MONTICELLO, Ark. – After a suffering a shocking season-opening loss two weeks ago in which little offense was generated, the No. 10 Delta State Statesmen threw and ran all over the Arkansas-Monticello Boll Weevils in a 42-3 win for the visitors Saturday evening in Monticello.

The Statesmen rolled up 636 yards of total offense as they improved to 1-1 on the season. The Boll Weevils dropped to 1-2 on the year.

Though the teams were playing in mild temperatures and sprinkling rains, Statesmen quarterback Garrett DeWitt sizzled as he completed 24-of-33 passes for 339 yards and two touchdowns.

Trevar Deed was DeWitt's preferred target, catching seven passes for 126 yards with one touchdown. Deed also rushed for a two-yard touchdown.

Ray Chisolm and Rafael Mitchell caught five passes apiece for 61 yards and 48 yards, respectively.
DeWitt's fellow signal-callers were prolific in the running game, as Zak Mikel rushed for 46 yards and two touchdowns on five carries. Quarterback Mark Slorp rushed for 48 yards on six attempts.

Erick Johnson led all Delta State rushers with 62 yards on seven carries.

While the Statesmen were racking up the yards, the Boll Weevils found moving the ball to be more problematic. Though Monticello amassed 305 yards of total offense, the Weevils were consistently stalled when they crossed into Delta State territory.

Lardester Hicks-Green led the way on defense with 10 tackles, including four for losses with one sack. He is now only 60 tackles away from tying the Delta State career mark in that category.

Taeao Fagalele, Byron Davenport and Katlan French recorded five tackles apiece. Fagalele also registered an interception in the game.

Scott Buisson led the Boll Weevils by completing 21-of-33 passes for 171 yards. He was also the team's leading rusher, rushing for 90 yards.

The Statesmen moved the ball with ease during the first half, rolling up 315 yards of total offense before the midgame break. DeWitt completed 18-of-24 passes for 219 yards with two touchdown throws during the game's first 30 minutes as Delta State compiled a 21-3 lead.

While they were having little trouble moving the ball, the Statesmen did see two of their first three drives of the game snuffed out by interceptions in Boll Weevil territory. DeWitt's first pick of the game went through a teammate's hands before being intercepted by Quenton Arnett in the end zone, thus stalling the game-opening, nine-play drive in the red zone.

But just as soon as they lost the ball, the Statesmen got it back, and Lardester Hicks-Green forced a Weevil fumble on the home side's 30-yard line, which was recovered by teammate Robert Hogan.

Four plays later, DeWitt found Todd Bradford in the end zone for a 16-yard touchdown. Matt Dean's extra point gave Delta State a 7-0 lead.

The Statesmen's next drive also ended with an interception, but the visitors were able to add to their lead early in the second quarter when DeWitt led his troops on a 14-play, 80-yard drive that ended with fellow quarterback Mikel finding the end zone on a seven-yard scamper. The drive received a big boost with a 26-yard from pass from DeWitt to Xavier Rambo to move the ball into the red zone.

Momentum started to swing in the Boll Weevils favor when they took their ensuing drive 50 yards downfield and cut into the lead with a 40-yard field goal by Joe Lamoureux. Monticello then got another boost when the Weevils prevailed on a goal line stand as the Statesmen got down to the three-yard line, but came away empty-handed late in the half.

However, the Weevils were unable to take advantage as a six-play drive into Statesmen territory ended with Fagalele intercepting a Buisson pass at the Delta State 17-yard line and returning it all the way to the Monticello 33-yard line with 27 seconds left in the half.

Sniffing one more shot at the end zone, the Statesmen's first play was wiped out with a personal foul that moved them all the way back to the 48-yard line. But the distance and time proved to be no obstacle, as DeWitt found a wide open Deed 20 yards downfield, who then took the reception all the way to end zone for a 48-yard play with 10 seconds remaining.

The Statesmen open the home portion of their schedule next Saturday when they host Harding. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.