' two second half interceptions and
Matt Dean's career-long 48-yard field goal with 6:11 left in the game lifted No. 23 Delta State to a 27-25 victory over Arkansas Tech Thursday at Parker Field-McCool Stadium. The win improves the Statesmen to 1-1 on the season and extends their lead in the series standings t0 11-7. The Wonder Boys slipped to 1-1 overall.
“We played with great intensity in the second half and
Garrett Williams made two key interceptions late that killed rives for ATU,” stated DSU head coach Ron Roberts. “
Matt Dean also handled the adversity of a penalty well and drilled that 48-yarder to win it for us.”
In a game marred by 20 penalties for 148 yards, the Statesmen persevered through it all forcing six turnovers and holding the Wonder Boys to just 257 total yards of offense.
The Statesmen took nearly 10 minutes before scratching the scoreboard Thursday night in the first quarter, as
Micah Davis connected with
L.J. Castile on a 26-yard touchdown pass with 4:49 left in the frame. DSU drove 90 yards on five plays in 2:16 to take the 7-0 lead.
Less than a minute later, the Statesmen forced a Robert Sagerian fumble and
Jerry Barnes returned the miscue 39 yards for as 14-0 lead with 3:54 to play in the first.
Arkansas Tech fought back, scoring 12 unanswered points. Sagerian found Jeremy Haynes on a 4-yard touchdown pass after driving 77 yards on 13 plays to make it 7-6. Matt Bahsoon's extra point attempt sailed wide right.
The Wonder Boys scored their second touchdown of the half on Casey Henderson's 7-yard run with 5:13 to go in the second. The two point conversion was no good, as Sagerian's pass landed at the feet of his intended receiver.
DSU finished the half 158 yards on 30 plays, while ATU totaled 125 yards on 37 plays.
Micah Davis was 10-of-18 for 117 yards with a touchdown and interception at the break. ATU's Robert Sagerian was 7-of-14 for 72 yards with a touchdown and interception.
With a slim 14-12 lead headed into the third quarter, DSU's
Trevar Deed broke off a 69-yard touchdown run down the ATU sideline to put the Statesmen up nine, 21-12 with 12:38 on the clock.
ATU answered on Henderson's second touchdown run of the night, a 2-yard burst off the left side with 7:30 on the clock to cut the DSU lead to two, 21-19.
After a promising drive stalled out at the 26 yard line,
Matt Dean stretched the lead to five, 24-19, on a 36-yard field goal with 4:27 left in the third.
Both teams traded possessions to end the quarter before ATU took their first and only lead of the night, 25-24, on Roger Jackson's 16-yard touchdown reception from Robert Sagerian with 9:37 left in the game.
Delta State answered on the very next drive, marching 35 yards on six plays to take a 27-25 lead on Dean's career long 48-yard field goal with 6:11 remaining in the contest.
The Statesmen defense held serve and sealed the win on Williams' second interception of the night with 1:56 left in the game.
DSU salted away the final 1:54 to claim the win.
The green-and-white finished the contest with 299 total yards on 55 plays, while allowing 257 yards on 76 plays.
Micah Davis completed 15-of-28 passes for 183 yards with one touchdown and one interception to lead the Statesmen passing attack.
Trevar Deed rushed for a game-high 138 yards on 19 carries with a score, while
Maurice Moore and
Chance Dennis hauled in four passes each for 60 and 45 yards respectively.
ATU's Sagerian completed 15-of-29 passes for 158 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions, while James Landry was 0-for-2 passing with one interception.
DSU's Xavier Triplett finished with a career-high 13 tackles with 1.5 tackles-for-loss and his first career interceptions. Williams closed the contest with eight stops, one tackle-for-loss and a career-high two interceptions.
Jerry Barnes had four tackles with one forced fumble, a 39-yard fumble return for touchdown and his first career interception.
ATU's Antonio Charles led all Wonder Boy tacklers with 10 stops.
The Statesmen return to action on Saturday, Sept. 18, as Delta Stat travels to Valdosta State University. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium in Valdosta, Ga. The game will be broadcast on the Statesmen Sports Network starting at 11 a.m.
Matt Jones, Richard Webster, Jimmy Smith and J.T. Webb will have the call.
