BOSTON - Florida State found a way to turn a messy, tense road game into Rick Stockstill’s first win as interim coach, edging Boston College 31-24 on Saturday behind two touchdowns from Amari Thomas.
Thomas delivered the biggest blow late, bursting outside for an 11-yard touchdown with 2:29 left to put the Seminoles ahead for good after they had tied the game at 24. Florida State then closed it out on the road, something it hadn’t done since Nov. 25, 2023.
The Seminoles improved to 4-5 overall and 2-4 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Ashton Daniels went 15 of 26 for 178 yards with an interception in the win.
Boston College, also 4-5 and 2-4, got 166 yards, two touchdowns and a pick from Mason McKenzie, who went 15 of 27 through the air.
The Eagles had their own wild answer in the third quarter. McKenzie left briefly after getting shaken up, then came back and finished off a trick play that had everyone on offense spinning in a circle before lining up in a spread set. Once the ball was snapped, he tossed an underhanded pass to Javarius Green for a two-yard touchdown that gave BC a 24-21 lead.
Florida State answered with Gabe Panikowski’s 22-yard field goal to even things up, then got the ball back and finished the job on Thomas’ late run.
The Seminoles had already spent the first half clawing back from a 17-7 deficit. After Boston College opened the game with a scoring drive, Bo MacCormack III punched in a 6-yard touchdown run to put the Eagles up 10-0. Florida State then flipped the script with two touchdowns in the final six minutes before halftime.
Thomas cut into the lead with a 20-yard touchdown run down the right sideline, and then Florida State pulled off one of the strangest scores of the day. Trailing 17-14, the Seminoles lined up as if they were about to attempt a 20-yard field goal, but holder Carter Jula flipped a perfect lateral over his shoulder to Panikowski, who caught it in stride and scored on the fake to make it 21-17.
The game also brought a scary moment for Florida State when center Bradyn Welch-Joiner was carted off with what appeared to be an inflatable cast on his right foot/ankle.
For Florida State, the win came in its first game since firing coach Mike Norvell after more than six seasons. The Seminoles now still have a path to bowl eligibility. Boston College, meanwhile, faces a tougher road with Miami and Notre Dame left among its final three games.
Florida State visits Pittsburgh on Friday night.
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Ashton Daniels gives Florida State a clear offensive centerpiece, with his efficiency and scoring impact standing out on a national level. The defense and special teams have also posted notable statistical achievements, which gives the Seminoles some structure as they move into this new stretch, even if the bigger questions around the program are only beginning to take shape. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Finally Got The Response Fans Desperately Needed
Florida State finally got the kind of response it had been waiting for after moving on from Mike Norvell and turning the program over to interim head coach Rick Stockstill. The change gave the Seminoles a fresh voice on the sideline, and it quickly produced something the fan base had been desperate to see: a road win.
Stockstills first trip in charge ended with Florida State snapping a 12-game road losing streak by beating Boston College, a result that carried real weight beyond the standings. It was the Seminoles first road victory in nearly three seasons, a small but meaningful sign that the reset has at least begun to take hold. [Read more 🡒]