Box Score STEPHENVILLE, Texas – Andrew Jones' 33-yard game-winning field goal as time expired Saturday, Oct. 6 propelled the Delta State University Statesmen (2-3) to a 38-35 come-from-behind victory over the Tarleton State University Texans (2-3) at Memorial Stadium.  The Statesmen recovered from a 28-15 deficit to start the fourth quarter by outscoring the Texans 23-7 in the fourth quarter.  The win also kept DSU perfect on the road at 2-0 and ended a two-game skid for coach Jamey Chadwell and the Statesmen.

The Statesmen made the most of their first effort on special teams, blocking Tarleton State's Isaac Arellano's punt attempt with Rondreaus Truesdale recovering it for a touchdown to take the early 6-0 lead. Trevor Wooden plunged in from two yards out for the two point conversion to make it 8-0 with 10:16 to play in the first quarter. 

Tarleton State wasted little time getting back into the contest, as Aaron Doyle connected with Cordell Valentine for a 4-yard touchdown strike on their next possession.  The drive covered 79-yards on 11 plays in 4:50.  The Texans quarterback was 5-of-7 on the drive.

After the Statesmen failed to find any offensive rhythm, the Texans drove 72-yards on seven plays as Doyle found Zach Henshaw on a 7-yard wheel route for a touchdown with 31 seconds remaining in the first.  Blake Barnes connected on the extra point to put Tarleton State up 14-8. 

The second quarter almost expired without any points being put on the board.  After a Statesmen fumble, the Texans had a huge chance to make it a larger lead as time waned in the quarter, but the Statesmen defense stood strong and forced a turnover as Rory Island stopped Henshaw on a fourth and goal dive from the 1-yard line. 

DSU failed to move the ball offensively and with 47 seconds had to punt the ball away.  Andrew Jones delivered a 62-yard boomer to the TSU 19-yard line.  After two quick Doyle completions, the junior quarterback overthrew his intended receiver and was picked off by DSU senior safety Montavious Hill with 21 seconds left in the half. 

On the next snap, Trevor Wooden found Erick Clayton in the back of the endzone for a 50-yard touchdown pass with three seconds left in the half.  Jones' extra point put the Statesmen up 15-14 as the half expired. 

TSU finished the half with 180 yards of total offense, while DSU amassed 128. 

On the first drive of the second half, Doyle engineered a 75-yard, five play scoring strike to reclaim the lead 21-15 with 13:02 remaining in the third quarter.  Doyle connected with Clifton Rhodes, III on a 43-yard touchdown pass.  It was Doyle's third touchdown pass of the game. 

The Statesmen took the next drive at the 25-yard line after the touchback and marched to the TSU 26, but the drive stalled forcing a Jones 41-yard field goal attempt.  TSU blocked the long kick and took possession at the Texans' 41-yard line. 

Doyle and company quickly marched down field to extend the lead 28-15, as Henshaw ran in from 6-yards out for the score.  Barnes' point after attempt was good to give the Texans the 13-point lead with 3:37 to play in the third.

Delta State and Wooden finally found the endzone in the fourth, as the junior quarterback rumbled in for a 13-yard touchdown with 14:48 to play in the fourth quarter.  Jones' PAT was no good to make the score 28-21 TSU.  The drive took 3:39 and covered 75 yards on 10 plays.

On TSU's next possession, the Statesmen “Black Swarm” defense stoned the Texans and forced a quick punt.  Three plays later, the Statesmen had tied the game at 28-28 on Rondreaus Truesdale's 34-yard touchdown run with 11:37 to play in the game.   The scoring play was setup by a 33-yard pass play from Wooden to Kevin Jackson at the TSU 34-yard line. 

DSU's defense once again shut down Doyle and the Texan offense to force an Arelleano punt.  With the ball at the DSU 27-yard line, the Statesmen quickly marched down the field for their third straight touchdown of the fourth quarter on Wooden's 2-yard option keeper to go up 35-28 with 6:13 to go.  The drive took just six plays and less than three minutes off the clock.  

Tarleton State finally quelled the Statesmen onslaught with a nine-play, 75-yard drive in 3:15.  Doyle hooked up with Arthur Buckingham on a 28-yard touchdown pass to tie it at 35-35. 

DSU failed to move the ball on the ensuing drive and punted to TSU with 1:06 to play.  On the first play of the Texans' drive, Doyle's long pass attempt was picked off by Kenny Barnes and returned to TSU 22-yard line. 

DSU attempted two run plays, including Wooden's 2-yard run to the center of the field to setup Jones' field goal attempt.  With four seconds on the clock and the game in the balance, Jones' calmly nailed the 33-yard game-winning field goal to send the Statesmen to the 38-35 victory. 

The Statesmen finished the contest with 511 yards if total offense on 58 plays, while the Texans amassed 385 yards on 75 plays.  Wooden totaled 310 yards of total offense and accounted three touchdowns in the win.  The junior from High Springs, Fla., native rushed for 87 yards and two touchdowns, while completing 12-of-18 passes for 223 yards and another score. 

Rory Island led the DSU defense with a career-high 13 tackles.  Ixavier Triplett finished with eight stops, while Hill closed with seven and an interception.

Doyle closed the game with 293 yards on 27-of-39 passing with four touchdowns and two interceptions.        

The Statesmen return to Parker Field-McCool Stadium next Saturday, Oct. 13, as the Wolves of the University of West Georgia travel to Cleveland for a Gulf South Conference showdown.  Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. and the DSU Breast Education and Early Detection Program will sponsor the “Pink Out Parker Field-McCool Stadium” event to help bring about greater awareness of cancer in the Mississippi Delta.  Fans wearing a predominance of pink will receive free admission to the contest.