Box Score TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Savannah State football team fell 0-55 to the #6 Florida State Seminoles in Tallahassee, Florida Saturday night, in front of a crowd of 71,126 at Doak Campbell Stadium.

Florida State jumped out to an early 7-0 lead as EJ Manual found Rodney Smith for a 61-yard touchdown pass in the opening minute.

The Seminoles added two more touchdowns for a 21-0 lead. Chris Thompson scored on a 6-yard run, and Manuel hit Greg Dent on an 8-yard pass.

FSU extended their lead to 35-0 by the end of the first quarter on a 9-yard pass from Manuel to Kelvin Benjamin and a 5-yard rush from Devonta Freeman.

In the second quarter, SSU ended a six play drive after a 17-yard gain. The drive was as many yards as the team gained offensively in the entire first quarter. FSU responded with an 8-play 71-yard touchdown drive taking a 42-0 lead.

Savannah State struggled to gain any ground on their second possession of the quarter as the Seminoles added a sixth touchdown of the first half on a 1-yard rush from James Wilder for a 48-0 score.

SSU junior running back Sheldon Barnes opened the field for the Tigers on their third possession of the second quarter, pushing a 4-play drive down the gridiron for 27 yards. The Tigers punted the ball on their own 39 yard line to end their best drive.

In the third quarter, FSU added the last touchdown of the game on a 19-yard pass to Benjamin from Jacob Coker.

Barnes netted a total of 34 offensive yards, leading the tigers on the offensive side. Terrance Slaughter led the SSU defense with five tackles, four unassisted. Cicerio Printup and Terrance Williams each had four tackles.

The Tigers have a bye this coming week and open the 2012 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference schedule with the first home game against North Carolina Central on September 22. Kick-off  in T.A. Wright Stadium is set for 7 p.m. Last year the Tigers garnered their only win against Central with a 33-30 road victory.

NOTABLE
The game was put under two weather delays. The first lasted an hour, beginning at 7:23 as two storms moved through the area. The second came with 8:59 remaining in the third quarter and lasted an estimated 36 minutes. The game was mutually called at 9:35 p.m. due to inclement weather.