Opportunity Lost as FSU falls to BC 27-17
TALLAHASSEE, FL – Once again, Florida State controlled their own destiny in the ACC Atlantic division thanks to a North Carolina State upset of Wake Forest.
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Once again, the Seminoles squandered their opportunity.
Florida State struggled to move the ball on the ground all night long in their 27-17 loss to Boston College. With three wide receivers suspended for the game, FSU knew they would have to be able to get the running game going, but were simply unable to get anything going rushing for a mere 73 yards.
"We got whipped up front very thoroughly," head coach Bobby Bowden said. "Offensively and defensively, just got whipped up front."
And the Seminoles defense could not get off the field.
Florida State's defense that had been so successful on third downs was less than effective on Saturday night allowing the Eagles to convert 9 times in 16 opportunities.
Turnovers didn't help either.
Christian Ponder had a tough night passing the ball completing 15 of 31 for 183 yards, and threw three interceptions.
"The quarterback (Ponder) didn't have time to set and they had the ball the whole dadgum football game," coach Bowden said. "That's what it does when you can't run the football, it throws everything on your quarterback."
After a successful fake punt in the fourth quarter, Florida State was given new life trailing by 7. The 'Noles were marching down the field before Ponder's deep pass intended for Greg Carr was intercepted in the end zone for a touchback.
Boston College responded with a scoring drive that would put the Seminoles chances of a comeback to sleep. The Eagles drained the clock on their way to a 16 play, 66 yard drive that took 8:55 off the game clock before nailing a 31-yard field goal to widen the gap to ten with 20 seconds remaining.
"It was the first time where the offensive line got a chance to take the game over," Boston College head coach Jeff Jagodzinski said. "We've been asking them to do that all season and they finally started coming off the ball well."
The loss drops Florida State to 7-3 on the season with all three losses coming at the hands of conference opponents.