Hope remains for Crane, Eagles

Boston College coach Jeff Jagodzinski has reason to celebrate after his Eagles knocked off No. 20 Florida State. (Phil Coale/Associated Press)

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - It had everything a game with postseason implications should have. Game-changing plays, shifts in momentum, and emotional highs and lows on both sides.

But in the end, coach Jeff Jagodzinski's Boston College Eagles had more of the right stuff in their Atlantic Coast Conference showdown last night with 20th-ranked Florida State at Doak Campbell Stadium, grinding out a 27-17 victory.

"They made a real big deal about the blackout [the Seminoles wore all black uniforms], so we got all of our guys black shirts and said, 'Well, if we are not going to get invited, then let's go ahead and crash the party,' " said Jagodzinski. "And that's what we did."

They did, in so many ways.

The Eagles made big plays on offense and defense and turned the ball over three times, but ultimately prevailed as quarterback Chris Crane, freshman running back Montel Harris (25 carries, 121 yards), and an intimidating defense did enough to spoil Florida State's homecoming.

For BC (7-3, 3-3), it was Step One in a series of games that must also include victories next week against Wake Forest and the following week against Maryland if it is to reach the ACC title game.

BC took the opening kickoff and went 69 yards in five plays, with Crane throwing a 14-yard touchdown pass to Rich Gunnell that gave the Eagles a 7-0 lead and cut off the Doak Campbell Stadium crowd of 79,792 in mid-chant. BC increased the advantage to 14-0 when safety Marcellus Bowman picked off a Christian Ponder pass and returned it 87 yards for a TD.

And even when Florida State (7-3, 4-3) showed signs of life, BC never flinched. The Eagles were seemingly in control, 24-10, before Graham Gano rushed 24 yards off a fake punt for a first down at the BC 29 at the end of the third quarter.

The Seminoles then pulled off a double reverse, with wide receiver Preston Parker throwing a 29-yard touchdown pass to Greg Carr that made it 24-17 with 14:51 remaining.

The Eagles responded by marching to the Florida State 17, before a Crane pass was tipped and intercepted by Darius McClure, which gave the Seminoles possession at their 13.

The Seminoles drove to the Eagles' 28, where Christian Ponder threw into the end zone for Carr, but in a battle for the ball, BC cornerback DeLeon Gause came up with the interception, Ponder's third of the game.

The Eagles then put together a solid drive, using up almost nine minutes as they advanced from their 20 to the Florida State 4. After Crane fumbled but hopped on it for a 9-yard loss, Steve Aponavicius came on with 20 seconds left and kicked a clinching 30-yard field goal.

"We had to win this game and we did," said Crane, who submitted another workmanlike performance, passing for 181 yards and a touchdown, and rushing for 21 yards on the Eagles' final drive.

"It boiled down to our O-line against their D-line," he added. "It was phenomenal the job they were able to do."

The job done by the BC offensive line was most evident on the final drive. Although the Eagles had a 24-17 lead, the momentum was with the Seminoles. The offense had to do its job, and for an extended period.

Crane said the message in the huddle was clear. "I went to the O-line and running back," said Crane. "I said, 'The game is in our hands.' It was [center] Matt Tennant who said, 'How about we go and win for the defense? We go out and make some plays for the defense once.' The O-line really responded and basically took the whole team on their back and ran right down the field."

Last night, the reward was well worth it. "Redemption," said tight end Ryan Purvis, who also got some snaps at fullback in place of the injured James McCluskey (broken leg). "It was payback time from last year [when Florida State came to Alumni Stadium and handed the second-ranked Eagles their first loss of the season].

This year, the Eagles were miffed by talk of other teams contending for the conference title, and hardly a mention of BC.

"Everyone was thinking [Florida State was] the class of the ACC," said Crane. "We took it to heart. No one mentions our name. They would say, 'If this team wins out, they win the ACC championship. If that team wins out, they control their own destiny.' "

BC still controls its destiny, and is now two victories away from getting back to the ACC title game.