One season later, Clemson stuffs FSU's running game
Last year, the Seminoles gained 272 rushing yards. Saturday, they gain only 11 and abandon it after falling behind.
By ZACHARY SPAIN
Published November 9, 2003
CLEMSON, S.C. - As Clemson fans, clad in orange and purple, raced onto the Memorial Stadium turf, they swarmed Florida State players as they hurried off the field toward the locker room.
It epitomized the Seminoles' night.
Much like the mob at midfield as the clock ran out, the Tigers defense engulfed Seminoles running backs, holding them to 11 yards in the 26-10 victory.
The scene was distinctly different from Florida State's 48-31 victory last season at Doak Campbell Stadium, where it manhandled the Tigers on the ground. Greg Jones ran for 165 of the Seminoles' 272.
But this time, on Bobby Bowden's 74th birthday and in his first loss to son Tommy in five games, Clemson controled the line of scrimmage. The Tigers' front line prevented Florida State from penetrating between the tackles while stifling attempts to run around the ends.
"They stopped the run," sophomore guard and East Lake graduate Matt Meinrod said. "And they did it well.
"They put it in the hands of the passing game."
Clemson took control from the outset. On the opening drive, Florida State handed off to Jones on successive plays, each gaining 2 yards. That equaled the Seminoles' first-half production, 4 yards on nine rushes.
The Seminoles then tried to overcome an early deficit with the arm of Chris Rix.
In all, Florida State ran the ball only 17 times.
"We wanted to establish the run. That was our plan: to get (Jones) and the other backs the ball," Rix said. "When we couldn't get that done, we had to look to the pass and look for big plays. And it didn't work out."
Jones finished as Florida State's leading rusher with just 12 yards on seven carries.
"I think we got away from running the ball early," tackle Ray Willis said. "We didn't really run the ball like we wanted to. I guess we kind of got into a passing game, but we just left our running game."
The unfamiliar blitzing schemes of the Tigers, who entered the game sixth in the ACC in rushing defense, stifled the Seminoles.
"They definitely brought a lot more blitzes than we expected," Willis said. "They hadn't really shown to be a blitzing team. I guess they saw something in our offense.
"It seemed like they had a free guy on every single run play."
