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| Williams provided the late run to seal the win. Photo Credit: Melina Vastola |
In what was a wild and crazy game, Karlos Williams emerged as the hero for Florida State as he ran 12 yards into the end zone in overtime to help the #1 ranked Seminoles defeat #22 Clemson 23-17 in OT on Saturday night.
By: Michael Hanley
The game winning score was courtesy of Clemson who could not convert a 4th & 1 in overtime on their first drive of the extra session. It gave the Seminoles a clear path to victor, which Williams took full advantage of and sent the home crowd into a frenzy. It would be one of the many chances that the Tigers would blow during the game to put more points on the board and create a cushion between them and Florida State.
Both teams would get off to a slow start on offense as Florida State was breaking in a new QB for the night, while starter Jameis Winston was suspended for this game, in Sean McGuire who had never made a college start before tonight. On the other side, Clemson's QB in Deshaun Watson is still learning while on the job about all the nuisances of this Tigers offense and the various play calls and lingo that come along with it.
Florida State would open up the scoring with a Roberto Aguayo 50 yard field goal that gave them a n early 3-0 lead in the first quarter. After Clemson scored the next ten points of the game, it looked as if the Tigers were in a rhythm on both sides of the ball racking up 249 yards to just 84 yards for the Seminoles. The Tigers look primed for a big second half. The Seminoles would have other ideas though.
Once the second half started, Florida State started their comeback as they drove down the field, capped by a Mario Pender one yard touchdown run that drew the game even at ten apiece. It was a drive that was perfectly engineered by Maguire as they were efficient and kept the Clemson defense on its heels, establishing a fast tempo, the tempo the Seminoles are use to playing at when Winston is under center.
Clemson would answer with a Watson two yard touchdown run to give them a lead once again and one that could have been built on had they been able to muster up another scoring drive and seal the game. The Florida State defense would stand in the way of that hope for Clemson as they got a key stop and gave the ball right back to Maguire and company.
It looked dire for them as they were facing a third and forever when Maguire stepped up and hit Rashad Greene for a 74 yard touchdown to score the game tying the game again.
Florida State would then go on and create the dramatic comeback victory to keep their undefeated season alive.
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