Florida State Beats Boston College 31-24 as Interim Coach Rick Stockstill Wins His Debut

Six days after Florida State fired Mike Norvell, the Seminoles gave their interim coach a winning start. Amari Thomas ran for two touchdowns, including an 11-yard go-ahead score with 2:29 left, and Florida State beat Boston College 31-24 on Saturday at Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, making Rick Stockstill a winner in his first game in charge.

The victory lifted Florida State to 4-5 overall and 2-4 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. It was the Seminoles' first road win since Nov. 25, 2023, according to The Associated Press. Boston College fell to 4-5 and 2-4 in league play.

Stockstill, 68, played quarterback at Florida State from 1977 to 1981 under Bobby Bowden and spent 18 seasons as head coach at Middle Tennessee before joining the Seminoles' staff as director of scouting on offense. He was emotional after the game. "This was emotional for me today," he said, adding that he wanted the win as much for his players as for his former teammates and the players who came before them.

The go-ahead drive

The game was tied 24-24 after Gabe Panikowski's 22-yard field goal with 13:22 left. The Seminoles' next scoring drive decided the game: 14 plays, 90 yards, ending with Thomas breaking to the outside for an 11-yard touchdown run with 2:29 remaining.

Boston College did not score again. Florida State intercepted two passes on the day, one by Nehemiah Chandler, who returned his 30 yards, and one by Ja'Bril Rawls.

Thomas finished with 98 yards on 19 carries, and Quintrevion Wisner added 58 on 12. The Seminoles ran 45 times for 202 yards, held the ball for just over 30 minutes and converted 8 of 14 third downs.

"Silver Silver": the fake that flipped the half

Boston College, coming off the most lopsided loss of coach Bill O'Brien's tenure the previous week at Duke, scored on its opening drive on a 6-yard run by Bo MacCormack III and added a 48-yard Luca Lombardo field goal for a 10-0 lead. After Ashton Daniels scored on a 4-yard run early in the second quarter, Mason McKenzie hit Nedrick Boldin Jr. for a 29-yard touchdown that made it 17-7.

Florida State answered with two touchdowns in the final six minutes of the half. Thomas ran 20 yards down the right sideline to cut the gap to 17-14. Then, with 51 seconds left in the half, the Seminoles lined up for what looked like a 20-yard field goal. Holder Carter Jula flipped a lateral over his shoulder to Panikowski, the kicker, who caught it in stride and ran in from 1 yard out for a 21-17 lead.

Panikowski said the fake, called "Silver Silver," had been added to the play chart that week. Stockstill credited offensive line coach Herb Hand for putting it in. "I've got coach Bowden blood in me. He ran a trick play or two himself," Stockstill said, adding that Bowden, who died in 2021, might be smiling down on him.

Boston College's own trick play

The Eagles answered with a gadget of their own. McKenzie was shaken up and left midway through the third quarter but returned the next series. On that drive, every player on Boston College's offense spun in a circle before lining up in a spread formation, and McKenzie tossed an underhanded 2-yard touchdown pass to Javarius Green that put the Eagles ahead 24-21 with 4:11 left in the third quarter.

The scoring, from ESPN's box score:

By the numbers

Daniels completed 15 of 26 passes for 178 yards with an interception, which Boston College's Marcus Upton returned 24 yards, and ran for 38 yards and a score. Micahi Danzy caught seven passes for 86 yards and Jasen Lopez had four for 54. Ashlynd Barker led Florida State with 10 tackles. Florida State outgained Boston College 380 to 320.

McKenzie went 15 of 27 for 166 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. MacCormack ran for 105 yards on 16 carries. The announced attendance was 37,155.

The win had a cost. Florida State center Bradyn Welch-Joiner was carted off with what appeared to be an inflatable cast on his right foot or ankle, according to the AP.

A program in transition

Florida State president Richard McCullough fired Norvell on Nov. 1, a day after a 36-24 home loss to Clemson dropped the Seminoles to 3-5 and 1-4 in the ACC. Norvell went 41-39 over six-plus seasons, a tenure that included a 13-0 season and ACC title in 2023 but a 10-22 record since the start of 2024. The AP reported his buyout at about $47 million, roughly 85% of his remaining salary through 2031, with offset language that could reduce it if he takes another job.

The athletic department is also without a permanent leader. McCullough dismissed athletic director Michael Alford on Sept. 14, and Bruce Warwick is serving as interim AD. McCullough hired Daniel Parker of Parker & Associates to run concurrent searches for a football coach and an athletic director.

The Seminoles' slide has been steep. On Oct. 17 they took then-No. 1 Miami to double overtime before losing 43-35. Florida State entered Saturday on a four-game losing streak and had allowed more than 35 points in each of those losses, according to CBS Sports. Saturday's result ended that streak and kept a bowl bid within reach.

What's next

Stockstill will coach the final three regular-season games. To reach six wins and bowl eligibility, Florida State must win two of them. The Seminoles play at Pittsburgh on Friday night, Nov. 13, then face NC State before closing the regular season against Florida. Boston College visits Notre Dame next Saturday.