It’s safe to say that top-ranked Florida State was outplayed on Saturday in its ACC opener against Clemson. The Seminoles were tested physically, mentally and emotionally, but in the end, FSU persevered to win its 19th straight game.
For the second time in three games, Florida State was forced to eek out a victory against an opponent many felt were over-matched. The Seminoles certainly do have their issues.
The offensive line that was once thought to be a major strength for Florida State has had its struggles creating a ground game. Defensively, Florida State’s front seven has not been nearly as good as it was a season ago and prior to Saturday, FSU had been downright disappointing in the red zone.
But while Florida State has its share of vulnerabilities that certainly need to be shored up, a more important trait has been found within the Seminoles. It’s called character.
Whether you blame Jameis Winston, the Florida State administration and athletic department or the media for Saturday’s suspension, the Seminoles faced adversity prior to game day ever arriving. As if being without a reigning Heisman Trophy winning quarterback without a loss as a starter for a half wasn’t bad enough, having the suspension extended to a full game less than 24 hours before kickoff created serious doubt.
In his first career start at quarterback, Sean Maguire was greeted by a Clemson defense committed to hitting him early and often. Maguire settled in during the second half, but after taking a sack that resulted in a 14-yard loss more than halfway through the fourth quarter, the pendulum swung heavily in the favor of the Tigers.
It took Maguire just one play to atone for his mistake of not throwing the ball away. Facing a 2nd-and-24 from his own 26-yard-line, Maguire found the senior that had always seemed to be a calm in the midst of a storm — wide receiver Rashad Greene — for a 74-yard touchdown to even the game at 17.
As for the Florida State defense, it played with its back against the wall all night. At times, the Seminole defense looked good. At times, it looked back. One thing it never looked was ready to quit.
With an already banged up defensive front, the Seminoles suffered a huge blow in the first half as starting defensive end and preseason All-American Mario Edwards Jr. left the game with a concussion.
Defensively, Florida State bent and bent and bent, but simply refused to break.
The Seminoles’ defense spent a large portion of the night with their end zone sitting just yards behind them. On seven Clemson trips to the red zone, Florida State allowed just 17 points.
While Florida State was able to dodge bullets all throughout the night, the final mistake by Maguire looked as though it would ultimately bring about the Seminoles’ undoing.
With the game knotted 17-17 and just over two minutes to play, Maguire overthrew Jesus Wilson on 3rd-and-long and was intercepted by Clemson safety Jadar Johnson. Johnson returned the ball to the FSU 26-yard-line.
After a 9-yard run by Clemson’s highly-touted freshman quarterback Deshaun Watson put the ball at the FSU 17, the end of an 18-game winning streak for Florida State seemed inevitable.
With their seemingly biggest obstacle in the ACC’s Atlantic division in a position to milk the clock and set up for a short field goal, the Seminoles rose to the occasion yet again.
Entering Saturday’s game, one of the bigger question marks along Florida State’s banged up front was defensive tackle Eddie Goldman. Goldman left FSU’s home opener against The Citadel with a knee injury and as Clemson sat with 2nd-and-1 on Florida State’s 17-yard-line, Goldman had yet to make a tackle.
On a hand-off to running back C.J. Davidson that netted enough yardage for a first down, Goldman was able to get a hand on the football before Davidson went to the ground.
The ball was loose. The Seminoles had recovered. The dream was still alive.
Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher elected to run out the clock and play overtime. In the extra period, it again was Goldman making the plays.
After an incomplete pass on the first play of the untimed session, Goldman sacked Watson to put Clemson in a long third down situation. The Tigers ran a screen play that got near the sticks, but was one yard short.
With a field goal kicker that had missed twice earlier, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney elected to go for it on fourth down.
The ball went to Adam Choice, who was met by Goldman in the backfield. Goldman couldn’t make the stop, but forced Choice to the outside where Chris Casher and Reggie Northrup combined on the tackle.
No gain. Turnover on downs. Florida State football.
In regulation, FSU had rushed for a negative 12 yards. In overtime, it took the offensive line comprised of five seniors just two plays to pave the way for running back Karlos Williams to walk into the end zone from 12 yards out as Florida State escaped with a 23-17 victory.
The first person to greet the winning quarterback was the man in front of him on the depth chart, Jameis Winston. As a team, the Seminoles emotionally walked off the field with a huge weight lifted.
Whether or not Florida State has what it takes to repeat as national champions may not be known until the turn of the calendar into 2015.
The Seminoles are not blowing through opponents as they did a year ago. In fact, Florida State may not have even been the best team on the field Saturday. But with a suspended Heisman Trophy quarterback and perhaps its best defensive player on the sideline for the entire second half, FSU showed a mental toughness not everyone knew it had.
That’s something that can’t always be defeated by even the most well-devised game plan.
