ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Trailing 24-7 late in the third quarter and looking at their postseason lives slipping away, the No. 23 Delta State Statesmen (7-3, 6-2 GSC) rallied for a thrilling 33-27 victory over the Tigers (5-4, 4-3 GSC) of Ouachita Baptist University Saturday at A.U. Williams Field. The victory kept the Statesmen in the hunt for the Division II playoffs and an outside shot at a share of the GSC championship.

“We never quit and we played hard,” DSU head coach Ron Roberts stated. “It wasn't pretty, but we haven't had a pretty one all year, so why start now. Our second half defensive effort was the best we've played all year and we have to carry this momentum into the season finale at Lambuth next week.”

Eli Cranor and company took the opening kickoff and quickly marched 70-yards to take a 3-0 lead on Jason Fowler's 30-yard field goal with 12:12 to go in the first. The drive took just 2:38 off the clock.

The Tiger defense held the Statesmen to a three-and-out on their first possession. After the punt, the Tigers took three plays to cover 75 yards, as Eli Cranor walked into the end zone from 5-yards out to take a 10-0.

Cranor's second scoring strike of the day, a 43-yard pass to Jamie Harris, put the Tigers out front 17-0 with 10:51 left in the half.

The Statesmen finally scratched the scoreboard with 2:02 to go in the half, after Micah Davis rumbled into the end zone from 10-yards out. The score capped a drive set-up by Garrett Williams' fifth interception of the season.

OBU totaled 281 yards in the half, while DSU tallied 187, of which 132 came in the second quarter.

Davis was 13-of-22 for 115 yards and an interception to lead DSU. Cranor finished the half 10-of-19 for 200 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

OBU extended their lead and answered DSU's lone score from the first half with a methodical drive, covering 95-yards, as Cranor dove into the end zone on third-and-one with 4:11 to go in the third quarter.

Trevar Deed cut it to an 11-point advantage, 24-13 OBU, with a 3-yard touchdown run with 28.9 seconds remaining in the third. Matt Dean's extra point hit the upright.

After holding the Tigers to a three-and-out, the Statesmen put another six points on the board, cutting the lead to five 24-19 on Deed's second touchdown of the quarter, a 2-yard run with 13:38 left in the game.

On OBU's ensuing possession, Cranor threw his second interception of the game, as Dominique Davenport stepped in front of the intended receiver for the pick. Five plays later, Deed plunged into the end zone for his third score of the quarter to give the Statesmen the 25-24 lead. Davis completed the two-point conversion to Chance Dennis to make it 27-24 DSU with 8:56 to go.

The Tigers finally answered the Statesmen with 5:22 left in the game, as Jason Fowler nailed a 27-yard field goal to tie it at 27-27.

After three straight penalties on OBU's kickoff team, the Statesmen started their next drive at the Tigers' 46-yard line. Three plays later, Carlton Ollie hauled in the 14-yard touchdown pass to put the green-and-white back up 33-27 with 4:22 to play. For the third time in the game, DSU had the extra point blocked by OBU.

Down six, the Tigers took the Statesmen to the edge, but in the end it was the green-and-white defense that held firm to seal the win. After picking up two first downs, the Tigers had the ball at the DSU 17 with 1:46 to play. DSU forced two quick incomplete passes by Cranor. On third down, Cranor completed a swing pass to Harries, but the speedy receiver last his footing at the line of scrimmage.

On fourth down and needing seven yards, the Tigers' senior quarterback called a designed keeper. As Cranor broke loose, senior All-American candidate Garrett Williams came up to make the stop, just a half yard shy of the first.

DSU took over on downs with 1:26 left. Two knees later, the Statesmen walked out of A.U. Williams Field with a 33-27 lead.

DSU finished the game with 403 yards of total offense, including 292 yards through the air. Davis completed 23-of-39 passes for 254 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Castile led the Statesmen with five grabs for 70 yards, with Deed finishing the game with 42 yards receiving on four grabs. Deed also rushed for 53 yards on 16 carries with three touchdowns.

Garrett Williams led all tacklers with 13 stops, including two tackles-for-loss, one interception and two pass break-ups. Kenny Barnes added seven tackles. Davenport finished the game with five stops and an interception and Hollan Fiu has six tackles and a late pick as well.

The Tigers totaled 518 yards on 84 plays, led by the arm of Eli Cranor. Cranor, who had thrown four interceptions all season, finished the game with three interceptions on 24-of-44 attempts for 382 yards with a score. He also rushed for 40 yards a pair of scores on 10 carries. Harries led all receivers with seven receptions for 136 yards and a touchdown.

The Statesmen will close the regular season next Saturday, Nov. 13 in a non-conference contest at Lambuth University. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. in Jackson, Tenn. The game will be broadcast on the Statesmen Sports Network starting at 1 p.m. with the “Shelter Insurance Statesmen Game Day Locker Room Report.”