Box Score CLEVELAND, Miss. – The No. 15 ranked University of West Alabama Tigers (7-2, 4-0 GSC) spoiled Homecoming for the Delta State University Statesmen (3-5, 1-3 GSC) claiming a 37-7 win Saturday, Oct. 27 at Parker Field-McCool Stadium.  UWA snapped a 10-game home series winning streak by DSU and also claimed a share of the Gulf South Conference championship with the victory.

West Alabama struck first after a 14-play, 83-yard drive, Danny Hobb's rumbled in for a 4-yard touchdown with 3:34 remaining in the first quarter.  After the Statesmen defense looked to have made a huge third down stop, a personal foul penalty kept the drive alive for the Tigers. 

Delta State came right back on the first play of the second quarter and knotted the game at 7-7 on Trevor Wooden's ninth rushing score of the season.  The drive covered 39-yards on 11 plays and was setup beautifully by Lavon Downs' 43-yard kickoff return to the UWA 39-yard line. 

After a Statesmen stop on defense, a dropped punt by Erick Clayton gave the Tigers the ball back at the DSU 6-yard line.  A personal foul on the UWA bench pushed the ball to the DSU 21-yard line.  On the next play, Kyle Caldwell connected with Dakota Daniel on a 21-yard touchdown pass to reclaim the 14-7 with 11:52 to go in the half.

The Tigers added three points on a Ryne Smith 26-yard field goal with 6:07 to play in the second quarter.  UWA took advantage of DSU's second turnover of the game, after Ridge Wilson picked off a long Trevor Wooden pass attempt.    

UWA added another strike with less than a minute to go in the half, as Caldwell found Chad Toocheck on a 13-yard touchdown pass.  Caldwell's second touchdown pass put the Tigers up 24-7 with 22 seconds to go in the half. 

The Tigers closed the first half with 234 yards on 46 plays, while holding the Statesmen to just 74 yards on 23 plays. 

Both teams caught the turnover bug in the beginnings of the second half, as DSU and UWA both fumbled away a possession.  The Statesmen fumble proved to be quite costly, as DSU had the ball inside the UWA 2-yard line with a chance to score. 

West Alabama finally regained its offensive form with 2:49 to go in the third quarter, as Danny Hobbs capped a 4-play, 45-yard drive with a 13-yard touchdown run.  Ryan Smith's point after attempt was no good to keep the game at 30-7 UWA.

The Tigers put the finishing touches on the victory with George Michael Rowe's 2-yard touchdown run with 5:02 to go in the game.  UWA covered 96-yards on 11 plays to take a 37-7 lead.

UWA finished the game with 459 yards of total offense, including 261 yards rushing.  DSU closed with 204 yards on just 53 plays.  The Statesmen also turned the ball over a total of six times, leading to 21 UWA points.  

DSU at halftime crowned Alanna Ferguson Homecoming Queen, while Phi Mu Fraternity claimed the Spirit Award for the week.  

The Statesmen will be back in action on Saturday, Nov. 3 at the University of Indianapolis.  Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. and the game will broadcast on the Statesmen Sports Network starting at 5 p.m. with the DSU Alumni Association Game Day Report.  Matt Jones, J.T. Webb and Herb Brooks will have the call.