Tigers' offense sputters

TALLAHASSEE, FLA. — Tommy Bowden wasn't at Doak Campbell Stadium on Saturday, and that was a shame for Clemson. The Tigers could've used their old coach. On the offensive line.

No. 24 Florida State pillaged Clemson's inexperienced and injury-plagued front to end the Tigers' recent domination of this series.

Interim coach Dabo Swinney said the Tigers' pass protection was "pathetic." Clemson gave up six sacks, three to end Everette Brown.

"We just absolutely got whipped on some matchups," Swinney said.

Florida State entered the game third in the ACC in sacks with 22, and that was bad news for Clemson entering the game.

Then starting left tackle Chris Hairston left with a concussion in the first quarter. That forced line coach Brad Scott to shift starting right tackle Cory Lambert to the left side, and Brown did much of his damage with swift spin moves that left Lambert grasping at air.

"That's an amazing player," Lambert said of Brown, a junior who has nine sacks on the season. "He definitely lives up to what you hear about him."

The defense rests

Down 20-17 at halftime, Swinney was banking on his defense making a stop after kicking to the Seminoles.

It didn't happen then. And it seldom happened thereafter.

FSU drove 63 yards in nine plays and reached the end zone when Christian Ponder hit Corey Surrency for a 14-yard scoring strike on third-and-13.

After Clemson kicked a field goal to trim the margin to 27-20, the Seminoles drove to the Tigers' 11 but were thwarted by a tipped interception by Kavell Conner. Yet after forcing the Tigers into a three-and-out, FSU drove 68 yards in seven plays and made the score 34-20 when Antone Smith barreled in from a yard out. A 38-yard jump ball from Ponder to Surrency set up that score.

"I did not expect them to move the ball on us like that," Swinney said. "I thought we would hold up better."

The Seminoles totaled 266 yards rushing. Jermaine Thomas accounted for 94, and Smith had 57. Receiver Preston Parker totaled 49, 40 of them coming on a first-quarter reverse that led to a field goal. Ponder had 30 yards on 10 attempts as FSU's spread formations spread the Tigers too thin.

"We knew they had a lot of wea- pons," said cornerback Crezon Butler. "And tonight it seemed like they used all of them."

Defensive coordinator Vic Koenning said the Tigers' struggles against reverses were "complete, absolutely boneheaded."

"We ran reverse after reverse in practice," he said.

Short stay

Willy Korn got onto the field on Clemson's fourth series, but he didn't last long. The redshirt freshman was yanked after a shaky series that resulted in a quick punt. On third-and-23, the Tigers were forced to burn a timeout after Korn failed to see the play clock inching close to zero.

Rare pick

Conner's interception of Christian Ponder was Clemson's first pick in five games.

The Tigers had three interceptions Sept. 20 against S.C. State but went four consecutive games without one.

The interception was also Clemson's first by a linebacker this season.

Injury update

Defensive tackle Dorell Scott left in the second half and didn't return. He said he suffered a sprained knee but will be ready for this week's Duke game.

Tight end Michael Palmer said he suffered a deep bruise to his left shoulder. He's scheduled to undergo X-rays today.