CLEVELAND – The Delta State defensive unit held Southern Arkansas to 223 yards of total offense as the Statesmen grinded out a 10-3 win over the Muleriders on Saturday.

Lardester Hicks-Green and Robert Watts registered 13 tackles apiece as the final offensive numbers were the lowest total yards allowed by the vaunted “Green Shirts” defense this season.

Southern Arkansas quarterback Austin Civita saw a nothing but Green Shirts for the majority of the game, which was played in front of an announced attendance of 3,888 mostly pink-clad fans as part of the Pink Out Parker Field-McCool Stadium in awareness of cancer.

The 13 tackles by Hicks-Green (Chicago, Ill./Steinmetz HS) on Saturday upped his career total to 330, which is five fewer than the all-time mark held by Jimmy Wilson, who suited up for the Statesmen from 1987-1990. Hicks-Green also sealed the game with a 28-yard interception return to end the Muleriders' rally attempt in the final minute of the fourth quarter.

The Statesmen (4-4) improved to 3-3 in Gulf South Conference play. Southern Arkansas (2-6) dropped to 2-5 in the conference standings.

Byron Davenport (Long Beach, Calif./Univ. of Washington) and Troy Whittey (New Orleans, La./Paul Quinn College) also intercepted passes for the Statesmen in the game.

The Statesmen scored their only touchdown of the game when Garrett DeWitt (Destin, Fla./Fort Walton Beach HS) found Eric Johnson (Suisun, Calif./Diablo Valley CC) on a short out-route, which Johnson turned into a 21-yard score. Johnson's touchdown with 14:26 remaining in the second quarter capped a 10-play, 80-yard drive for the Statesmen.

Matt Dean (Cleveland, Miss./Cleveland HS) and Noe' Cuevas of Southern Arkansas exchanged field goals to round the game's scoring. Dean put the Statesmen ahead 10-3 with 10:49 remaining in the third quarter.

DeWitt completed 13 out of 24 passes for 143 yards. Civita was 17-of-40 for 181 yards.

Trevar Deed (Phoenix, Ariz./Eastern Arizona CC) led the Statesmen rushing attack with 95 yards on 21 carries. He also caught five passes for 25 yards. Deed was held without a touchdown for the first time since Delta State's season-opening loss at Texas A&M-Kingsville.

Eldred King (Thomaston, Ga./Middle Tennessee State) caught three passes for 25 yards, Ray Chisolm (Hattiesburg, Miss./Pearl River CC) caught two passes for a team-high 42 yards.

The Statesmen's playoff chances are still intact, as Harding and West Alabama, who were both ahead of Delta State in the GSC standings, lost on Saturday. Harding succumbed to Arkansas-Monticello 44-12, while West Alabama fell to West Georgia 10-9. West Georgia snapped a 21-game losing streak with their triumph over the Tigers.

The Statesmen play their final road game of the regular season Saturday, Oct. 31 when they travel to Arkansas Tech. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.