Interim head coach Rick Stockstill became the sixth coach in Florida State history to win his first game leading the Seminoles and the first to do so since 2017.
Freshman running back Amari Thomas led the Seminoles on the ground with career highs of 98 yards on 19 carries and two touchdowns.
Florida State has now had a player score multiple touchdowns in seven of its nine games this season.
Junior wide receiver Micahi Danzy led the Seminoles with 86 receiving yards, tying his career high with seven receptions. It marked Danzy’s third game this season with at least 80 receiving yards.
Fifth Year quarterback Ashton Daniels completed 15 of 26 passes for 178 yards and added 38 rushing yards and one touchdown. His 13th rushing touchdown of the season moved him into a tie for 10th in program history for rushing touchdowns in a single season.
Fifth Year defensive back Ashlynd Barker led the Seminole defense with 10 tackles. Florida State also forced two interceptions, with senior defensive back Ja’Bril Rawls recording his first interception of the season and the second of his career. Junior defensive back Nehemiah Chandler added his second interception of the season and fourth of his career.
Boston College opened the game with 10 points on its first two drives. After the Seminole defense forced a three-and-out on the Eagles’ third possession, freshman wide receiver Jasen Lopez sparked Florida State with a 40-yard punt return to set up the Seminoles at the Boston College 29-yard line.
Five plays later, Florida State found the end zone early in the second quarter on a four-yard rushing touchdown from Daniels. A 16-yard run by senior running back Quintrevion Wisner moved the Seminoles to the Boston College 11-yard line before a seven-yard completion from Daniels to Danzy set up the score.
Boston College answered with a touchdown drive of its own to take a 17-7 lead with 9:24 remaining in the first half.
The Seminoles responded with an eight-play, 75-yard scoring drive. Danzy accounted for 41 receiving yards on three catches to move Florida State to the Boston College 20-yard line. Thomas took his third carry of the game 20 yards into the end zone for his first career touchdown, cutting
the deficit to 17-14.
Florida State’s defense forced another quick three-and-out, giving the Seminoles possession at their own 37-yard line. A 15-yard run by Wisner moved Florida State across midfield, followed by an 11-yard end-around to Danzy and a four-yard run by Wisner to reach the red zone.
On third-and-goal from the nine-yard line, Daniels scrambled for eight yards to the Boston College one-yard line. Following a Boston College timeout, the Seminoles executed a fake field goal on fourth-and-goal, with Carter Jula flipping the ball to fifth year kicker Gabe Panikowski, who ran untouched into the end zone. The touchdown gave Florida State its first lead of the afternoon 21-17 and capped a stretch of three consecutive scoring drives. The Seminoles closed the first half with 14 unanswered points.
Boston College regained the lead on its second drive of the second half, taking a 24-21 advantage with 4:11 remaining in the third quarter.
Florida State tied the game with a 14-play, 71-yard drive that ended with a 22-yard field goal from Panikowski with 13:22 remaining. The drive began with a 13-yard reception by Danzy and featured a 30-yard contested catch by Lopez to move the Seminoles across midfield. Florida State advanced to the Boston College four-yard line, but an incomplete pass on third down forced the Seminoles to settle for the field goal.
After forcing a Boston College punt, Florida State put together its longest drive of the afternoon, marching 90 yards on 14 plays over 8:16. Thomas capped the game-winning drive with his second touchdown of the afternoon, an 11-yard run with 2:29 remaining to give the Seminoles a 31-24 lead.
Florida State converted three third downs on the drive, including a key 11-yard reception by Lopez on third-and-four to keep the possession alive.
Thomas carried the ball six times during the 14-play drive before finding the end zone.
The Seminoles held Boston College scoreless in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Eagles 10-0 in the final period to secure the 31-24 victory.
Florida State remains on the road next week for its second Friday night game of the season, traveling to take on Pitt. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN.
