TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Clemson has carried a 23-10 lead over Florida State into the locker room at halftime.
The Tigers have outgained the Seminoles (183 to 133), and Tom Allen’s defense has held the Florida State ground game in check to this point, as the Noles have rushed for just 35 yards.
After starting in FSU territory but going three-and-out on its first offensive possession, Clemson once again got great starting field position on its second series. A short punt by the Seminoles set the Tigers up at the Florida State 30-yard line, and on second down, Tait Reynolds found Christian Bentancur crossing the middle of the field for an 18-yard score.
However, the red zone issues have once again plagued the offense. Four times Clemson has had the ball inside the Florida State 20-yard line, but only twice have they put the ball into the end zone. The other two times they have had to settle for field goals.
Clemson put 10 points on the board in the opening quarter, the first time that has happened against an FBS team since the Boston College game in October of last season. The Tigers added 13 more in the second.
Florida State has turned it over twice, while the Tigers have yet to do so.
Drought Ends
Reynolds ‘ first-quarter touchdown pass to Bentancur was just his second of the season, and only the team’s third. In fact, it was the first touchdown pass for the Tigers since Reynolds connected with Bentancur on a 27-yarder in the win over North Carolina in Week 3. 42 days, four hours and 59 minutes had passed since then.
Reynolds seems to be seeing the field better tonight, particularly downfield. However, the freshman has held on to the ball too long on multiple occasions, which led to Florida State getting three sacks in the opening quarter alone.
The young quarterback has put better touch on some of his deeper throws tonight. One example was a late first-quarter pass to Bryant Wesco, but the junior wideout could not come down with the ball. Wesco made up for it with a nice leaping catch for a first-down early in the second quarter. T.J. Moore then dropped one in the end zone later on that same drive on a ball that could not have been placed much better. The team had to settle for a field goal.
Wesco would drop another one late in the first half on a second-down play inside the red zone. However, this time, the Tigers overcame that, finishing off an 11-play drive with a short touchdown pass to Olsen Patt-Henry.
Reynolds is 12-for-19 for 111 yards with the two touchdowns.
Very Little Running Game
The Tigers have not been able to establish much of a running game. Clemson has rushed for just 65 yards, with Reynolds 12-yard scamper in the second the longest of the night so far. 25 of those rushing yards came on the touchdown drive late in the second quarter.
Gideon Davidson has rushed seven times for 26 yards, but hasn’t seen the field as much in the opening half. Four of those carries came on the final drive of the half.
Jarvis Green has played a little more tonight, and has four carries for 24 yards.
Scary Moment
LG Elyjah Thurmon went down with just under 10 minutes to play in the half. Thurmon took a shot to the side of his head and went limp. He then lay motionless on the field for several minutes before being carted off. When leaving the field, he did manage to give the thumbs-up. Gavin Blanchard went into the game in his place.
Like Father, Like Son
Jerome Carter III picked off an Ashton Daniels pass in the second quarter. His father, Jerome Carter, played for Florida State and picked off a pass against the Tigers in the 2003 Bowden Bowl.
Elliot Washing also picked off a pass late in the second quarter, his fourth of the season.