a touchdown on their opening drive and forcing a Clemson punt on their first offensive possession.

FSU wasted a golden opportunity after Mycah Pittman returned a punt 31-yards to the FSU 49, but the FSU offense failed to get any points.

Clemson tied the game on their next possession, but FSU answered with another touchdown to take a 14-7 lead with 14:55 remaining. Clemson answered with a 13-play 75-yard touchdown drive to tie the game 14-14.

The Noles allowed Clemson to convert a 3rd and seven, and had them 2nd and 16, and 4th and one on the drive and couldn’t get off the field. FSU marched down the field to Clemson’s 31-yard line and turned the ball over on downs. It was fourth and two with Clemson defending a pass to Johnny Wilson, but Jordan Travis missed a guy wide open in the flats.

Clemson took advantage and scored a field goal to make it 17-14 with 1:51 remaining. The next minute or so was back-breaking for the Noles, with Jordan Travis fumbling while getting sacked. Clemson got the ball at the FSU 42 and scored on three plays to make it 24-14 at the half.

Clemson received the ball first in the third quarter and returned the kickoff 69 yards, with several FSU players missing tackles. Clemson ran one play, a 31-yard touchdown pass to go up 31-14.

It was like the game was over at that point, but the Noles kept fighting, and Mike Norvell gambled to go for a fourth and five on the FSU 30-yard line that didn’t convert. The FSU defense held Clemson to a field goal to make it 34-14.

The teams traded punts, and FSU drove 76-yard son 14 plays to the Clemson two-yard line and failed to punch it in. That series turned out huge as FSU managed to score two touchdowns late and then tried an on-side kick that Clemson recovered to seal the game.

If FSU had punched it on from the Clemson two-yard line, who knows how the game would have turned out? In the end, the fumble before halftime and allowing the touchdown on Clemson’s first possession in the third quarter were the difference in the game.

The Noles will have a bye-week before returning to action against Georgia Tech.