TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Clemson found something against Florida State that it’s been searching for since the start of the season.

With a freshman starting at quarterback and some inexperience up front on the offensive line, the Tigers have struggled to find much consistency in the passing game. In Saturday night’s 36-24 victory on the road at Florida State, the offense found some.

Tait Reynolds finished 18-of-32 for 189 yards with two passing touchdowns, but it was his ability to create something in the running game that put the game away.

Florida State scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, turning a 19-point deficit into a five-point one when the Seminoles pulled to within 29-24 with about five minutes left in the game. At that point, it looked like the Tigers were on the verge of collapsing.

Then, it happened. Facing a 3rd-and-12 from its own 21-yard line, with 3:17 to go, Reynolds ripped off a dazzling 79-yard touchdown run that iced the win. It was the longest run by a quarterback in program history. The previous record was 75 yards, shared by Steve Fuller (vs. Virginia Tech in 1978) and Woodrow Dantzler (at Virginia in 2000).

It was exactly what the young quarterback needed at exactly the right time. Make no mistake, Reynolds did a lot of good in this game. However, at that moment, it was starting to get away from them. The offense did what it so often does when trying to nurse a lead — it went conservative. Instead, the freshman took matters into his own hands, put the entire offense on his back and carried it 79 yards to paydirt.

The hope is that it turns into a defining moment in Reynolds’ journey, and that what we saw against FSU was just the next step in the growing process.

Finding Explosives

One thing the offense had been lacking was explosives in the passing game, but for one night, some of those ills were at least somewhat cured. Reynolds connected on five passes of 15 yards or more, with three of those going for 24 or more. And if we are being completely honest, there should have been at least a couple more, as T.J. Moore and Bryant Wesco both had drops down the field. Tyler Brown also had one on a slant route that may have gone for 15 yards or more.

At some point, these receivers are going to have to start giving Reynolds a little more help.

For those who have suggested that Moore has checked out, watch his block on Reynolds long touchdown run. That doesn’t come close to resembling a player who is checked out mentally.

Could Not Stop Bleeding

What happened to this defense in that fourth quarter? FSU had 220 yards of offense heading into the fourth quarter. The Seminoles put up 195 in the final quarter alone, as Ashton Daniels threw for 173 yards and two scores in the final 15 minutes.

Tom Allen’s defense was on its heels there late, surrendering passing plays of 52, 41 and 24 in the final quarter. The 41-yarder was a touchdown pass.

For three quarters, that group mostly played well, but for the second straight week, it was unable to get off the field in some of the most important moments, at least until Eliott Washington’s second interception of the game that came with just over a minute left.

It wasn’t all bad. The Tigers did sack Daniels four times and registered nine tackles for loss. Florida State only rushed for 65 yards and the Tigers limited them to just 2.2 yards per carry.

This group just has to be better at finishing off opponents.

Pressure Is Off (For Now)

Dabo Swinney and Clemson needed that win. After the heartbreaking loss to the Hokies last weekend, frustration was at an all-time high.

Next up is a trip to Syracuse, where the Tigers will look to avenge last year’s brutal home defeat to the Orange. Now this team can head up there with some of the pressure off. However, if you go up there and do not take care of business, you are right back in the same situation you were in following the Virginia Tech loss.