Box Score CLEVELAND, Miss. - The No.1 Delta State Statesmen football team claimed the 2011 Gulf South Conference Championship Saturday night after defeating the No. 18 West Alabama Tigers 36-34.

The win by the Statesmen (9-1, 3-0 GSC) in conjunction with West Georgia's loss to North Alabama guarantees Delta State the outright championship heading into the final weekend of the season and the program's fourth title in five years under head coach Ron Roberts.

The Statesmen survived a West Alabama (7-3, 2-2 GSC) comeback, holding off the Tigers late to secure the two-point victory. The Tigers hailmary attempt at the end of the game fell short.

Delta State grabbed an early lead with a safety. The Tigers were penalized with an intentional grounding while in the end zone.

On the ensuing drive, the Statesmen went up 9-0 when Bill Franks scored an 8-yard touchdown run. Micah Davis had his own 8-yard touchdown run later in the first quarter to put the Statesmen up by 16.

Early in the second quarter, Davis found receiver Chance Dennis for a 6-yard touchdown pass. Dwight Tillman added to the scoring party minutes later, scoring on a 40-yard interception return.

West Alabama got on the scoreboard late in the first half when Matthew Willis scored on a 2-yard run.

Davis connected with Carlton Ollie to start the scoring in the third quarter, putting the Statesmen up 36-7.

West Alabama responded as Willis scored a pair of 1-yard touchdown runs to bring the score to 36-21 at the beginning of the fourth quarter. Kyle Caldwell then rushed for a 27-yard touchdown run to bring the score to within eight points.

The Tigers had a chance to tie the game late after Don Smith rushed for an 18-yard score to bring the score to 36-34 before the 2-point conversion attempt. However, the pass fell incomplete on the attempt.

After the Statesmen recovered the onside kick attempt, they failed to hold on to the ball and were forced to punt. Andrew Jones punted the ball inside the Tigers 3-yard line, forcing West Alabama to go 97 yards with 1:01 remaining.

The Tigers moved to the Statesmen 47-yard line before attempting a hailmary pass with 1.7 seconds remaining.

The Statesmen will close out the regular season next Saturday, as Delta State travels to West Georgia for a 1 p.m. ET start. Join Matt Jones and JT Webb on the radio broadcast, which will begin at 12 p.m. CT.