Box Score DSU 36 vs VSU 33 - Final Box Score

CLEVELAND, Miss. – The No. 1 ranked Delta State Statesmen football team put together a 92-yard touchdown drive in the final minutes to defeat the No. 10 Valdosta State Blazers 36-33.
 
The Statesmen (8-1, 2-0 GSC) offense converted three fourth-down attempts on the final drive that saw Brant Botill score a 3-yard touchdown run to give Delta State the lead and the eventual win.
 
Melvin Griffin and Anthony Daniels sealed the victory for the Statesmen with back-to-back sacks to end the game.
 
With the Statesmen trailing 27-16 in the third quarter, Brett Butler sparked a comeback for the Statesmen when he picked off a Cayden Cochran pass and returned it 65 yards for a touchdown to bring the score to 27-23.
 
The Statesmen took the lead with 9:54 remaining in the fourth quarter on a deflected pass that landed in the hands of Statesmen offensive lineman Mark Vukadinovic, who ran in for the 9-yard score. After the second failed PAT of the night, the Statesmen held a 29-27 lead.
 
Valdosta State (6-2, 1-1) answered back quickly and took a 33-29 lead with 7:37 left in the fourth quarter after Troy Braswell capped off a 77-yard drive with a 1-yard rushing score.
 
The 92-yard scoring drive was the second straight 90+ yard drive in the final minutes for Delta State. The Statesmen put together a 99-yard drive to send last week's game at North Alabama to overtime.
 
The Statesmen were a perfect five-for-five on fourth downs in the game to keep the offense alive in several key situations. On the final drive, Andrew Jones rushed a fake punt on a fourth-and-2 for a conversion. Micah Davis then found Bill Franks for a fourth-and-5 conversion. Brant Botill had the final conversion when he rushed for five yards on fourth-and-2.

In games decided by a touchdown or less, the Statesmen are 20-4 under head coach Ron Roberts.
 
Delta State got off to its fastest start this season, scoring 13 points in the first 3:26 of the game. On the second play from scrimmage, Brandon Lucas took a reverse and threw a 62-yard touchdown pass to Lavon Downs to go up 6-0.
 
A few minutes later, Micah Davis capped off a five play, 64-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown run to go up by 13.
 
Valdosta State answered the Delta State's early start with a pair of touchdowns early in the second quarter. Cayden Cochran connected with Seantavious Jones for a 28-yard touchdown pass.
 
The Blazers picked up a luck break with just under 10 minutes to go in the first half. Micah Davis fumbled on a rollout and Tevin Davis scooped the ball for a 21-yard touchdown return for the Valdosta State defense, giving the Blazers a 14-13 lead.
 
The Statesmen carried a lead into the half, as Matt Dean kicked a 23-yard field goal with 4:18 remaining in the half.
 
It was the Cochran show early on in the third for Valdosta State. Cochran scored touchdown runs of 27 yards and five yards to put the Blazers up 27-16 with 4:07 remaining in the third quarter.
 
The Statesmen will have a bye week before they host West Alabama on Nov. 5 for homecoming. Kickoff will be at 4 p.m. at Parker Field at McCool Stadium.