5-Year Nole Anniversary: FSU Blasts Clemson in Top-5 Match-Up

Over the last decade, Florida State and Clemson has without a doubt been the premier match-up in the ACC. The winner of the annual contest has gone on to win the ACC Atlantic in each season since 2009 and the ACC itself in every year since 2011.

Of those contests, the most notable and perhaps the biggest in series history came on this day five years ago. FSU was 5-0 and ranked fifth in the country as it made its way to “Death Valley” to take on No. 3 Clemson, who arrived with a perfect 6-0 record.

By the end of the night, it was clear who the team to beat in the ACC was. For national media members and many Florida State fans, that’s also when the Seminoles’ national championship goals became a reality as FSU left with an emphatic 51-14 victory on Oct. 19, 2013.

In every aspect of the game, it was domination from the start. For an FSU defense that forced four turnovers, cornerback Lamarcus Joyner was responsible for three of them with an interception and two forced fumbles, including one of tight end Stanton Seckinger on the game’s first play.

Three plays later, Florida State went ahead for good as eventual Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston hit Kelvin Benjamin for a 22-yard touchdown to make it a 7-0 game less than 90 seconds in. Following a Roberto Aguayo field goal to extend the lead to 10, FSU got its only non-offensive score of the night as a second Joyner strip led to defensive end Mario Edwards barreling his way 37 yards for a fumble return for a touchdown to make it 17-0.

The only meaningful score of the night for Clemson came in the final minute of the first quarter as Tajh Boyd hit Sammy Watkins from three yards out to cut the lead to 17-7 after one. The momentum for the Tigers was short-lived as Winston’s 72-yard touchdown pass to Rashad Greene and a second Aguayo field goal gave the Seminoles a 27-7 lead at the break.

Winston and Greene would hook up again on a 17-yard touchdown connection early in the third quarter. Winston and running back Devonta Freeman would add rushing touchdowns before Aguayo’s third field goal of the night extended the lead to 51-7. Clemson’s final score came on a 2-yard sneak by backup quarterback Cole Stoudt with 13 seconds to go in the game.

The 51 points was the most ever scored by a visitor at Clemson on a night to remember for the Seminoles — not just as a team but individually. Winston finished with a career-high 4444 yards passing in the victory while Greene added 161 yards receiving. Tight end Nick O’Leary caught five passes for a career-high 146 yards with his night highlighted by a 94-yard reception and delivering a devastating forearm to would-be tackler Travis Blanks. The FSU offense finished with 565 total yards.

Telvin Smith finished with 11 tackles to lead the FSU defense that held Clemson to 14 points while recording four sacks and four turnovers. In addition to the three turnovers Joyner accounted for, Ronald Darby also recorded an interception for the Seminoles.

Unfortunately for the Seminoles, the victory remains the last at Clemson but still one of the sweetest in the series. FSU would finish the year 14-0 and win its third national championship. Still, the most impressive performance of that magical season came on this day five years ago.

Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson