Box Score CLEVELAND - The Delta State University Statesmen football team dropped the Gulf South Conference opener to rival North Alabama 20-12 Saturday night in the 27th annual Pig Pickin event.

The Statesmen (1-2, 0-1 GSC) scored three times in the game, but could not answer the Lions, who responded with touchdowns after each Delta State score.

The Statesmen took the lead in the beginning of the second quarter after quarterback Trevor Wooden scored on a 33-yard touchdown run to put the Statesmen up 6-0 after a missed extra point.

North Alabama (3-1, 1-0 GSC) answered with a five play, 60-yard touchdown drive of its own, capped off by a 15-yard touchdown run by Chris Coffey to go up 7-6.

However, the Statesmen took the lead heading into the half with a 22-yard field goal from Andrew Jones, putting Delta State up 9-7.

The Statesmen were on the one-yard line, but had a false start penalty to force the team into a field goal on the possession. The Statesmen had nine penalties for 76 yards. North Alabama had three penalties for 10 yards.

Lamonte Thompson answered for the Lions in the third quarter, breaking open a 79-yard touchdown run to go up 13-9, a lead that North Alabama never relinquished.

Delta State added another field goal early in the fourth quarter after a promising Statesmen drive was set back with penalties. Jones' 28-yard field goal brought the score to 13-12 Lions.

The Statesmen were three of 14 on third down conversions and one of two on fourth down conversions.

North Alabama responded immediately with a touchdown drive of its own after putting together a 9-play, 76-yard drive to go up 20-12.

The Statesmen had chances in the loss, as Dandrick Jackson intercepted two passes for the defense. The Delta State defense also forced three fubles in the game, but one went out-of-bounds before the Delta State had full possession. The Lions recovered another forced fumble by the Statesmen in the end zone for the final touchdown.

The Delta State offense had 336 yards of total offense to North Alabama's 236 yards. Neither team eclipsed the 100-yard mark passing. The Statesmen finished with 98 yards while the Lions had 16 yards of passing. The Statesmen had 22 first downs in the game to North Alabama's 10.

The Statesmen return to action Thursday night against Abilene Christian for a GSC-TV game of the week. The game will start at 6:05 p.m. at Parker Field-McCool Stadium.