CARROLLTON, Ga. – The Delta State University Statesmen scored early and often on Saturday, rolling to a 54-34 victory over the West Georgia Wolves at University Stadium. The No. 18 Statesmen improved to 6-2 overall and 5-1 in Gulf South Conference play, while the Wolves slipped to 3-5 and 2-4 in league action. DSU scored seven touchdowns and amassed a season-high 586 yards of offense in the win.

“Our guys fought hard all day and I'm really pleased with the way the offense has played the last few weeks,” stated DSU head coach Ron Roberts. “Coach Stevens called an excellent game and Micah and the squad executed it well.”

With the DSU win and Ouachita Baptist's 24-23 overtime upset of No. 10 North Alabama, the Statesmen remain in a two-way tie with Valdosta State, whom the Statesmen defeated 27-23 on Sept. 18, for first place in the GSC.

Delta State marched 80-yards in just four plays to take an early 7-0 lead, as Brandon Lucas took the direct snap and rumbled 33 yards with 9:57 left in the first.

Micah Davis and L.J. Castile made it 13-0 DSU on a 30-yard touchdown reception with 3:12 on the clock in the first. The drive covered 43 yards on just two plays in 22 seconds.

The Statesmen expanded the lead to 20-0 with 7:07 to go in the half, as Davis walked into the end zone from nine yards out for his third rushing touchdown of the season.

With a 20-0 lead and the football, the Statesmen took a shot down the middle of the field, only to have Waylon Kimble pick-off Davis' pass and return it to the DSU 9-yard line. Three plays later, Joe Weatherford plunged into the end zone from 1-yard out to cut the green-and-white lead to 20-7 with 41 seconds left in the half.

DSU totaled 234 yards in the first half, led by Davis' 132-yards passing on 9-of-16 attempts. The junior from Wesson finished the half with one touchdown and one costly interception. The Statesmen also rushed for 102 yards on on 14 carries with a pair of scores. Deed led DSU with 42 yards on nine carries at the break.

UWG finished the opening frame with a balanced 160 yards, including 86 yards on the ground and 74 through the air. Yusuf Halloway led UWG with 49 yards rushing.

The Wolves held the Statesmen to start the second half and quickly took advantage of the situation, driving 64 yards to pay-dirt, as Holloway scored from seven yards out to make it a 20-14 game with 6:56 left in the third.

Davis and the Statesmen wasted little time in answering the Wolves, as the junior connected with Castile on a 56-yard touchdown pass just 1:23 later. With 5:33 left in the third, DSU led 27-14.

Holloway and the Wolves continued to push the football on the ground on their next possession, as the sophomore standout slashed through the Statesmen secondary for 13 yards and his second touchdown to cut the DSU to six, 27-21, with 2:13 left in the third.

As the fourth quarter got under way, the Statesmen went to the ground game, taking a 34-21 lead, riding the wheels of Brandon Lucas 81 yards on eight plays, capped by Davis to Jamarcus Jackson for the score with 13:24 left in the game.

After forcing the Wolves to take a chance on 4th-and-long, the Statesmen struck quickly on Lucas' 37-yard scoring run with 10:21 left. The drive covered 47 yards on just three plays in 43 seconds.

Sean Gray made the most of his first pass attempt of the game, a 24-yard scoring strike to Arkeem French. The touchdown came with 6:11 remaining in the game, but the extra point was wide right to give the Statesmen a 41-27 lead.

DSU's Lucas made it a three touchdown day with 3:44 left on the clock, as the Covington, Ga., native ran in from the UWG 6-yard line to give the Statesmen a 48-27 lead.

UWG's Tavarus Lewis set the Wolves up inside Statesmen territory at the DSU 47-yard line with an excellent return. Sean Gray and Qua Jones ran the rest of the way. Gray ran it in from the 1-yard line with 2:11 left in the fourth.

Bowdon, Ga., native Rafael Mitchell would put the exclamation at the end of the sentence for the Statesmen, rushing for 37-yards and the final touchdown of the game to make the final 54-34.

DSU amassed a season-high 586 yards of offense on 64 plays, led by Davis' 302 yards passing and Lucas' 128 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Davis completed 18-of-29 passing for 302 yards and three touchdowns and one interception. Lucas finished with a career-high 128 yards on 11 carries and tied his career-high with three scores.

UWG posted a season-high 431 yards of offense, as the Wolves passed for 194 yards and ran for 237. Kennebrew led the Wolves with 88 yards on 17 carries, while Holloway rushed for 85 yards on 18 carries with two scores. Weatherford finished the game completing 12-of-26 passes for 151 yards.

Garrett Williams led the Statesmen with eight tackles, a sack and a tackle-for-loss. Brett Butler and Xavier Triplett had seven tackles each as well. UWG's Manny Rodriquez led all tacklers with 10 stops.

The Statesmen return to action on Thursday, Oct. 23, as Delta State hosts No. 10 North Alabama in the GSC-TV Live Game of the Week. The game will be televised on Cox Sports Southeast and regionally to over 19 million homes. Game time is set for 7 p.m. at Parker Field-McCool Stadium.