CLEVELAND – It was another heart-stopping finish at Parker Field-McCool Stadium for the No. 9 Delta State Statesmen, only this time it was the Harding Bisons, who request to be referred to as Bisons and not Bison, celebrating. After pulling out three fourth quarter victories, it was the Bisons (3-3, 1-3 GSC) making the key plays, including a 22-yard touchdown pass from Josh Powell to Jordan Watson with 28 seconds left for the 38-35 victory over the Statesmen (5-2, 4-1 GSC).

In the 78th Homecoming game at Parker Field-McCool Stadium, the Statesmen had erased a 31-6 deficit and taken a brief 35-31, fourth quarter lead. DSU's inability to stop the Bisons late proved to be the end for the green-and-white. The loss snaps a string of three-straight Homecoming wins for the Statesmen and puts DSU into a three-way tie with North Alabama and Valdosta State for first place in the Gulf South Conference.

After both teams traded a possession, the Statesmen took a 3-0 lead with 5:12 remaining in the first on a Matt Snyder 36-yard field goal. Delta State went 73 yards on nine plays in 4:12.

Harding came back to answer on their next possession, as Aiden Minken 32-yard field goal with 2:43 left in the quarter. HU marched the ball 40 yards on six plays in 2:17.

Kurt Adams' 44-yard touchdown reception from Josh Powell, with 14:01 to go in the half, put the Bisons up 10-3.

Harding took a two-touchdown lead on Powell's second touchdown pass of the day, a 36-yard strike to Jordan Watson with 7:30 left in the half. The drive covered 63 yards on eight plays in 4:09.

DSU finally answered the 17-0 Bisons run on Matt Snyder's 41-yard field goal with 6:05 remaining on the clock to make it 17-6.

The Statesmen continued to dig themselves deeper into the hole on the defensive side of the ball, as Harding went up 24-6 on Kale Gelles' 17-yard touchdown run with 1:01 left in the half. The drive covered 70 yards on 11 plays in 4:58.

Micah Davis threw his seventh interception of the season on the next play, as HU's Jasper Bodiford returned the INT to DSU 5-yard line. Powell's third pass of the game resulted in yet another touchdown, as Gelles rumbled in from 5-yards out to put the Bisons on top 31-6 with 37 second left in the half.

With 1:01 on the clock and the game on the line, Davis and the Statesmen marched 75 yards for a touchdown, as L.J. Castile hauled in the 15-yard touchdown pass with nine seconds left in the half. Snyder nailed the extra point to make it 31-13.

Harding ended the half with 255 yards of total offense, while Delta State tallied 253. The Bisons rushed for 150 yards on 29 carries, while the aerial attack amassed 105 yards and three touchdowns on 4-of-8 attempts.

Davis completed 9-of-18 passes for 195 yards with a touchdown and an interception for DSU. Trevar Deed rushed for 25 yards on three carries, while Chance Dennis led the green-and-white with two receptions for 64 yards.

After holding the Bisons on the first drive of the second half, the Statesmen quickly marched 83 yards on 10 plays, as Davis connected with Castile on an 11-yard scoring play with 8:46 to go in the third. The touchdown cut the lead to 31-20 Harding.

Delta State continued the second half surge, as Trevar Deed scored from 12 yards out with 13:56 to go in the game. After Davis' two-point conversion pass to Todd Bradford, the Statesmen trailed by only three, 31-28.

The Statesmen took the lead, 35-31, with 11:03 to play, as Micah Davis completed 41-yard play drive with a 10-yard touchdown run. The drive was set up by a key 4th-and-1 stop by the Statesmen defense that gave the offense the ball in Bisons territory.

After both teams traded punts and with a mere 2:24 remaining in the game, Josh Powell and the Bisons offense drove 66 yards in 1:57 for the game-winning touchdown. Powell connected with Jordan Watson on a 22-yard fade to the corner to reclaim the lead 38-35 with just 28 seconds remaining.

DSU had one last chance after Maurice Moore set the Statesmen up at their own 32-yard line on the kickoff, but Harding's Jermaine Blanchard sacked Micah Davis, forcing a fumble, which was recovered by the Bisons to seal the win.

Harding racked up 400 yards of total offense on 80 plays, led by 257 yards rushing. The Bisons' option attack was the threat coming in, but it was their aerial game that doomed the Statesmen, as Powell threw for four touchdowns and 123 yards on 5-of-13 attempts.

The Bisons' Kale Gelles rushed for 133 yards, his fourth 100-yard rushing performance of the season, and a touchdown on 23 carries. Powell finished with 65 yards on 25 carries.

Delta State managed 430 yards on 58 plays, including 292 yards passing by Micah Davis. The junior from Wesson completed 18-of-31 passes with two touchdowns and one interception. He also rushed for another score.

Trevar Deed led the Statesmen ground game with 52 yards on nine carries with a touchdown. L.J. Castile grabbed three passes for 42 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while Tim Smith had three catches for 81 yards.

Garrett Williams turned in another All-American effort, totaling 14 tackles, 2.5 tackles-for-loss and a sack. Joe Marshall also had a career-high 10 tackles and a sack.

The Statesmen return to the gridiron next Saturday, Oct. 23, against the Wolves of the University of West Georgia. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at University Stadium in Carrollton, Ga. The game will be broadcast on the Statesmen Sports Network starting at noon with the “Shelter Insurance Statesmen Game Day Locker Room Report.” Matt Jones, Jimmy Smith and J.T. Webb will have the call.