FSU’s Top 10 Moments vs. Clemson — Part II

Florida State and Clemson will square off on Saturday in Tallahassee for a contest that won’t have the ACC and national implications as in years past. The Tigers remain a perennial power at 7-0 and ranked second in the country while FSU is still trying to find its way under first-year head coach Willie Taggart.

Saturday’s contest will be the 32nd meeting between the schools. Although that isn’t that large of a sample size, the Seminoles have had some memorable moments against the Tigers — too many to narrow down to five.

On Thursday, we began the countdown by looking at moments Nos. 6-10. The countdown now continues with the top five moments for Florida State against Clemson:

5. Defense, Williams Deliver FSU
Sept. 20, 2014
(22) Clemson 17, (1) Florida State 23 (Overtime)

Despite coming off a perfect season and a national championship, Florida State appeared on the verge of starting the 2014 campaign with a loss in ACC play. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Sean Maguire was given the start in place of the suspended Jameis Winston and drew the Seminoles even in the fourth quarter on a 74-touchdown pass to Rashad Greene to knot the score at 17. With just over two minutes to play, Maguire looked to have made a costly mistake as he was intercepted by Clemson’s Jadar Johnson who returned the ball inside the FSU 30-yard-line. Two plays later, Maguire and FSU were given new life as running back Adam Choice was stripped inside the 20-yard-line by FSU’s Eddie Goldman and safety Nate Andrews recovered. In overtime, penetration by Goldman led to the Seminoles getting a fourth-down stop. It took FSU running back Karlos Williams just two carries on the Seminoles’ possession to end the game, scoring a 12-yard touchdown.

4. Goal Line Stand for the Ages
Sept. 11, 1993
(21) Clemson 0, (1) Florida State 57

Florida State led 23-0 in the second quarter of a top-25 match-up early in the 1993 season when Clemson achieved its deepest penetration of the day. After a long pass play, Clemson had 1st-and-goal from the FSU 4-yard-line. The next four plays would see the Florida State defense stand tall, including the last two from the 1-yard-line. Clemson looked as though it was going to walk in on third down, but FSU linebacker Derrick Brooks came from nowhere to make the big hit and eventual stop on Rodney Blunt. Clifton Abraham and Alonzo Horner combined to stop Blunt on fourth down. FSU kicker Scott Bentley did his part to preserve the shutout earlier in the day by running down Clemson safety Brian Dawkins on a blocked PAT return. Quarterback Charlie Ward passed for 317 yards and four touchdowns in the victory. Brooks and Abraham both scored non-offensive touchdowns.

3. Weinke to Snoop
Nov. 4, 2000
(10) Clemson 7, (4) Florida State 54

After narrowly falling at home to Florida State the year before, Clemson had upset on its mind as it headed to Tallahassee for a top-10 match-up to begin the month of November in 2000. FSU led 3-0 midway through the first quarter, but the Tigers had the Seminoles backed up to their own 2-yard-line. That’s when FSU quarterback and eventual Heisman Trophy winner Chris Weinke executed one of the best play-action fakes anyone will ever see in college football. While faking the hand-off, Weinke turned his back in the end zone and acted as though the play was over prior to firing downfield for a streaking Marvin “Snoop” Minnis. Minnis had ran by multiple defenders before hauling in the pass and cruising to a 98-yard touchdown — the longest passing touchdown in school history. The big play would highlight a 47-point rout as the Seminoles clinched a ninth straight ACC crown.

2. Hopkins Wins It
Nov. 13, 2010
Clemson 13, Florida State 16

With Florida State and Clemson tied at 13 late in the 2010 contest in Tallahassee, FSU head coach Jimbo Fisher put his trust in backup quarterback E.J. Manuel, who didn’t learn he would start until just before kickoff. Rather than playing for overtime with less than minute to play, FSU went for the win after getting the ball at its own 29-yard-line. On the drive, Manuel would go 3-for-4 passing for 40 yards, including an 18-yard strike to Rodney Smith to move the ball inside the 40. With three seconds remaining, kicker Dustin Hopkins was sent onto the field to try a career-long 55-yard attempt. Hopkins had missed a winning attempt in the home contest prior, but managed to get all of his foot into this one, sending it between the uprights with plenty of leg to spare. The win would serve as a big one as the Seminoles went on to play in their first ACC Championship in five years.

1. The Puntrooskie
Sept. 17, 1988
(10) Florida State 24, (3) Clemson 21

A tie looked like the best that Florida State could hope for in the 1988 top-10 contest at Death Valley. Facing fourth down inside their own 25-yard-line of a tie game, FSU sent out the punt team with less than two minutes to play, but there would be no actual punt. Punter Tim Corlew faked as if the snap had went over his head while upback Dayne Williams took the snap and handed the ball in between the legs of safety LeRoy Butler. Butler stayed motionless and Williams and others ran to the right, taking Clemson defenders with them. Butler then took off to the left, going 78 yards down to the Clemson 1-yard-line on a play that has come to be known as “puntrooskie”. The big run would set up Richie Andrews’ game-winning field goal with 32 seconds remaining as FSU pulled the road upset.

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