Eagles fight off Seminoles for victory

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. | Montel Harris ran for 121 yards and a touchdown and Marcellus Bowman went 87 yards with an interception for another score to help Boston College beat No. 20 Florida State 27-17 Saturday night, a day after five Seminoles players were suspended for fighting.

The Eagles picked off Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder three times and held the Seminoles to just 73 yards rushing.

It was the fourth straight year the visiting team has won in this budding rivalry. Florida State knocked off a previously unbeaten and second-ranked Boston College team last year in Boston by an identical 27-17 score.

Boston College (7-3, 3-3 ACC) jumped to a 14-0 lead and never trailed while keeping its hopes alive for a spot in next month’s ACC title game in Tampa.

Florida State (7-3, 4-3) needs to win at Maryland next week and hope for help to have any chance to make it to Tampa. The Seminoles have trailed by double digits in their last five games, though they’ve won three.

Not Saturday.

Harris, from nearby Jacksonville, scored from a yard out to give Boston College a 24-10 lead in the final minute of the third quarter before Florida State briefly made it interesting.

Preston Parker’s 29-yard touchdown pass to Greg Carr was set up by punter Graham Gano’s 24-yard run on a fake and got Florida State within a touchdown in the first minute of the final quarter.

Ponder went to Carr moments later in the end zone trying for a tie, but was picked off by BC’s DeLeon Gause, killing Florida State’s last push.

Boston College moved 69 yards on just five plays on the game’s opening drive to score on Chris Crane’s 14-yard pass to Rich Gunnell. Montel Harris 47-yard run on the first play sparked the drive. Bowman’s 87-yard interception return gave BC a 14-0 lead.

Florida State played without receivers Taiwan Easterling, Bert Reed, Corey Surrency, Cameron Wade and Richard Goodman - all suspended Friday by Bowden for a midweek fight on campus with members of a fraternity.

Gano kicked a 39-yard field goal in the first half before having his string of consecutive field goals snapped at 18 when he missed a 50-yarder early in the second half.