By BOB FERRANTE
FOXSportsFlorida.com
TALLAHASSEE – The game was plenty of what was
expected – points on the board by Florida State.
And
plenty of what was not expected – two lightning delays that prompted a
rare decision to go with a running clock.
As it
turned out Florida State didn't break any school records or come close
to the 84 points that Oklahoma State dropped on Savannah State a week
ago.
But two lightning delays did a far better job at
stalling the Seminoles' offense than Savannah
State.
With the Seminoles leading by seven touchdowns
late in the second quarter, and with both teams in their locker rooms
during a 56-minute lightning delay, coaches and game officials came to
an unusual but not unprecedented decision. FSU coach Jimbo Fisher,
Savannah State coach Steve Davenport and the ACC crew agreed to a
running clock for the final 34 minutes of the
game.
But even the weather didn't cooperate,
contributing a second lightning delay midway through the third quarter.
It took nearly 45 minutes for school administrators to confirm that they
could cancel the remainder of the contest and ensure that the game
would be considered official.
And at that point, with
No. 6 FSU leading 55-0, the game was halted with 8:59 left in the third
quarter and officially called at 9:35 p.m.
"Well,
that's a first," FSU coach Jimbo Fisher said. "Never had that occur in
my career. … It's easy for me to say I want to keep playing. But I
understand the situation they're in plus they have bad weather coming
and (Savannah State has) a bus ride.
"But as a
competitor, I want to keep playing because I want to see some of our
young guys. But I totally understand. I don't have a problem with
that."
The Seminoles went into the game a 70.5-point
favorite against Savannah State in what was the largest point spread
ever in college football. And FSU was on pace to surpass the
mark.
FSU scored touchdowns on its first seven first-half
possessions — including touchdown grabs by Rodney Smith, Greg Dent and
Kelvin Benjamin.
Benjamin added another touchdown reception in
the third quarter from third-string QB Jacob Coker as FSU put its final
points on the board with 11:24 left in the third quarter.
FSU
came up short of matching its school records for points (77) and margin
of victory (74), but with clear weather and another 24 minutes of
football the potential was there for more points.
The
Seminoles (2-0) dominated Savannah State in the first half, scoring 48
points – the most FSU has accumulated before halftime since a 56-point
output against Tulane in 1992.
FSU had 413 offensive
yards – 246 in the air and 167 on the ground.
EJ
Manuel completed 11 of 13 passes for 161 yards and three touchdowns in
the first quarter. Manuel's day was over early as FSU took a 35-0 lead
into the second quarter.
"I thought we did great
today on offense," Manuel said.
Devonta Freeman had
seven carries for 69 yards and James Wilder had two rushing touchdowns,
pacing an FSU ground attack that averaged 7.3 yards per
carry.
And on defense, FSU held Savannah State (0-2)
without a first down in the first quarter and pushed them backwards to
-20 yards in the initial 15 minutes.
The Tigers
finished with just nine passing yards and 19 rushing yards – less than a
yard per play.
Savannah State, which is 2-22 since
the start of the 2010 season, has made nearly $1 million between
guarantee games at Oklahoma State and FSU. The Tigers have lost the
games by a combined 139-0.
"They are who we thought
they are," Savannah State coach Steve Davenport said. "People are
talking national championship and I can understand that. They are
tremendous in every facet of the game."
