TALLAHASSEE -- Fast start

It took Florida State just two plays and 39 seconds to get on the scoreboard in its weather-shortened 55-0 win against Savannah State on Saturday night

A play after catching a 4-yard pass in the flat, senior receiver Rodney Smith caught a 61-yard touchdown from quarterback EJ Manuel on the game’s second play from scrimmage. Smith now has receptions in 27 consecutive games dating back to his sophomore season against BYU.

The Seminoles led 35-0 by the end of the first quarter. And the 48 points scored by Florida State in the first half were the most since FSU put up 49 against Cincinnati in 1990.

The game was interrupted twice by the inclement weather, once late in the first half for 59 minutes and again for 42 minutes before the game was called.

Transfer Starts

Last season, junior tight end Kevin Haplea was lining up at Penn State.

On Saturday, he made his first start for Florida State in place of injured sophomore Nick O’Leary. Haplea chose to leave Penn State this offseason after the sanctions stemming from the Jerry Sandusky scandal were announced.

Haplea had appeared in every game in his career for the Nittany Lions.

Streak Snapped

When senior Dustin Hopkins missed his extra point in the second quarter, it was the Groza semifinalist’s first miss in 146 attempts.

Manuel Rising

With his performance in the first quarter against Savannah State (11 for 13, 161 yards, three touchdowns) Manuel passed Casey Weldon (4,628 career passing yards) for 10th place all-time at Florida State.

Tough defense

After holding Savannah State to no points, Florida State has now gone 10 consecutive games without giving up more than 20 points. It’s the longest Atlantic Coast Conference streak since Miami went nine games without giving up more than 20 points back in 2005.

Starters rest

The Florida State starters played just a quarter against Savannah State. In that time they amassed 35 points and 255 total yards while holding Savannah State scoreless with minus-20 yards while they were in the game.

Redshirt sophomore Clint Trickett replaced Manuel at the start of the second quarter.

This and that

The game against Savannah State was the second of four consecutive games the Seminoles will play at home to open the season. In the 66-year history of the program, Florida State has never started off with four home dates in a row.

• This was the first meeting between Florida State and Savannah State and the first meeting between the Seminoles and a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference team from the FCS subdivision. Counting Saturday’s win, the Seminoles are 19-0 all time against FCS (formerly Division 1-AA) competition.