2018 First Responder Bowl cancelled due to inclement weather

Inclement weather led to the cancellation of the 2018 First Responder Bowl between Boise State and Boston College, with the game being ruled an no-contest.

A lightning strike during the first quarter of the First Responder Bowl sent the game into a delay, with further strikes pushing the start time further and further back. The decision was made between game officials and coaches after looking at weather forecasts in the Dallas area for the rest of the evening to cancel the game and rule it as a no-contest.

Boston College led 7-0 at the time of the initial delay thanks to a 19-yard touchdown run by star RB AJ Dillon on the Eagles’ first drive of the game. Boston College’s defense had frustrated Boise State to that point as they controlled the first quarter.

The first lightning strike in the area stopped the game with 5:08 remaining in the first quarter. Several more strikes occurred and then a heavy rain began to fall at the Cotton Bowl, continuously delaying the resumption of game play.

With player safety in mind, and with the forecast calling for more steady rain and storms throughout the evening, the decision was made to cancel the game, leaving players and fans in a bit of a shock.

Fans of both teams made long treks to Dallas to watch their teams play, and coaches and players meticulously game-planned for this matchup all for it to be called after less than ten minutes of actual game play.

Even with Boston College leading 7-0 at the time of the stoppage, the game was ruled a no-contest, with no stats from the game counting as official records, and no winner or loser being determined. The game simply never happened.

It’s a bitter pill to swallow particularly for the seniors on both sides as they were unable to finish what could have been their final football games ever, which is the case for many who won’t make it to the next level.

It was an unceremonious end to Boise State QB Brett Rypien’s decorated collegiate career as he was unable to get the opportunity to plant one more power-five skin on the wall for the Broncos.

Boise State finishes the season at 10-3, coming up just short in the Mountain West Championship Game that would have likely sent them to Las Vegas, where they would have gotten to play against Arizona State instead of ending up here for a cancelled contest.

Boston College ends the year at 7-5, unable to potentially grab some momentum heading into next season after what was a disappointing end to the regular season. The Eagles lost their final three games after a 7-2 start, putting Steve Addazio’s future in serious doubt in Chestnut Hill.

He’ll be in for a make or break season in 2019.

A cancelled bowl game is extremely rare, so much so that it’s yet to be uncovered when the last one occurred. There is no NCAA record of a weather forced cancellation in the history of the FBS.