Florida State returns fumble for touchdown to swing game vs. Clemson

Clemson was driving to take a two-score lead on Florida State late in the third quarter of Saturday’s game, when the Seminoles defense came up with a huge play.

FSU linebacker Kalen DeLoach came on a blitz and blasted Tigers quarterback Cade Klubnik. DeLoach forced a fumble and eventually picked it up and returned it 56 yards for a touchdown to get the Seminoles right back in the game.

Instead of a two-score lead for Clemson, the game was suddenly tied at 24-24. Florida State went on to earn a 31-24 victory in OT. You can watch the game-changing play below:

KALEN DELOACH🔥

Laid the blow and scooped and scored 56 yards🤯pic.twitter.com/8umaUa5i1t

— On3 (@On3sports) September 23, 2023

The defensive touchdown by Florida State continued a negative trend that has hampered the Clemson offense all year.

Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney said after the game that Clemson has allowed 36 points off of turnovers through four games in 2023. All of last season, the Tigers allowed only 38 points off of turnovers in 14 games, according to Swinney.

“Kind of the story of our season to this point is turnovers,” Swinney said. “We were minus one in the margin, and you know, honestly, we’re 2-2 right now because we’ve given up 36 points off of turnovers. And it’s not just having a turnover. It’s a scoop and score. It’s a pick-six. We gave up 38 points off of turnovers last year in 14 ballgames. And we’ve given up 36 points. Big picture, that’s what happened in the game.”

Had Clemson finished the drive with points, the Tigers would’ve obviously been in good shape to come out on top. Clemson would’ve been leading by 10 or 14 points in the fourth quarter, and the Florida State offense managed only three points in the second half.

“We think we’re about to go up 14 points and we get a miscommunication with our running back on a protection. The next thing you know it’s a tie ball game,” Swinney said. “But again, you’ve got to give Florida State credit for that.”

Mike Norvell says Florida State needed ‘incredible heart’ to win at Clemson

Despite the scoop and score by DeLoach, Florida State had to fight tooth and nail to get the win.

Norvell spoke after the game about what it took to get the win on the road.

“What a response. And, you know, we talk about that all the time. These guys have incredible heart,” Norvell said. “I told them it was going to take 60 minutes, and going into overtime, it took a few more. But love what I saw from our guys. Never panicked, just continued to play. There were obviously some ugly moments, but they just continued to fight and did what they needed to do to get the win.”