CLEVELAND – The No. 15 Delta State University Statesmen (3-1, 2-0 GSC) erased a 37-34 fourth quarter deficit to defeat the Henderson State Reddies (2-2, 1-2 GSC), 41-37, on Trevar Deed's 3-yard touchdown run with 6:07 remaining in the game Saturday at Parker Field-McCool Stadium in front of 7,333 fans. The game capped the 25th annual Pig Pickin' Festival at DSU.

“We fought this one all night,” stated DSU head coach Ron Roberts. “Henderson is a good team and it took great effort tonight for us to come away with the win. Trevar Deed had a great night and I'm very pleased with the way we played the second half.”

HSU jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead, as Nick Hardesty led the Reddies quickly down the field on a nine play, 69-yard drive. Georgio Hall plunged in from two yards out to give HSU the lead.

The Statesmen would answer on the first play of the second quarter, as Trevar Deed carried a load of defenders into the end zone from five yards out for the score. Zak Mikel's two-point conversion pass fell incomplete, giving the Reddies the 7-6 lead.

The second quarter saw a combined 47 points from the two squads, as the Statesmen and Reddies exchanged touchdowns over that 15:00 span.

Delta State made it 12-7 on Brandon Lucas' first touchdown run of the night, a 6-yard scamper with 12:17 to go in the half. Matt Dean's extra point attempt was blocked.

After forcing an HSU punt, DSU quickly converted yards into points, as Micah Davis scrambled for 16 yards to take a 19-7 advantage.

After falling behind 19-7 to the Statesmen, HSU made a move before the half. Georgio Hall capped a 91-yard drive with a 7-yard scoring run to make it 19-14 with 6:01 left in the half.

On the ensuing kickoff, DSU's Maurice Moore fumbled at the 10-yard line and HSU's Darius Davis recovered the fumble in the end zone after a scrum for the score to take a 21-19 lead.

DSU answered on Deed's second score of the night, a 2-yard run off the right side for a 26-21 lead with 1:17 left in the half.

With 1:05 left in the half and sitting 77 yards from the end zone, Hardesty quickly drove the Reddies down the field for the go-ahead score on a 26-yard touchdown pass to Josh Sipho with five seconds left on the clock. The Reddies would go into the locker room with a 28-26 lead.

After playing one of the most exciting first halves of the season, the Statesmen and Reddies didn't disappoint in the second half either. With HSU holding a slim 28-26 lead, the Reddies took the opening drive of the period and marched 80 yards on 11 plays in 3:50 to take a 34-26 lead on Terrence Jackson's 4-yard touchdown run. DSU blocked the extra point to keep the Reddies at 34.

Brandon Lucas and the Statesmen drove 75-yards in 3:38 to cut the HSU lead to 34-32 on Lucas' 23-yard touchdown scamper. Micah Davis found L.J. Castile in the back of the end zone for the two-point conversion to tie it at 34-34 with 7:19 remaining in the third.

As the Reddies had done all night, Nick Hardesty moved the scarlet-and-gray 70-yards in 11 plays to reclaim the lead on Eric Torres' 21-yard field goal with 3:05 left in the third.

As the fourth quarter began, the Reddies seemed able to answer any Statesmen counter until midway through the final frame. After forcing an HSU punt, the Statesmen took control of the game for good, marching 71-yards on 10 plays in 4:53 to take the lead, 41-37, on Deed's 3-yard scoring plunge.

With HSU driving and the game on the line, junior free safety Preston Felder stepped in front and picked off Hardesty's pass intended for Sean McGrath with 2:49 remaining in the game.

DSU tried to salt away the clock, but failed to convert on a 4th-and-1 from the HSU 28 with 20 seconds remaining in the game.

For a second straight week, the Statesmen defense rose to the occasion, as Joe Marshall sacked Hardesty at the HSU 21. With three seconds left, Hardesty's pass fell incomplete at the feet of McGrath to end the contest.

The Statesmen finished the game with 522 yards of total offense, including a season-high 297 yards rushing. Deed rushed for 111 yards and three touchdowns on 25 carries, while Lucas added 64 yards and two touchdowns on just seven rushes. Davis added 48 yards on six rush attempts and a score, while passing for 225 yards on 18-of-32 attempts with one interception, which came on the first play of the game.

Garrett Williams and Xavier Triplett once again led the Statesmen with 10 tackles each. Dwight Tillman and Kyle Van Ness, who played his first game at linebacker since last season's opener at Texas A&M-Kingsville, finished with seven tackles apiece.

HSU amassed 451 yards on 76 plays. The Reddies passed for 211 yards and rushed for a season-high 255. Hardesty was 21-of-36 passing for 211 with one touchdown and one interception. Jackson finished the game with 105 yards rushing on 23 carries and a score, while Hall had 59 yards and two touchdowns.

The Statesmen will host the Tigers of West Alabama on Thursday, Sept. 30 in the GSC-TV Live Game of the Week at Parker Field-McCool Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.