CLEMSON, S.C. -- Saturday night marked the final trip to Clemson's ``Death Valley'' for Florida State defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews, and it almost certainly was the last for head coach Bobby Bowden.

And it's unlikely that either will miss it.

After a wild game that saw numerous turnovers, botched kicks and other bizarre plays, the Seminoles lost for the fourth consecutive time at Clemson, dating back to 2001.

The Tigers intercepted FSU quarterback Christian Ponder four times and took advantage of more than 300 all-purpose yards by senior tailback C.J. Spiller to roll to a 40-24 victory. The loss dropped the Seminoles to 4-5 overall and 2-4 in Atlantic Coast Conference play. Clemson improved to 6-3, 4-2.

With a national television audience watching in prime time, Clemson's coaches hoped to showcase Spiller's talents and elevate him into serious consideration for the Heisman Trophy. And the senior from Lake Butler, Fla., certainly did his part.

Spiller rushed for 165 yards, racked up 67 yards receiving and gained 80 yards in the return game. The 312 total yards broke the school record he set two weeks ago against Miami.

Spiller's performance was the highlight of an otherwise sloppy game that saw both teams squander numerous scoring opportunities.

The strangest play of all came early in the fourth quarter after the Seminoles took possession at their own 35-yard line with a three-point lead. Instead of trying to take some time off the clock, junior quarterback Christian Ponder lofted a deep pass down the left sideline that was intercepted by Clemson defensive back Rashard Hall.

After he returned the ball 11 yards, Hall inexplicably tried to lateral the ball to a teammate, and Clemson's Kavell Conner was able to scoop it up off the grass and return it an additional 29 yards. The Tigers capitalized on the turnover by scoring on a 9-yard run by tailback Andre Ellington just five plays later.

Clemson extended its lead one possession later to 33-24 when freshman quarterback Kyle Parker hit tight end Durrell Barry for a 2-yard touchdown.

Florida State opened an early lead and held onto it until midway through the third quarter. And after Clemson took its first lead of the game in the third quarter on Kyle Parker's 58-yard touchdown pass to tailback Spiller, Ponder rallied the Seminoles on their next possession. Trailing 21-17, FSU drove 73 yards on 16 plays and gobbled up 6:19 of game clock.

The Seminoles recorded five first downs on the drive, including 4 for 4 on third-down tries. Sophomore tailback Jermaine Thomas capped the march with a 1-yard touchdown plunge to give FSU a 24-21 advantage.

Clemson won despite an atrocious performance by place-kickers Richard Jackson and Spencer Benton. Between them, they missed three extra points and two field goals. But those were far from the only miscues.

In one of the more comical moments -- and there were many -- two FSU running backs had fumbles on one drive.

After rushing for seven yards and a first down early in the second quarter, sophomore Jermaine Thomas lost the ball and was bailed out when offensive guard Rodney Hudson plucked it out of the air and rumbled for nine more yards. Two plays later, freshman Chris Thompson fumbled at the end of a three-yard carry; the Tigers recovered that loose ball at Florida State's 48-yard line and scored two plays later.

Ponder threw only two incompletions in the first half -- he was 11 for 13 for 156 yards -- but they both were intercepted. He then threw two more interceptions in the second half to have the first four-interception game of his career.

The loss effectively eliminates Florida State from contention for the ACC championship game. The Seminoles will need to win two of their final three games to become bowl eligible.

Andrews announced his retirement earlier this week, and Bowden is expected to be replaced by ``head coach in waiting'' Jimbo Fisher at some point before January 2011.

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