Clemson upsets Florida State amid backdrop of bomb threats

Clemson’s first-time starter Cullen Harper threw two touchdown passes to lead the Tigers’ 24-18 upset of No. 19-ranked Florida State on Monday night at Clemson, S.C., amid a report of two bomb threats earlier in the day.

No explosive devices were found, although ESPN reported that security was heightened at Clemson’s Memorial Stadium.

On the field, the Florida State offense did not live up to the expectations that first-year offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher would bring the flash back to the Seminoles in the latest version of the father-son Bowden Bowl.

Instead, it was Harper and the Tigers who came out throwing to take a 21-0 lead before the game was 17 minutes old, bringing their coach, Tommy Bowden, his third consecutive victory over father Bobby’s Seminoles.

Florida State rallied from 24-3 down in the second half of the season opener for both teams. When Drew Weatherford connected with Richard Goodman for a 15-yard touchdown pass play with 11:40 left, the Seminoles trailed by six.

Weatherford and the Seminoles got the ball back three more times after that but could not score.

“It looked like stage fright. We were running a new offense, but I thought we grasped it better than that. We were bad,” Bobby Bowden said.

Redshirt freshman Michael Crabtree had touchdown receptions of 42, two and one yards, and Danny Amendola went 49 yards for another score, leading Texas Tech past Southern Methodist, 49-9.

Quarterback Graham Harrell completed 44 of 59 passes for 419 yards and four touchdowns. He topped his previous high in completions (42) during the third quarter, then called it a day after a touchdown early in the fourth made it 42-6.

Nebraska transfer Harrison Beck will start at quarterback for North Carolina State this week at Boston College, getting the nod from Coach Tom O’Brien for leading a second-half rally in a 25-23 loss to Central Florida last week. . . . Wake Forest quarterback Riley Skinner has a separated shoulder and is doubtful for Saturday’s game against Nebraska, according to ESPN. Backup quarterback Brett Hodges, who is likely to start against the Cornhuskers, had limited playing time last season but completed 17 of 23 passes for 129 yards and an interception against Boston College in relief of Skinner.