Box Score ROME, Ga. – The Delta State University football team turned three Shorter University turnovers into 21 points to come away with a 38-17 victory in Rome, Ga. at Barron Stadium on Thursday, Oct. 24. Trenton Warren recorded six tackles, one pass break up and two of the key fumble recoveries.
 
DSU (5-2, 3-1 GSC) found balance in the game with the rushing racking up 182 yards and four different rushers finding the end zone. Tyler Sullivan continued to improve completing 22-of-28 passing for 214 yards and a touchdown. Rory Island led the Statesmen defense with 10 tackles on the night.
 
Warren, the senior defensive back, jump-started the Statesmen defense recovering a Shorter (0-8, 0-5 GSC) fumble on the opening possession of the game to give the Delta State offense an opportunity to strike first.
 
Freshman signal caller Tyler Sullivan and company marched down the field for 69 yards on 12 plays, finishing with a 3-yard pass to Reed Falkner to go ahead 7-0 with 9:49 remaining in the first quarter.
 
The Statesmen offense struck again quickly, following a great stand by the defense unit, putting together a four play 36-yard drive to go ahead 14-0 with 3:10 remaining. Justin McArthur punched through the goal line for the Green-and-White on a 3-yard scamper.
 
After being held scoreless the first quarter of action, the Hawks put together a seven play 78-yard drive to close the gap 14-7 with 9:20 left in the second quarter. The drive culminated in a Bradley Moon 4-yard rush up the middle after two SU fourth down conversions.
 
The half closed with Delta State rushing for 55 yards on 13 carries and 110 yards passing. Timothy Foy led Statesmen rushing attack with 26 yards and with Sullivan going 13-of-17 passing and a score. Casey Osborne recorded four receptions for 47 yards.
 
Eric Dodson led Shorter in both the rushing and passing categories carrying the ball eight times for 45 yards and completing 6-of-8 of his pass attempts for 55 yards.
 
Delta State stalled on the opening possession of the second half after entering the Shorter red zone, but the defense quickly put the ball back into the offenses hands by forcing a fumble on Hawks' first offensive play. Freshman linebacker Landry Tullo recovered the fumble and Richard Freelon crashed into the end zone from 7 yards out to give the Green-and-White a 21-7 with 12:04 on the clock.
 
Turnovers plagued the Hawks in the contest and on the ensuing kickoff the Statesmen forced yet another, recovering the ball on the Shorter 20 yard line. Sullivan capped off a quick 3-play drive on a 2-yard rush up the middle to put DSU ahead 28-7 with 11:18 left in the second quarter.
 
The Hawks offense found some cohesion and put together an 8 play 60-yard drive that culminated in a Guy Hunt 40-yard field goal to notch the score at 28-10 with 4:17 left in the third quarter.
 
Vince Sciorrotta responded in kind for the Statesmen, booting through a 25-yard field goal to give the Green-and-White a 31-10 advantage with 00:39 ticks on the clock in the third quarter.
 
The Hawks did not go away as Kirk Wilson put SU into the end zone on a 23-yard rush around the right end 31-17 13:32 remaining, putting the score at 31-17.
 
The Statesmen salted away the game after a Foy rushing touchdown to go up 38-17 with 1:51 on the clock in the final period of play.
 
Shorter racked up 236 yards rushing on 55 attempts with Eric Dodson completing 11-of-15 passing for 136 yards. Jordan Shaw was the leading tackler on the night with 10 total tackles.

Delta State returns back to Parker Field – McCool Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 2, to welcome Valdosta State University for Homecoming 2013. Kickoff is slated for 4 p.m.