Eagles Edged by #3/3 Florida State 31-29 in 10th Red Bandanna Game

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CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – Boston College dropped a 31-29 decision at home to #3/3 Florida State on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Stadium. The game – the BC Eagles ACC opener – was also the 10th annual “Red Bandanna” game.

Thomas Castellanos shined in the air and on the ground for the Eagles, completing 20-of-33 passes for 305 yards and a touchdown, while rushing 16 times for 95 yards and a score. Eight different receivers caught a pass from Castellanos, led by Ryan O’Keefe’s six catches for 64 yards. Lewis Bond racked up 80 yards and a touchdown, while Joseph Griffin collected three receptions for 65 yards.

On the ground, Kye Robichaux carried the ball 21 times for 64 yards and a touchdown. He also had three receptions for 17 yards.

Boston College found the end zone on its first drive of the afternoon, driving 75 yards on seven plays over four minutes, as Castellanos found Lewis Bond on a 32-yard touchdown strike. On its first possession, Florida State drove as deep as the Eagles’ 12-yard line, but the BC defense limited the Seminoles to a 30-yard field goal, making it 7-3 with just under six minutes to go in the opening period.

Liam Connor’s 21-yard FG made it 10-3 early in the second. BC engineered the scoring drive, using 16 plays – including two fourth-down conversions – to cover the 72 yards. The Seminoles would tie it up on their next drive, as Jordan Travis converted a 19-yard pass to Jaheim Bell making it 10-10 with 10:23 to go in the first half.

Florida State took a 17-10 lead with a minute and a half left in the second and extended it to 31-10 with two scores to start the third quarter. Kye Robichaux’s goal line plunge with 1:02 left in the third made it 31-16, as BC covered 82 yards on 12 plays for the score. BC recovered the ensuing kickoff after Florida State muffed the squib kick on its own 26-yard line. BC would turn the ball over on downs at the FSU five-yard line.

But the Eagles’ defensive corps generated a score, as Elijah Jones would force Lawrance Toafili to fumble as Khari Johnson had the scoop and score, cutting it to 31-22 with 11:18 to play. BC’s two-point try was unsuccessful.

After forcing FSU to punt, Castellanos orchestrated a 95-yard touchdown drive, capped by a seven-yard TD rush, making it 31-29 with 5:19 to play. Another defensive stand forced another Seminoles 3-and-out, but BC could not capitalize and the Eagles were forced to punt with 2:05 to play. FSU was awarded a first down with a minute to play on a defensive face mask penalty and took a knee to close out the game.

Defensively, Kam Arnold and John Pupel each made nine tackles, while Vinny DePalma logged seven stops. Elijah Jones (six tackles) registered a forced fumble and a pass breakup.

Boston College heads to Louisville next week – Saturday, Sept. 23. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. and the game will air live on ACC Network. The game will be streamed live on ESPN3 (link)