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By Bryan Colbert Jr.
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With the score tied in the fourth quarter and 90 yards between Florida State and the end zone, Rick Stockstill turned to a freshman who had started the afternoon without a collegiate touchdown.
Amari Thomas finished the drive with his second of the day, an 11-yard run with just minutes left, that gave the Seminoles a 31-24 win at Boston College.
The victory was Florida State’s first on the road in 1,078 days.
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The Seminoles had lost 12 straight road games since their last win on Nov. 25, 2023, the longest such skid in program history.
After a 36-24 home loss to Clemson dropped the Seminoles to 3-5, Florida State fired head coach Mike Norvell.
The school turned to Stockstill, a former Florida State quarterback who spent 18 seasons as Middle Tennessee’s head coach.
Saturday’s victory made him the sixth coach to win his first game leading the Seminoles.
Stockstill’s boldest call of the game came just before halftime.
Boston College had led 10-0 and 17-7 before Thomas scored from 20 yards out to pull Florida State within three. On their next possession, the Seminoles faced fourth-and-goal from the 1 and sent out the field goal unit with a chance to tie the game.
Holder Carter Jula took the snap and flipped the ball to kicker Gabe Panikowski, who ran untouched into the end zone.
The fake gave Florida State its first lead, 21-17, with 51 seconds left in the half.
Boston College reclaimed the lead in the third quarter, but Panikowski tied it at 24 with a 22-yard field goal early in the fourth.
After forcing a punt, Florida State took over at its own 10-yard line.
The Seminoles drove 90 yards in 14 plays, converting three third downs and taking 8:16 off the clock. Thomas finished the drive with an 11-yard touchdown run that put Florida State ahead 31-24 with 2:29 left.
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The freshman finished with a career-high 98 yards on 19 carries and the first two touchdowns of his college career.
Florida State is 4-5 and needs two wins in its final three games to become bowl eligible. After Friday night’s trip to Pitt, the Seminoles close at home against NC State and Florida.
Stockstill waited six days for his first road win as Florida State’s interim coach. The program waited 1,078.
A win at Pitt would give the Seminoles two in six days.
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