5 Key Plays: Looking back at big moments in FSU's loss to Boston College

Florida State played its second football game of the young 2024 season on Monday night against Boston College and came up on the losing end again, 28-13.

Following the loss last week against Georgia Tech, many believed this FSU team would play with more energy and physicality. While there might have been some spurts of that, several glaring problems that appeared in the opener showed up again on Monday night.

Looking back at the game, here are five key plays that were major factors in the outcome:

No. 5 — BC’s 20-yard punt in second quarter

Boston College was in total control of the game through the midway point of the second quarter. At one point, BC had the ball for 19 minutes and 1 second of game clock and FSU had it for just 3:51, and the Eagles led by a score of 14-0. But after the Seminoles got a stop by holding QB Thomas Castellanos to a two-yard run on third and seven, the Eagles sent punter Sam Candotti out onto the field. After fielding a low snap, Candotti booted a punt that only traveled 20 yards to the Eagles’ 35-yard line. With a short field, Florida State had an excellent chance to get right back in the game. But after Jaylin Lucas hauled in a 25-yard pass from DJ Uiagalelei and gave FSU a first-and-goal at the 5-yard line, Uiagalelei took a sack on first down, threw incompletions on the next two, and the Seminoles had to settle for a short field goal.

No. 4 — Uiagalelei’s missed throw to Williamson in end zone

After another poor start offensively, Florida State showed signs of life toward the end of the second quarter. The Seminoles drove from their own 24-yard line down inside the Boston College 10, and they had a first-and-goal with just under a minute remaining. But after having his first-down pass knocked down at the line of scrimmage, Uiagalelei had wide receiver Darion Williamson coming wide open to the left side of the end zone. An easy throw makes it a 14-10 game going into halftime, with Florida State getting the ball to start the second half. But Uiagalelei badly overthrew the pass, and the Seminoles had to settle for another short field goal.

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No. 3 — BC’s 42-yard wheel route to Treshaun Ward

The first time Boston College faced a third down against Florida State on Monday, Castellanos threw a wheel route to running back Treshaun Ward, who was wide open and would have had a huge gain. But the former Florida State running back dropped the pass. When the Eagles called that play again early in the second quarter, Ward did not falter again. On a third-and-6 from BC’s 36-yard line, when it looked like FSU’s defense might finally get off the field, Castellanos and Ward connected for a 42-yard gain. Then the Eagles scored four plays later on another pass from Castellanos to Ward. These plays were the continuation of a troubling trend for Florida State’s linebackers, who have been exploited in pass coverage each of the first two games. And Boston College continued to go after them in the second half.

No. 2 — Double-pass, then TD completion to Poitier

Midway through the third quarter, the game appeared to be slipping away from Florida State. The Seminoles trailed 21-6, and their first two drives of the second half ended with an interception and a three-and-out. Just when all seemed lost, Mike Norvell dug into his bag of tricks and pulled out a double-pass play that ended with a 29-yard touchdown reception by Kentron Poitier. One play later, Uiagalelei connected with Poitier again, and the senior receiver shrugged off one defender just inside the 15-yard line, eluded another and ran into the end zone for a touchdown. It would be the Seminoles’ only touchdown of the game.

No. 1 — Fourth-down attempt leads to long interception return

After struggling offensively for most of the first half, Norvell and the ‘Noles tried to get things going with an aggressive call on their first drive of the third quarter. Facing a fourth-and-5 at its own 47-yard line, Florida State went for it with a pass play that showed no promise from the beginning. Uiagalelei couldn’t find an open receiver, Boston College got pressure in his face, and the senior QB floated a pass over the middle of the field that was picked off by Max Tucker and returned all the way to FSU’s 7-yard line. It took just two plays for Boston College to score its third touchdown of the game with a 4-yard completion from Castellanos to Kye Robichaux. That score gave the Eagles a 21-6 advantage.

Sam Stevens is a Warchant intern entering his second year as a student at Florida State University.

Talk about this story with other die-hard FSU football fans on the Tribal Council.