The Seminoles took care of business against NC State last weekend. They pitched a 34-0 shutout while holding the Wolfpack to 166 total yards and covering the college football lines as 18.5-point favorites.
EJ Manuel had his best game since suffering a shoulder injury against Oklahoma. He completed 25 of 34 pass attempts for 321 yards and two touchdowns.
“He makes you play better. He opens up your offense, he lets you do things,” Jimbo Fisher said. “And I don’t think that’s all him, but our team confidence has grown. When your leader leaves, it’s different. And now he’s back and their confidence as a football team grows.”
All about: Florida State Seminoles football
Even without the team’s top receiver, Rashad Greene, eight different players caught a pass Saturday. The Seminoles still need more from the running game however. They averaged just 3.3 yards per carry against the Wolfpack.
This week’s matchup at Boston College presents a difficult situation. Travel on short rest coupled with the potential for inclement weather must be considered when handicapping this contest.
FSU hasn’t played on short rest since 2007. And then there’s also the potential to look ahead to the Miami rivalry game on November 12.
“It’s a different type of ballgame when you’ve got turn around and play again in five days,” said linebacker Vince Williams. “But I think we finally have the leadership and the maturity to do it.”
Boston College is coming off its first win against an FBS program. The Eagles were able to down Maryland on the road last Saturday 28-17, covering the college lines as 6.5-point pups in the process.
Luke Kuechly had 20 tackles — 12 solo — for Boston College, his 31st straight game with 10 or more.
"I don't think with this team, with this BC team, anybody's going to quit," Kuechly said. "I don't care about what's not available. I'm going to come out and win against N.C. State" next week.
Devonta Freeman ran for 62 yards and two touchdowns, and Nick O'Leary caught three passes for 87 yards as Florida State did most of its damage with touchdowns on three straight possessions in the first half. With 4:51 to play in the second quarter, the Seminoles led 28-0; they had outgained BC 214 yards to 16 and held the Eagles without a first down.
"We got licked," BC coach Frank Spaziani said. "Couldn't get a first down; couldn't get out of our own way for a little bit there."
Bordner came into the game and, sharing time with Rettig on the drive, led BC 74 yards to the Florida State 1 before Rolandan Finch fumbled.
Finch, a former fourth-stringer who had 243 yards against Maryland last week, had two fumbles in the game while gaining 59 yards on 28 carries.
"If you're going to be a great football team, you've got to have a great defense," Seminoles safety Lamarcus Joyner said. "You've got to control the line of scrimmage, and that's what the guys are doing. We've been doing that the past three weeks."
Manuel threw for 321 yards and two touchdowns last week in a 34-0 victory over North Carolina State — the Seminoles' fourth consecutive game with more than 425 yards of total offense. Against BC they had 307.
Florida State failed to get a first down on its first possession, but it got the ball back on the BC 2 when Anthony McCloud knocked the ball free from Finch and Smith fell on it. Two plays and a penalty later, Manuel hit Bert Reed for an 8-yard touchdown pass.
The Seminoles scored early in the second quarter on Freeman's 12-yard run and, after another BC three-and-out, Manuel completed a 58-yard pass to O'Leary before taking it in himself from 1 yard out to make it 21-0. After another BC three-and-out, Freeman marched Florida State down the field before scoring from the 3 to give the Seminoles a 28-0 lead.
Bordner entered the game for BC and, on his first snap, ran 25 yards for the Eagles' first first down of the game. From the Seminoles' 39 he hit Bobby Swigert on a 37-yard completion that brought the ball to the 2.
But Finch was stuffed for a 1-yard gain on first-and-goal, and on second down he lost the ball on his way to the line of scrimmage.
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