The Clemson Tigers picked up a much-needed Atlantic Coast Conference victory Saturday night, October 31st, holding off a late Florida State rally to defeat the Seminoles 36-24 at Doak Campbell Stadium.
The victory improved Clemson to 5-3 overall and 3-2 in ACC play, while Florida State dropped to 3-5 overall and 1-4 in conference action.
Freshman quarterback Tait Reynolds delivered one of the best performances of his young career, completing 18 of 32 passes for 189 yards and two touchdowns while adding 85 yards rushing and another score.
Clemson wasted little time getting on the scoreboard as Reynolds connected with tight end Christian Bentancur on an 18-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter to give the Tigers an early 7-0 lead.
Florida State answered with a 46-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ashton Daniels to Micahi Danzy, but Clemson continued to move the football and took a 10-7 lead on a Nolan Hauser field goal.
The Tigers extended their advantage in the second quarter when Reynolds found Olsen Patt-Henry on a four-yard touchdown pass. Hauser added two more field goals in the quarter, including a 50-yarder as time expired, sending Clemson into the locker room with a 23-10 halftime lead.
Clemson continued to build its advantage in the second half as Hauser connected on field goals of 46 and 49 yards, giving the Tigers what appeared to be a comfortable 29-10 lead early in the fourth quarter.
However, Florida State wasn’t finished.
The Seminoles scored 14 unanswered points behind Daniels, cutting Clemson’s lead to 29-24 with just over five minutes remaining.
With momentum shifting toward Florida State, Clemson needed a big play, and Reynolds delivered.
Facing a critical third-and-12 with just over three minutes remaining, Reynolds broke free for a spectacular 79-yard touchdown run, the longest rushing touchdown by a quarterback in Clemson football history. The score pushed the Tigers’ lead to 36-24 and helped put the game out of reach.
Clemson’s defense also played a major role in the victory, forcing four Florida State turnovers, including three interceptions. Defensive back Elliot Washington II came away with two interceptions, including one late in the fourth quarter that sealed the win.
Hauser was another standout performer, connecting on all five of his field goal attempts.
The victory was also a historic one for Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney, who tied legendary Florida State coach Bobby Bowden for the most ACC regular-season conference victories with 117.
For Clemson, the win provided a much-needed boost as the Tigers continue their push toward bowl eligibility and look to finish the regular season on a strong note.
Looking ahead, Clemson will remain on the road this Saturday, November 7th, when the Tigers travel to Syracuse for another ACC matchup.
The Tigers will look to build on Saturday’s victory and continue their momentum as the regular season enters its final month.