Photo by: John Quackenbos
Eagles' Fourth Quarter Comeback Not Enough
November 09, 2019 | Football
BC fell to Florida State, 38-31, in its annual Red Bandanna Game.
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. -- Boston College overcame a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter, but ultimately fell 38-31 to Florida State at Alumni Stadium on Saturday afternoon. It marked the second loss in as many years to the Seminoles with the game being decided in the final two minutes of play as DJ Matthews scored the game-winning touchdown, a 60-yard catch-and-run, with 1:48 left on the clock.
The Eagles dropped to 5-5 overall and 3-4 in the ACC, while the Seminoles improved to 5-5 and 4-4.
After the deciding touchdown was score, each side added another touchdown with FSU adding a 66-yard TD run by back-up quarterback Jordan Travis, his second of the game, with 1:03 left in the game. BC answered with a 20-yard touchdown pass from Dennis Grosel to Kobay White, their second hook up of the game, with 20 second remaining. The Seminoles recovered the ensuing onside kick to clinch the game.
AJ Dillon rushed for 165 yards on a career-high 40 carries and added three catches for 25 yards. White caught five passes for 62 yards and two scores, while Grosel was 20-for-29 for 227 yards with an interception through the air.
James Blackman passed for 346 yards on 18-of-26 passing for two touchdowns; both of 60 yards or more. Cam Akers was held to just 59 yards on 18 rushing attempts.
In the first half, Boston College outgained Florida State, 252-214. The Eagles scored on the first drive of the game, a White 17-yard touchdown reception from Grosel on third-and-goal.
BC's second touchdown drive of the day came off a short punt as the Eagles went 61 yards, all on the ground, to score. David Bailey cut through the line untouched and scored from 11 yards out.
The Seminoles needed just 35 seconds to respond with their first touchdown of the day as Blackman, with John Lamot closing in on him, heaved a deep ball down the right sideline for Tamorrion Terry, who took the ball the distance for a 74-yard strike.
BC had a chance to push its lead to seven at halftime, but a 45-yard field goal attempt as time expired was wide right.
Florida State took its first lead of the game on the opening possession of the second half. Travis subbed in at quarterback and took an option carry 26 yards to the end zone. The Seminoles rattled off a third unanswered touchdown late in the quarter as Akers rushed for his 17th on the season; a 13-yard score.
Trailing 24-14 entering the fourth, BC pulled even with a 30-yard field goal by Boumerhi and a one-yard run by Grosel, who finished the game with 30 rushing yards on seven attempts. The Eagles game-tying score came with 2:33 remaining to play.
HOW IT HAPPENED
WHAT'S NEXT
The Eagles dropped to 5-5 overall and 3-4 in the ACC, while the Seminoles improved to 5-5 and 4-4.
After the deciding touchdown was score, each side added another touchdown with FSU adding a 66-yard TD run by back-up quarterback Jordan Travis, his second of the game, with 1:03 left in the game. BC answered with a 20-yard touchdown pass from Dennis Grosel to Kobay White, their second hook up of the game, with 20 second remaining. The Seminoles recovered the ensuing onside kick to clinch the game.
AJ Dillon rushed for 165 yards on a career-high 40 carries and added three catches for 25 yards. White caught five passes for 62 yards and two scores, while Grosel was 20-for-29 for 227 yards with an interception through the air.
James Blackman passed for 346 yards on 18-of-26 passing for two touchdowns; both of 60 yards or more. Cam Akers was held to just 59 yards on 18 rushing attempts.
In the first half, Boston College outgained Florida State, 252-214. The Eagles scored on the first drive of the game, a White 17-yard touchdown reception from Grosel on third-and-goal.
BC's second touchdown drive of the day came off a short punt as the Eagles went 61 yards, all on the ground, to score. David Bailey cut through the line untouched and scored from 11 yards out.
The Seminoles needed just 35 seconds to respond with their first touchdown of the day as Blackman, with John Lamot closing in on him, heaved a deep ball down the right sideline for Tamorrion Terry, who took the ball the distance for a 74-yard strike.
BC had a chance to push its lead to seven at halftime, but a 45-yard field goal attempt as time expired was wide right.
Florida State took its first lead of the game on the opening possession of the second half. Travis subbed in at quarterback and took an option carry 26 yards to the end zone. The Seminoles rattled off a third unanswered touchdown late in the quarter as Akers rushed for his 17th on the season; a 13-yard score.
Trailing 24-14 entering the fourth, BC pulled even with a 30-yard field goal by Boumerhi and a one-yard run by Grosel, who finished the game with 30 rushing yards on seven attempts. The Eagles game-tying score came with 2:33 remaining to play.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Eagles marched down the field for a touchdown on the first possession of the game; a Grosel TD pass to White.
- BC took a two-possession lead, 14-3, on a Bailey score in the second quarter, but led by just four at the half, 14-10, as FSU answered immediately on a 74-yard touchdown pass from Blackman to Terry.
- FSU took the lead early in the third quarter on a QB option run by Travis and increased its lead with a third straight touchdown by Akers to head into the fourth quarter up 24-14.
- Boston College opened the fourth with a 30-yard field goal by Boumerhi and a game-tying touchdown run by Grosel with 2:33 remaining.
- The Seminoles then scored twice in a matter of 45 second to lead 38-24 before the Eagles answered with a White touchdown reception to cut the deficit to seven, but the BC onside kick was recovered by FSU.
- Dillon became the first player in BC history and eighth in ACC history to go over 4,000 career yards.
- Dillon gained his 19th career 100-yard game; which is three behind Montel Harris for the BC record.
- The loss was the first for the Eagles this season when leading at halftime and just the fifth in the Addazio era.
- BC is 5-13 all-time against Florida State.
WHAT'S NEXT
- Boston College is on a bye next week and returns to action at Notre Dame on Nov. 23 at 2:30 p.m. on NBC.
Players Mentioned
Men's Basketball: UConn Postgame Press Conference (Oct. 13, 2025)
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Women's Basketball: UConn Postgame Press Conference (Oct. 13, 2025)
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Field Hockey: Kathleen Murphy Cashman MS Awareness
Monday, October 13
Football: KP Price Postgame Press Conference (Oct. 11, 2025)
Sunday, October 12