Florida State win on Rick Stockstill's debut as interim coach, beating Boston College 31-24

The Rick Stockstill era at Florida State began with a win. On Saturday, the Seminoles beat Boston College 31-24, with Amari Thomas scoring two rushing touchdowns.

Thomas's 11-yard touchdown run late in the match put Florida State ahead and gave Stockstill a win in his first game as interim coach, with 2 minutes 29 seconds left on the clock.

The victory ended a long wait for an away win for Florida State. The Seminoles had not won a game away from Doak Campbell Stadium since November 25, 2023.

Quarterback Ashton Daniels completed 15 of 26 passes for 178 yards and threw one interception. Boston College quarterback Mason McKenzie finished with 166 passing yards, two touchdowns and an interception.

With the score tied at 24-24, Florida State drove 90 yards in 14 plays before Thomas broke to the outside for the go-ahead score.

Stockstill was visibly emotional after the match, saying the day had meant a great deal to him. He said he had wanted the win as much for his players as for his former teammates and for all the players who had come before them, calling the moment special and emotional.

Stockstill was one of legendary Florida State coach Bobby Bowden's first quarterbacks. He said he had poured his heart and soul into the programme as a player and intended to do the same over the next couple of months.

It was Florida State's first game since the sacking of coach Mike Norvell after more than six seasons. The Seminoles had trailed 17-7 in the second quarter before scoring two touchdowns in the final six minutes of the first half to get back into the game, with Thomas's 20-yard run down the right sideline cutting the gap to three points.

McKenzie was shaken up and left the field midway through the third quarter, but returned on the next series. He then capped an unusual trick play, in which the whole offence spun around in a circle before lining up in a spread formation, with an underhand pass for a two-yard touchdown to Javarius Green, putting Boston College ahead 24-21. Boston College coach Bill O'Brien said it was a play in the game plan that the coaches thought would suit his players.

Gabe Panikowski's 22-yard field goal then tied the game. Boston College had come into Saturday's match looking to recover from a 47-2 defeat, one of the most one-sided losses of O'Brien's tenure. Next week, the Eagles will travel to Indiana to face No. 11 Notre Dame.