Seminoles Given Bag of Tricks by Clemson in Halloween Nightmare

Before kickoff, an angry and frustrated Seminoles fan base hired an airplane to fly over Doak Campbell Stadium Saturday with a banner that read “FSU FIRE MIKE NOVELL-PETER COLLINS.”

The fans had raised at least $2500.00 and misspelled coach Mike Norvell’s name on the banner.

To appease the fans, Florida State (3-5) needed a victory over Clemson (5-3) on Halloween.

They did not get it.

The Tigers rediscovered the touchdown pass as they beat Florida State 36-24.

The boo birds were out in force in the stands as Norvell and his Florida State team got off to a terrible start.

In their first three offensive possessions, Florida State gained five total yards, zero rushing yards, and no points.

However, on their fourth possession in the first quarter, quarterback Ashton Daniels threw a deep ball 46 yards that was caught by Michai Danzy for a touchdown to tie the game at 7-7.

Clemson added a field goal late in the first period to take a 10-7 lead.

The Seminoles’ defense sacked Clemson quarterback Tait Reynolds three times in the first quarter.

In the second quarter, the Florida State offense stalled and settled for a 35-yard field goal by Gabe Panikoski to tie the game at 10-10.

After driving the field, down to the red zone in Florida State territory, the Seminoles defense stiffened and held Clemson to a made field goal that increased the Tigers’ lead to 13-10.

On the next possession by Florida State, Daniels threw a pass in the direction of Duce Robinson that was intercepted. It was Daniels’ ninth interception of the season.

Clemson capitalized on the Florida State turnover. On second and goal from the 4-yard line, Reynolds threw to Olsen Patt-Henry for a touchdown to further increase their lead to 20-10.

Daniels threw his second interception of the half that put Clemson in Florida State territory. Later, Clemson converted a filed goal to take a 23-10 lead at halftime.

After a Florida State punt, Clemson added yet another field goal in the third quarter to pad their lead to 26-10.

On the ensuing Florida State possession, the Seminoles were moving the chains and extending the drive when Daniels fumbled the football. It was recovered by Clemson.

It was Daniels’ third turnover of the game.

Clemson converted yet another field goal from 49-yards out to make the score 29-10.

On the ensuing Seminoles’ possession, Daniels rushed for a touchdown. A two-point conversion was good as Florida State cut the lead to 29-18.

The Seminoles scored again on a 41-yard touchdown pass from Daniels to Jason Lopez to cut the lead to 29-24. The two-point conversion attempt failed.

On the next Clemson possession, Reynolds ran 79 yards for a touchdown. The extra point was good, and Clemson increased their lead to 36-24, the final margin. 

That run by Reynolds was Clemson’s longest run of the season. It was the  longest run in 20 years.

On the final possession for Florida State and for the game, Daniels threw another interception, his third of the game.

Coming into the game, Clemson had thrown just two touchdown passes all season. Reynolds threw two TD passes Saturday night with no interceptions.

For Florida State , it lost its 23rd game since the end of the 2023 season.