KINGSVILLE, Texas – Joe Williams rushed for three touchdowns and Billy Garza threw for 306 yards to lead the No. 24-ranked Texas A&M-Kingsville Javelinas to a 28-17 upset of the Delta State Statesmen on Saturday at Javelina Stadium.

The Javelina defense put the clamps down the high-power Statesmen offensive unit, limiting Delta State to 234 yards of total offense. Matt Dean's 36-yard field goal as time expired in the first half was the only offensive score allowed by Texas A&M-Kingsville. Delta State quarterback Garrett DeWitt completed 13-of-32 passes for 154 yards. His counterpart Garza, a transfer from the University of Illinois, completed 22-of-38 pass attempts. Williams rushed for 80 yards en route to his three scores. Trevar Deed was Delta State's leading rusher, accumulating 59 yards on the ground. The Javelinas reeled off 506 yards of total offense in the game.

The Delta State defense was the bright spot for the Statesmen, accounting for both of the visitors' touchdowns. Byron Davenport recorded a 25-yard fumble return for a touchdown and Christian Graham added a 55-yard interception return.

The defense wasted little time flexing their collective muscles after the game's opening kickoff. Four plays into Kingsville's second drive, Davenport put the Statesmen on the board by returning an E.J. LeBlanc fumble 25 yards to the end zone. Eljae Faoagalie forced the fumble, and Matt Dean's successful extra point gave the Statesmen a 7-0 lead with 7:09 remaining in the opening quarter.

The Javelinas dug themselves into a bigger hole on their very next possession. On the third play of the drive, Garza's bullet pass to a teammate was too hard and bounced into the hands of Graham, who returned the interception 55 yards down the sideline and into the end zone. Dean's kick gave the Statesmen a 14-0 lead at the 5:45 mark.

The early cushion provided by the defense, balanced the defensive effort by the Javelinas, who limited the Statesmen to 113 yards of total offense in the first half. Texas A&M-Kingsville accumulated 219 yards of total offense during the first 30 minutes.

Texas A&M-Kingsville cut into the Statesmen lead in the latter portions of the second quarter. Christian Brom's 24-yard field goal with 6:42 remaining cut the Delta State lead to 14-3. The Javelinas found the end zone for the first time on their next possession when Joe Williams capped a four-play, 36-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown run with 3:57 remaining. The snap on the ensuing extra-point try was errant, forcing the Javelinas into an incomplete pass on the conversion.

Dean tacked on a 36-yard field goal as the first half expired to stretch the Delta State lead to 17-9. The play was set up by a 50-yard strike from DeWitt to Eldred King with 1.6 seconds remaining in the quarter.

The Statesmen offense continued to sputter in the third period, as Delta State managed only 45 yards of total offense in the quarter. Meanwhile, the Javelinas were able to move closer to the visitors when Joe Williams capped an eight-play, 26-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run with 6:27 remaining in the quarter. The two-point conversion failed and Delta State continued to hold a 17-15 lead.

Delta State came close to stretching its lead to two scores early in the fourth quarter when DeWitt led the Statesmen deep into Javelina territory. A 26-yard strike to Rafael Mitchell put the Statesmen on the Kingsville 7-yard line, but would they would get no closer, as DeWitt's next pass was deflected and intercepted.

Feeling the momentum shifting, the Javelinas embarked on an 8-play, 89-yard drive that ended with a 47-yard touchdown pass to Connell Davis to give the home team its first lead. Delta State's ensuing drive stalled in its own territory, and the Javelinas put the exclamation point on the victory with Williams' third touchdown run with less than a minute remaining.

The Statesmen (0-1) return to action Sept. 12 when they visit Arkansas-Monticello. Though the two teams are both members of the Gulf South Conference, the game will not count in the league standings.