Wide receiver D.J. Matthews scored on a spectacular 60-yard touchdown catch and run, leading the Florida State Seminoles to a 38-31 win over the host Boston College Eagles on Saturday afternoon.

This was the first game for Florida State (5-5, 4-4 ACC) since the Seminoles fired coach Willie Taggart. Interim coach Odell Haggins earned the win.

James Blackman, who had been benched by Taggart, got the start and completed 18 of 26 passes for 346 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.

On Blackman's game-breaking slant pass to Matthews, the last 53 yards were after the catch. Matthews broke one tackle immediately upon reception, then faked out two would-be tacklers to get to the right sideline. He dove from the 5-yard line, touching the right pylon with his right hand, breaking a 24-24 tie.

BC (5-5, 3-4) was led by running back AJ Dillon, who rushed for 165 yards. BC quarterback Dennis Grosel passed for 227 yards.

The Eagles took the opening kickoff and went 74 yards on 15 plays, capped by a 17-yard touchdown pass from Grosel to an uncovered Kobay White. That was one of just two passes on the march, and the TD came one play after Grosel's fumble was recovered by running back David Bailey, saving the drive.

On the ensuing FSU drive, the Seminoles ran 11 plays. But after getting first-and-goal at BC's 3, FSU had to settle for a 20-yard Ricky Aguayo field goal.

In the second quarter, Bailey gave BC a 14-3 lead with an 11-yard TD run.

Blackmon then closed the first-half scoring by firing a perfect pass over the BC defense for a 74-yard touchdown to Tamorrion Terry, cutting the Seminoles deficit to 14-10. Terry finished with 156 yards on seven receptions.

Florida State scored on its first possession of the third quarter as third-string quarterback Jordan Travis ran for a 26-yard TD on his first snap as a member of the program. Travis, a transfer from Louisville, took a shotgun snap and ran around right end, barely staying in bounds.

Later in the quarter, Florida State had a determined possession. In a series of three straight plays, Terry caught a touchdown pass that was nullified by illegal formation; Cam Akers dropped a potential TD pass; and Akers gave FSU a 24-14 lead with his 13-yard run.

Aaron Boumerhi's 30-yard field goal with 12:10 left in the fourth cut BC's deficit to 24-17.

With 2:33 left in the fourth, Grosel tied the score on a 1-yard run around the right side, flipping into the end zone to cap a 13-play, 90-yard drive.

But Matthews then made his big play, and Florida State never trailed again.

--Field Level Media