Servpro First Responder Bowl Canceled Due to Severe Weather

The game has been ruled a no contest.

The Servpro First Responder Bowl game between Boise State and Boston College was canceled Wednesday afternoon due to severe weather.

The game has been ruled a no contest after weather issues halted the game, bowl organizers announced Wednesday. The National Weather Service declared that a tornado watch is in effect until 10 p.m. CT for at least 34 counties in North and Central Texas.

Boston College held an early 7–0 lead over Boise State thanks to running back AJ Dillon's 19-yard touchdown run. With 5:08 left on the clock in the first quarter, the game was delayed after severe weather hit the Dallas area. With every lightning strike that came within eight miles of the Cotton Bowl, the host stadium, a 30-minute delay was added to the clock.

Another strike, unfortunately it means the clock resets on the delay...

Thanks to @BroncoSportsFB for the clip! pic.twitter.com/sINQRFcfBV

— First Responder Bowl (@FRBowl) December 26, 2018

First Responder Bowl Executive Director Brant Ringler released a statement saying there was no intention to move the game, despite knowing a chance of inclement weather was in the forecast.

"We knew there was a chance of inclement weather [for this] game," Ringler said in the statement, per Scott Bell of the Dallas Morning News. "There were no intentions to move the game. Usually the weather plays out to play the game...We had to make that decision and now we just have to move forward."

Comments from SERVPRO First Responder Bowl Executive Director Brant Ringler, who said the city of Dallas was not involved in today's decision: pic.twitter.com/N5nOF8mnXV

— Scott Bell (@ScottBellDMN) December 26, 2018

Boston College Director of Athletics Martin Jarmond tweeted that fans who purchased their tickets to the bowl game through the university will receive a refund by Jan. 2. 

Wednesday's decision to end the First Responder Bowl makes it the first bowl game to be canceled in FBS history. Of course Twitter had a few jokes to crack about the cancelation of the game.

THIS NEVER WOULD'VE HAPPENED TO THE ZAXBY'S HEART OF DALLAS BOWL

— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) December 26, 2018

UCF has declared itself the winner of The First Responder Bowl.

— Paul Schneider (@PaulJKBOI) December 26, 2018

The countdown begins for the Second Responder Bowl.

— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) December 26, 2018

This AJ Dillon touchdown run does not officially exist

(via @theACCDN) pic.twitter.com/W4HguGKO8T

— SI College Football (@si_ncaafb) December 26, 2018

The committee should decide the First Responder Bowl

— The Solid Verbal College Football Podcast (@SolidVerbal) December 26, 2018

The Servpro First Responder Bowl has been played at the Cotton Bowl every year since 2011. It was switched sponsorships three times, from the TicketCity Bowl to the Heart of Dallas Bowl presented by PlainsCapital Bank to the Zaxby's Heart of Dallas Bowl.