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FSU football unable to topple explosive Clemson offense in loss | Three takeaways
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- FSU football unable to topple explosive Clemson offense in loss | Three takeaways
(This story was updated to add quotes from Mike Norvell)
Despite a near-sellout crowd at kickoff, sprinkles of orange painted the silver backdrop of mostly empty bleachers following Florida State football's loss to Clemson on Saturday night.
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FSU falls to 1-5 after the 29-13 loss to Clemson (4-1). The Tigers recorded over 500 yards of offense , the third straight game that FSU's defense has given up more than 400 yards of total offense.
Brock Glenn went 23-of-41 for 228 yards, throwing two touchdowns and an interception in his first start of the season. Clemson's Cade Klubnik went 19-of-33 for 235 yards, throwing two touchdowns.
"Disappointed in the result. Disappointed for our guys. I thought they played hard. I thought they did fight," Seminoles head coach Mike Norvell said. "We had our opportunities, but you know, it's an absolute minimum expectation here, and we have to go get the job done."
The Tigers jumped out to a 17-0 lead in the first quarter, with Klubnik throwing two touchdown passes.
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His first was a 57-yard strike to Antonio Williams , who was allowed to scamper free into the endzone after a misjudged hit from Conrad Hussey took out Fentrell Cypress instead of Williams. The second score came on a screen pass to T.J. Moore, who was given a free right side of the field to run into after miscommunication from the Seminoles defense.
Glenn threw his first touchdown pass as a Seminole in the second quarter, finding true freshman Amaree Williams for his first catch and score in his FSU career. However, following the scoring drive, FSU punted on its next three possessions.
Clemson added two field goals in the second quarter to go into halftime leading 23-7.
The Seminoles' special teams came up with big moments. The unit blocked two field goals and Alex Mastromanno was excellent in flipping the field with his punts. The Tigers kicked five field goals Saturday night.
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Glenn led an impressive 15-play 74-yard scoring drive in the second half that ended with a Ja'Khi Douglas touchdown, but Clemson never relinquished the lead.
Here are three takeaways from FSU's 29-16 loss to Clemson.
Glenn, increased use for freshmen improves offense, but it's not enough
Oct 5, 2024; Tallahassee, Florida, USA; Florida State Seminoles quarterback Brock Glenn (11) throws the ball against the Clemson Tigers during the first half at Doak S. Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Myers-Imagn Images
Despite some flashes of improvement offensively, the Seminoles offense still faced some familiar struggles vs. Clemson.
Drops and miscommunications were again present, and while the offensive line did better in blocking, it still allowed too much pressure. The run game struggled again, posting 22 yards on 23 carries.
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However, there was an increased role for the FSU freshman on Saturday night.
On the scoring drive, the two big plays came with freshmen primarily lined up in formation. Glenn found Thomas for a 35-yard catch and run after looking for Micahi Danzy downfield . Thomas led all receivers with 80 yards on seven catches
The touchdown throw came with Lawayne McCoy, Thomas and Williams on the field, with Glenn eventually finding Williams for the 13-yard score. It was a small sample size, but the young players showed a spark that has been desperately missing from the Seminoles this season.
Their contributions weren't enough, as the Seminoles finished with 250 yards of total offense and again struggled with drops and communication.
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In the first half, Glenn threw an interception on a miscommunication with Hykeem Williams . The sophomore receiver continued straight down the field while Glenn expected him to cut inside, throwing his pass directly to a Clemson defender.
Center Maurice Smith sent two snaps towards Glenn high, with one being caught acrobatically by the quarterback and the other flying over his head for a 20-yard loss.
The Seminoles struggled to put plays together in the second half until the Glenn scoring drive. However, that drive took nearly six minutes off the clock and gave FSU little hope of a comeback.
FSU's defense allowed Klubnik, Clemson too many big plays
Allowing 500 yards of offense, the Seminoles were unable to stop Clemson from creating chunk plays.
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While the red zone defense was strong, allowing only field goals and blocking two inside the 20, the defense allowed the Tigers to exploit them with big yardage plays.
"This is an offense that's been playing at a pretty high level," Norvell said. "There were some unnecessary big plays that we gave up. I did really like the way that they battled down in the red zone."
The Tigers recorded 265 rushing yards and 235 passing yards, with Phil Mafah recording 154 yards on 25 carries.
The first score came on a 57-yard pass from Klubnik to Williams, with the FSU secondary running into each other allowing Williams 20 yards of green grass to stroll into the endzone.
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Clemson's next score came on a screen pass that Moore took 23 yards after the Seminoles missed assignments in coverage and gave the Tigers receiver a free run into the endzone.
There were multiple third and longs that FSU failed to get off the field on, including one right before halftime that came after an FSU timeout. That extra time on the clock set up the Tigers for a field goal right before halftime.
Following the Seminoles scoring drive in the second half, Clemson running back Phil Mafah rushed for 56 yards on the first play from scrimmage. That set up the Tigers for another field goal.
The Seminoles again couldn't contain a mobile quarterback, and Klubnik made them pay. He added 62 rushing yards to his 235 passing yards.
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The Seminoles couldn't get out of their own way
Oct 5, 2024; Tallahassee, Florida, USA; Clemson Tigers wide receiver Troy Stellato (10) is tackled by Florida State Seminoles defensive back Shyheim Brown (1) during the first half at Doak S. Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Myers-Imagn Images
FSU committed seven penalties for 75 yards on Saturday.
The penalties often came in critical moments, either allowing Clemson a fresh set of downs after a potential third-down stop or negating a big play.
"It's a lapse in focus, not intentional," Norvell said. "Nobody ever wants to do that, but that's where we have to be better."
In the first half, a 31-yard strike from Glenn to Benson was called back for a holding. The Seminoles would then punt. Defensively, a pass interference call on Christopher Vizzina's one first-half pass wiped away a potential third and long and set up Klubnik for his touchdown pass to Moore.
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There were multiple momentum killers, with the Seminoles getting in their own way with unnecessary penalties and poor execution in critical moments.
It has been a story all too common this season for FSU.
Liam Rooney covers Florida State athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at LRooney@gannett.com or on Twitter @__liamrooney
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU football can't contain Clemson offense in blowout loss to Tigers
