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FSU comes up short in homecoming game

TALLAHASSEE - It was a cold and blustery night at Doak Campbell Stadium Saturday as the 19th ranked Seminoles came in for homecoming.

And spirits for the game were high as Wake Forest lost their game to North Carolina State earlier in the day clearing the way for Florida State to head to Tampa.

The team knew entering the game that Wake Forest's loss left the Seminoles once again in control of their own destiny, win the remaining two conference games and they would head to the Atlantic Coast Championship game.

And despite being down for the entire game it appeared the Noles were ready to take the game until the closing minutes.

Boston College (7-3, 3-3) scored a field goal in the closing seconds of the game to seal a 27-17 win against Florida State (7-3, 4-3)

"What you thought would happen finally happened tonight," Head coach Bobby Bowden said. "We just got whipped up front and they had ball the whole dad gum ball game."

Down by a single touchdown, sophomore quarterback Christian Ponder threw an interception in the endzone with slightly more than nine minutes left in the game.

The Eagles launched a devastating 22-play drive to finish the game.

While Coach Bowden blamed the young offensive line for the loss, Ponder took the blame on his own shoulders.

"The line didn't do to badly tonight," Ponder said. "It starts with me and there's a lot I could have done better. I just didn't make enough plays."

Bowden was a bit more circumspect. "When your quarterback doesn't have time to throw the ball and you can't run the ball you ain't got nothing."

As has become their practice this season, Florida State came out spotting the other team several points before starting to play.

Just like last week, after only five plays, the Seminoles were down by a touchdown.

Boston College opened the game with a 47-yard rush by freshman running back Montel Harris from Jacksonville. Four plays later, senior quarterback Chris Crane completed a 14-yard pass to junior wide receiver Rich Gunnell for the score.

After both teams went three and out for two series each, Florida State appeared ready to tie the game.

Charging deep into Eagle territory, Ponder threw the first of two first half interceptions to junior safety Marcellus Bowman who returned it 87 yards putting the Noles down 14-0 late in the first quarter.

Two minutes into the second quarter, Ponder got his team on the board with a five-yard run.

Gano brought the game close at the end of the half knocking his 18th straight field goal, this one from 39 yards. However, his record-setting streak of field goals ended during the first drive of the third quarter when he missed a 50-yarder.

Ponder finished the game completing 15-31 passes with three interceptions for 183 yards and 35 yards rushing on seven attempts with one touchdown.

However, the Eagles held the ball for more than 38 minutes in the game compared to only 21 minutes for the Seminoles.

Boston College finishes the season at Wake Forest and against Maryland while the Demon Deacons have only the game remaining against the Eagles.

The only way for the Seminoles to make it to Tampa Bay now involves a rather convoluted formula of games and a bit of luck.

Florida State has to beat Maryland at home, Boston College has to beat Wake Forest and then lose their season finale at home against Maryland.

Stranger things have happened.