Clemson upends Seminoles in Bowden Bowl

Sep 4, 2007, 4:24 GMT

Clemson, SC - Cullen Harper threw a pair of touchdowns as Clemson defeated 19th-ranked Florida State, 24-18, in the Bowden Bowl.

Harper finished the game 14-for-24 with 160 yards while James Davis had 18 carries for 102 yards and a score for the Tigers (1-0), who have won four of the last five meetings against Florida State.

Drew Weatherford went 17-for-34 for 142 yards and a touchdown while Antone Smith had 14 rushes for 90 yards and a score for the Seminoles (0-1). Smith also had five receptions for 57 yards.

This is the ninth time head coaches Bobby Bowden (Florida State) and his son Tommy (Clemson) have faced off against each other.

After exchanging several punts, the Tigers took the lead. On the first play of the drive Jacoby Ford took the ball up the middle on a 34-yard run to get the ball into Seminole territory. Three plays later, Harper found Brian Linthicum in the end zone from 11 yards out for a 7-0 lead with 6:07 left in the first.

On Florida State's ensuing possession, Preston Parker fumbled the ball and Nick Watkins recovered it at the Florida State 24-yard line.

After a false start penalty, Davis burst through the middle on a 29-yard touchdown run and a 14-0 lead.

Clemson got the ball back late in the first quarter and on 2nd-and-5 from the Florida State 41, Harper hit Aaron Kelly deep and Kelly took the ball into the end zone on a 41-yard touchdown reception for a 21-0 lead with 13:25 left in the half.

The Seminoles finally stopped the bleeding later in the second quarter as Gary Cismesia hit a 36-yard field goal with 4:12 remaining, but Clemson got the points right back on a 31-yard field goal from mark Buchholz to make it a 24-3 game heading into the locker room.

A Clemson miscue late in the third quarter helped Florida State as a snap on a punt went over the head of punter Jimmy Manners and when he picked the ball up deep in his territory he ran it out of the end zone to concede the safety.

On a 3rd-and-1 play on the ensuing possession, Smith took the ball through the middle on a 49-yard scamper to the one-yard line and on the next play punched the ball into the end zone. The Seminoles attempted a two-point play, but were stopped and trailed 24-11 heading into the fourth quarter.

The Seminoles got the ball in good field position on their first touch of the fourth quarter and took advantage of the short field. Starting on the Clemson 32, a seven-play drive was capped off when Weatherford connected with Richard Goodman on a 15-yard touchdown to make it a 24-18 game with 11:40 to play.

However, the Clemson defense came up with several stops to preserve the lead and hold on for the win.

Game Notes

Clemson hosts Louisiana-Monroe next Saturday...Florida State hosts UAB next Saturday...The Seminoles hold a 15-6 edge in the series...Kelly had five catches for 98 yards in the game.

© 2007 The Sports Network

Game Notes

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