Clemson’s defense, often under fire this season, delivered one of its better halves of football against Florida State, limiting the Seminoles to a single touchdown and heading into the break with an 18-7 advantage. While the Tigers benefited from a few lucky bounces, they made enough key plays to stay in command through the opening two quarters.
Garrett Riley’s offense came out sharper than usual, setting the tone early with a long, methodical scoring drive that covered 75 yards in 13 plays. Cade Klubnik capped it off with a short touchdown run, followed by a successful two-point conversion from Clay Swinney. For a group that hasn’t consistently opened games with rhythm, it was a strong start. But that early flow quickly disappeared, as the offense sputtered on three straight possessions. A strange trick play backfired badly, leading to a sack, and Klubnik later missed a clear opportunity to hit Antonio Williams on third down. Those missteps kept Florida State within reach when the Tigers could have built a bigger lead.
Clemson’s defense wasn’t perfect but found itself saved by some Seminole mistakes. A busted coverage left tight end Randy Pittman uncovered on fourth down, yet he dropped what should’ve been an easy catch. Clemson turned that gift into points just moments later when Klubnik executed a flea-flicker to Williams for a 34-yard touchdown. Another breakdown nearly cost them again when Squirrel White slipped behind the secondary, but Florida State’s quarterback overthrew him by a wide margin. Two near-touchdowns for the Seminoles turned into nothing.
Game day betting lines for Clemson football’s ACC rivalry matchup against Florida State https://t.co/3944SeaQ4Mpic.twitter.com/FFWSLYOs9v
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On the ground, Adam Randall and Gideon Davidson gave Clemson just enough production to keep the defense honest, combining for nearly 60 yards against one of the ACC’s better run-stopping units. More importantly, the Tigers dominated possession, controlling the ball for over 19 minutes and dictating the game’s tempo throughout the first half.
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This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: Halftime Report: Clemson has a 18-0 lead over Florida State
