Seminoles have a close call
FSU shakes off BC with late field goal
Florida State, ranked No. 1 by the AP and third-rated in the College Football Playoff poll, withstood a major scare Saturday but eventually beat Boston College 20-17 with a field goal in the final seconds. Outside of a loss by No. 8 Ole Miss at Arkansas, there was little trouble for other top-tier teams.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Quarterback Jameis Winston trotted onto the water-logged field at Doak Campbell Stadium with aspirations of a second consecutive national championship on the line. The top-ranked Seminoles were in a dogfight, once again, and needed their Heisman winner to make a play. He made several. Winston led Florida State 66 yards to put Roberto Aguayo in position for a 26-yard field goal with 3 seconds remaining and the Seminoles remained perfect with a 20-17 victory over Boston College on Saturday.
The Seminoles, who have won a school-record 26 consecutive games, have already locked up a berth in the ACC championship game, but there are bigger goals remaining. Florida State hosts Florida in the regularseason finale with a second consecutive undefeated season on the line. The ’Noles have dropped to No. 3 in the College Football Playoff rankings despite being the last undefeated team from a Power 5 conference.
Florida State (11- 0, 8- 0 ACC) had been plagued by slow starts throughout the season, and the Seminoles went into the fourth quarter tied 17-17 with the Eagles. But with under 5 minutes left, Winston helped engineer another game-winning drive.
“The majority of the games we’ve played this year have been like this game,” Winston said. “So this isn’t anything new.
“We have confidence. So, I told them get ready to score.”
Florida State took over on its 26-yard line after Boston College missed a 43-yard field goal with 4:37 left and the Seminoles drove to the Eagles’ 8. Rashad Greene, who had two big drops in the first half, caught backto-back passes for 11 and 15 yards to move the Seminoles within field goal range. The drive took 4:34 off the clock.
Greene set a school record for career receptions (254) and yards (3,613). Greene also set the school record with a reception in his 40th consecutive game.
“It’s one of those things I don’t really dwell on right now because I’m so focused on teammates and this season and our goals,” Greene said. “I feel like it’ll hit me after everything is over and done with.”
Aguayo, who missed a 40-yarder in the third quarter, said it was the first gamewinner of his life.
“Honestly, I didn’t feel the butterflies,” Aguayo said.