Florida State’s football program began a new chapter Saturday as interim coach Rick Stockstill led the Seminoles to a 31-24 road win over Boston College, ending a road losing streak that stretched back to Nov. 25, 2023.
Running back Amari Thomas scored two rushing touchdowns, including an 11-yard go-ahead score with 2:29 remaining in the fourth quarter that capped a 90-yard, 14-play drive after the game was tied 24-24. Quarterback Ashton Daniels completed 15 of 26 passes for 178 yards and threw one interception for Florida State.
Boston College quarterback Mason McKenzie threw for 166 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. He was shaken up and left the game midway through the third quarter but returned the following series. On that drive, Boston College ran a trick play in which the entire offense spun in a circle before lining up in a spread formation; McKenzie then tossed an underhanded two-yard touchdown pass to Javarius Green, giving the Eagles a 24-21 lead.
“It was just a play in our game plan that we thought would be good for these guys,” Boston College coach Bill O’Brien said.
Gabe Panikowski later kicked a 22-yard field goal to tie the score before Thomas’s late touchdown decided the game.
Florida State trailed 17-7 in the second quarter before scoring twice in the final six minutes of the first half, including a 20-yard touchdown run by Thomas down the right sideline that cut the deficit to three points.
Saturday’s game was Florida State’s first since the university fired head coach Mike Norvell after more than six seasons. Stockstill, who played quarterback for legendary Florida State coach Bobby Bowden, was emotional in his postgame remarks.
“This was emotional for me today,” Stockstill said. “I guess I wanted it as much for our players in there as I did for my former teammates and all our other players that came before us. It was special, it’s emotional. I poured my heart and soul into this place as a player, and I was going to do that for these next couple of months here.”
Boston College entered the matchup looking to bounce back from a 47-2 loss, one of the most lopsided defeats of O’Brien’s tenure. The Eagles will next travel to face No. 11 Notre Dame in Indiana.
