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FSU adverts disaster with OT win over Clemson

The Sports Xchange

September 20, 2014 at 9:27 pm.

Karlos Williams (9) scores the game-winning touchdown for FSU. (John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports)

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Minus suspended Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston, No. 1 Florida State was pushed to its first overtime game in eight years, but the Seminoles averted disaster and prevailed on a 12-yard touchdown run by Karlos Williams to beat No. 22 Clemson 23-17 in a wild affair in front of a nervous, sold-out crowd Doak Campbell Stadium.

Both teams committed crucial turnovers in the final minutes of the fourth quarter, and Clemson failed on fourth down and half a yard on its possession in overtime when linebackers Reggie Northrup and Chris Casher stuffed running back Adam Choice for a loss.

Two players later, Williams ended it when he busted around the left end and walked into the end zone untouched as fireworks filled the Tallahassee night and Florida State players stormed the field.

The ending marked the third time in as many trips to Tallahassee that Clemson led FSU at halftime but failed to hold on. In 2012, Clemson led 21-14 but lost 49-37. In 2010, the Seminoles fell behind 10-3 but stormed back for a 16-13 victory.

Winston’s backup, Sean Maguire, was anything but perfect in his debut — but he managed to get his team the win after being called on to play the entire game in the wake of Winston’s one-game suspension. FSU announced late Friday that Winston’s half-game suspension — handed down Wednesday for shouting what the university called an “offensive and vulgar” phrase in the student union earlier this week — had been upped to the entire game. Winston attended the game, but only as a cheerleader.

While FSU could’ve used him, the Seminoles somehow found a way to win their school-record and NCAA-leading 19th straight game.

Maguire completed 21 of 39 passes for 305 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. The second one came with just over two minutes to play when safety Jadar Johnson returned it to FSU’s 26. But Clemson running back C.J. Davidson coughed up the ball, recovered by FSU defensive back Nate Andrews.

Even with three timeouts and the nation’s best kicker in Lou Groza Award-winner Roberto Aguayo, FSU coach Jimbo Fisher opted to play for overtime.

Williams, who finished as the Seminoles’ leading rusher with 10 carries for 45 yards, played the role of hero. But it was the FSU defense that will get this game ball.

Linebacker Terrance Smith led the way with 13 tackles, while Andrews had 10 and that huge fumble recovery that likely preserved the win. Even if Davidson hadn’t fumbled, Clemson’s potential winning field goal would’ve come off the foot of kicker Ammon Lakip, who already had missed two in the game.

FSU wideout Rashad Greene finished as the team’s leading wideout with nine catches for 135 yards, including a game-tying 74-yard strike from Maguire late in the fourth quarter that made the score 17-17.

Clemson missed a huge opportunity to come out of the gate and punch Florida State in the mouth on the second drive.

The Tigers drove down inside the FSU red zone in just two plays, highlighted by a 32-yard catch-and-run by receiver Artavis Scott. But they couldn’t punch the ball in as quarterback Cole Stoudt missed wide-open receiver Jordan Leggett on third down. Then kicker Ammon Lakip compounded the frustrating drive by pulling a chip-shot 23-yard field goal badly to the left.

Roberto Aguayo, FSU’s Lou Groza Award winner, didn’t miss. After backup QB Sean Maguire drove the Seminoles 42 yards, Aguayo drilled a 50-yarder to remain perfect on the season (7 of 7).

Freshman Deshaun Watson replaced Stoudt on Clemson’s next drive and engineered a 10-play, 75-yard march that ended in another field-goal try by Lakip. This time the redshirt junior nailed a 30-yarder to tie the game.

Watson drove Clemson to the game’s first TD with about six minutes left in the half. The Tigers picked up a third-and-7 when Watson found Leggett, setting up Clemson at the FSU 1-yard line. Running back D.J. Howard punched the ball in to cap the six-play, 47-yard drive.

It was the first time FSU trailed all season.

Maguire completed just 6 of 17 passes for 106 yards in the first half of his debut, while FSU mustered just 84 yards, including (minus)-22 rushing.

Watson finished the first half 11 of 17 for 172 yards, and the Tigers rushed for 77 yards.

NOTES: Florida State QB Jameis Winston, despite being suspended for the game, inexplicably came out of the locker room about an hour before kickoff dressed in full pads and began warming up with his teammates. It took about 10 minutes for coach Jimbo Fisher to notice, and cameras captured Fisher with an exasperated look on his face as he spoke with Winston, whom he then sent back to the locker room. Winston returned 15 minutes later — this time minus his pads — and began walking around yelling words of encouragement to teammates as they stretched. … The winner of the Florida State-Clemson game has gone on to win the Atlantic Division and reach the ACC Championship Game each of the last five years. … Clemson DE Vic Beasley sacked QB Sean Maguire twice in the first half.