FSU vs. Boston College: Score, Highlights and Twitter Reaction

The Florida State Seminoles (3-0) didn't look dominant Friday night, but the nation's ninth-ranked team did enough to escape a defensive struggle against the Boston College Eagles (2-1) and secure a 14-0 road win in its ACC opener.

The Seminoles led 7-0 entering the fourth quarter, and they sealed the deal with a 36-yard scoop-and-score fumble recovery from safety Jalen Ramsey, as ESPN College Football relayed on Twitter:

On a night when Florida State compiled 217 total yards against a stout Boston College front, quarterback Everett Golson managed only 119 yards and a touchdown on 15-of-24 passing.

Boston College also held star running back Dalvin Cook in check. The sophomore carried the ball 15 times for 54 yards, with a 28-yard scamper accounting for more than half of his production.

Ultimately, Friday's game amounted to a fierce field-position battle, as ESPN color commentator Mack Brown observed (via ESPN.com's Brett McMurphy): 

The teams combined to punt 13 times, as Florida State barely mustered more offense than Boston College. A week after obliterating Howard 76-0, Boston College was limited to 195 yards of total offense.

Florida State contained quarterback Darius Wade while he was on the field. He completed just four of 12 passes for 47 yards while rushing 10 times for 38 yards.

Boston College head coach Steve Addazio spoke about Florida State's defense prior to the game, per the Orlando Sentinel's Brendan Sonnone:

"

On defense, they are big and physical. We haven’t seen that. We haven’t played against those big physical defensive fronts. … So it’s a whole different-looking operation right now. It’s not like you’re going to blow them off the ball. Not going to happen.

"

Wade was forced to hobble to the locker room on crutches in the fourth quarter after taking a sack that resulted in an apparent leg injury.

Golson got the Seminoles rolling on the game's opening drive as they marched 83 yards in just under five minutes while picking up five first downs en route to a score. 

ESPN College Football passed along footage on Twitter of Golson's nine-yard touchdown pass to Travis Rudolph: 

Football Gameplan's Emory Hunt noted that Florida State's opening drive was what the doctor had ordered:

Golson didn't put together the most prolific first half against a stingy Boston College defense, but his effort did represent moderate improvement.

A week after completing one of nine passes for six yards in the first half against South Florida, Golson went 11-of-14 for 81 yards over the first 30 minutes against an Eagles team that didn't allow a touchdown in its first two games.

However, Boston College had to be pleased with the defense's first-half performance despite the relative regression. The Eagles defensive line got a terrific push up front, and it appeared to be in control following Florida State's opening statement, per Sonnone:

As a result of Boston College's imposing defensive disposition, Cook found clean rushing lanes hard to come by. Instead, the Seminoles speedster had to bank on his burst to take care of things throughout the first half, per ESPN Stats & Info:

Bleacher Report's Sanjay Kirpalani summed things up with a succinct look at the shaky and inexperienced Florida State attack:

Given Boston College's inability to get anything going on offense, the Seminoles didn't need to look like world-beaters.

In fact, FSU's ability to get down and gritty for a tough road victory with a young offensive core should offer some hope in the weeks ahead.

As Boston College seeks to bounce back at home against Northern Illinois, Florida State will try to stay undefeated with a road win next weekend against a Wake Forest team that isn't known for its offensive firepower, either.