Boston College Upsets Florida State with Big Win to Start 2024 Season

On Monday night, the Boston College Eagles football team defeated the #10 Florida State Seminoles in Tallahassee, winning 28-13 in their first game of the 2024 season. Under new head coach Bill O’Brien, Boston College took control early and never looked back. Florida State, coming off a loss to Georgia Tech in Ireland the previous week, struggled to keep up as Boston College dominated at the line of scrimmage.

First Half: Boston College Takes Control Early

Boston College started strong in the first quarter, controlling the ball for nearly the entire 15 minutes (14 minutes and 9 seconds). The Eagles’ offense, led by Thomas Castellanos, Kye Robichaux, and Treshaun Ward, ran the ball effectively and scored two quick touchdowns, surprising the Florida State defense. Florida State’s offense had trouble completing simple plays and couldn’t get into a rhythm.

In the second quarter, Florida State improved slightly. Their defense started to push back, and the special teams helped them get good field position, leading to a field goal that made the score 14-3. Later, they got close to the end zone again but failed to score a touchdown, settling for another field goal to make it 14-6 at halftime. Florida State quarterback DJ Uiagalelei missed a wide-open receiver in the end zone, which hurt their chances to close the gap.

Second Half: Boston College Secures the Win

The second half began poorly for Florida State. They made a risky decision to go for it on 4th down in their own territory, which failed. Soon after, DJ Uiagalelei threw an interception into triple coverage. Boston College took advantage, returning the interception to the goal line and scoring quickly to increase their lead to 21-6. This turn of events was a big setback for Florida State.

Florida State managed to score a touchdown on a trick play, cutting the lead to 21-13. But Boston College kept up their strong running game. Castellanos, Ward, and Robichaux led another powerful drive, scoring again to make it 28-13.

In the fourth quarter, Florida State tried to mount a comeback but made too many mistakes. A penalty for intentional grounding and a sack by Neto Okpala ended one of their drives. When they got the ball back, another penalty pushed them back again. Boston College’s defense stayed strong, and their offense used the remaining time to run down the clock, securing the 28-13 win.

Key Points from the Game

1. Dominant Rushing Game: Boston College’s rushing offense was outstanding, with Thomas Castellanos, Treshaun Ward, and Kye Robichaux combining for 263 yards. The offensive line was key in this success, helping the Eagles control the game on the ground.

3. Strong Defense but Needs Improvement: Boston College’s defense put good pressure on Florida State quarterback DJ Uiagalelei and contained their running game. However, there were some struggles in the secondary, especially with cramping players. This could be a problem against more skilled quarterbacks.

Overall, this was a great start to the season for Boston College under new head coach Bill O’Brien, showing they are ready to compete this year.