WATCH: Clemson's Trevor Lawrence Scored 4 1st Half TDs Against FSU | Clemson's Amari Rodgers Is Untouched On Way To The Endzone | Clemson's Derion Kendrick Take A Pick Back To The House
CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) - Trevor Lawrence threw three touchdown passes, two to Justyn Ross, and No. 2 Clemson answered any lingering questions from its close call at North Carolina, winning its 21st straight game by pounding Florida State 45-14 on Saturday.
Clemson (4-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) started 6-0 for a fifth straight year and beat the Seminoles (3-3, 2-2) for the fifth straight year, also a program best.
Lawrence completed 17 of 25 passes for 170 yards, including 10- and 8-yard TD throws to Ross. Lawrence also ran for a touchdown, the 6-foot-6 sophomore extending full body to get over the goal line.
Etienne ran for 127 yards and caught one of Lawrence's scoring throws.
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney pulled out everything he could. He had Etienne throw a 23-yard pass to Ross on the opening drive, then went for it on fourth-and-goal from Florida State 3 for Clemson's first touchdown, an inside pass from 3 yards out.
Swinney showed off this year's short-yardage Jumbo package on another fourth-and-short near the FSU goal line with starting defensive linemen Tyler Davis, Xavier Thomas and Nyles Pinckney in formation. But Thomas came up just shy of the touchdown.
Moments later when Clemson got the ball back on Chad Smith's interception with 40 seconds before the half and up 28-0, Lawrence threw twice into the end zone before B.T. Potter missed a 24-yard field goal try. Potter got an earful from an emphatic Swinney after the miss.
Florida State quarterbacks James Blackman and Alex Hornibrook both threw first-half interceptions and the Seminoles managed only 63 yards in the first half. Things didn't get better after halftime as Blackman threw another pick that went for Derion Kendrick's 38-yard return score.
Florida State star Cam Akers, who gained just 47 total yards vs. Clemson the past two games, ended with 34 yards on nine carries today.
The Seminoles broke the shutout with Blackman's 64-yard TD pass to Tamorrion Terry late in the third quarter.
Clemson won its 750th game, the 15th program nationally to do that and the first in the ACC..
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Clemson should have no problem remaining No. 2 as it continues trying for a fifth consecutive College Football Playoff appearance.
UP NEXT
Florida State heads to No. 19 Wake Forest next Saturday night.
Clemson goes on the road to take on Louisville on Saturday.