Box Score CLEVELAND - The Delta State University football team dropped a shootout to Abilene Christian 34-28 Thursday night at Parker Field at McCool Stadium.

The loss for the Statesmen (1-3) is the third straight loss for the Statesmen at home. It is the first time the Statesmen lost three straight games at home since 1997 under head coach Todd Knight when the Statesmen lost five straight.

The Statesmen had 498 yards of total offense in the game and beat the Wildcats (3-2) in almost every major statistical category, including turnovers and penalties.

Delta State had three turnovers, including two interceptions and a fumble, which led to Abilene Christian's first 17 points of the game.

The Wildcats finished with 320 yards of total offense.

The Statesmen also had 15 penalties for 131 yards, including a pair of penalties that negated a kickoff return from the 5-yard line by Lavon Downs taken to the Wildcats 12-yard line.

Brant Botill had his first carries of the season at running back and started Statesmen scoring with a 2-yard touchdown run in the second quarter to bring the score to 10-7 ACU.

The Statesmen took a 14-10 lead after Kevin Jackson broke open a pass play for a 57-yard touchdown. Jackson finished with five catches for 131 yards and the one score.

After the Wildcats retook the lead turning the second Trevor Wooden interception into a touchdown to go up 17-14, Rondreas Truesdale broke open a 59-yard run for a touchdown to go up 21-17.

The Statesmen went into the half trailing after Abilene Christian scored late in the half to go up 24-21.

After ACU added a field goal to start the second half, Reed Faulkner gave the Statesmen the lead with a 17-yard touchdown pass from Wooden to go up 28-27.

The Statesmen were 4-for-4 on extra points, after coming into the game 4-for -8 on the season.

Abilene Christian took the lead for good at the beginning of the fourth quarter, scoring on a 28-yard touchdown pass.

The Statesmen will head to the road next week when Delta State travels to Tarleton State on October 6. The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. start in Stephenville, Texas.