Box Score

CLEVELAND, Miss. – In the 81st Homecoming game at Delta State (6-2, 4-1 GSC), fans saw an instant classic at Parker Field-McCool Stadium as the Statesmen claimed a 63-55 victory over Valdosta State (5-3, 3-3 GSC) in front of 7,213.  The game saw a combined 1,177 yards and 55 points in the fourth quarter.  Redshirt freshman Tyler Sullivan accounted for six touchdowns and established a new school record for total offense with 583 yards.   

The Homecoming victory was the 50th in program history for DSU, as the Statesmen moved to 50-19-2 in the annual fall bash.  Senior Tori Jenkins was crowned Homecoming queen during ceremonies at halftime.

The victory, paired with North Alabama's 30-27 overtime thriller over West Alabama, created a logjam at the top of the Gulf South Conference standings.  DSU, UNA and UWA are all tied at 4-1 in league play headed into the final two weeks of the regular season.

The Statesmen took the opening drive 75-yards in 11 plays, as redshirt freshman quarterback Tyler Sullivan connected with Ricky Hunt on a 23-yard touchdown pass to put DSU up 7-0 with 12:05 to play in the first quarter.  The green-and-white converted on three third down attempts in the drive. 

Valdosta State struck right back with a 67-yard drive to tie the game at 7-7.  Freshman quarterback Kaleb Nobles hooked up with Seantavious Jones on a 19-yard fade route foe the first VSU score. 

Sullivan directed his second-straight scoring drive, as the quarterback led the Statesmen on a 13-play, 85-yard march to take a 14-7 lead on a 7-yard rush with 3:41 to go in the first quarter.

After DSU forced a punt by the Blazers on their next possession, the Statesmen fumbled the return and set VSU up at the DSU 33-yard line.  The Blazers advanced the ball to the DSU 13-yard line, but Anthony Pistelli's 30-yard field goal sailed wide right.

The Blazers got a huge break on DSU's next possession, as Sullivan's pass was picked off by Kenny Murphy and returned for a game-tying touchdown with 12:47 to play in the second quarter.

DSU bounced right back, as Sullivan connected with Ricky Hunt on a 26-yard touchdown pass to go up 21-14 with 9:31 left in the half.  The scoring strike was the second time in the half that the duo connected on a touchdown.

The Statesmen once again held the Blazers, but gave the ball right back as Dominique Wheeler picked-off Sullivan for the second time in the game.

VSU took advantage of the turnover for the second time in the game.  The Blazers covered 78-yard on just three plays, as Jones hauled in a 39-yard touchdown pass from Nobles, his second touchdown toss of the half.

Sullivan shook off the interception and quickly found Patrick Bethley on a 38-yard touchdown strike to go up 28-21 with 4:13 to play in the half.  The drive covered 73 yards on nine plays in 2:25. 

The Statesmen totaled 367 yards on 52 plays in the half, including 297 yards passing, as Sullivan connected on 20-of-30 attempts with three touchdowns and two interceptions. 

VSU amassed 241 yards on 36 plays, as the Blazers rushed for 88 yards.  Nobles completed 12-of-19 passes for 153 yards with two scoring strikes and two interceptions.

After holding the Blazers on the first possession of the second half, the Statesmen struck pay dirt on Sullivan's 3-yard touchdown scamper to close a 14-play, 70-yard drive to take the 35-21 lead with 7:03 in the third.  DSU converted on two key third down plays in the drive to take the two touchdown lead. 

Sullivan and Hunt once again blistered the Blazer secondary, as the freshman quarterback connected with the junior receiver on a 66-yard touchdown, their third of the game, to put DSU up 42-21 with 2:28 to go in third.   

Nobles and Jones hooked up for the second time in the game to cut into the Statesman lead, 42-7, with 14:22 to play in the fourth.  Pistelli's point after attempt was blocked by Trenton Warren to keep it a 15-point lead. 

Justin McArthur answered back for the Statesmen with a 3-yard touchdown run off the left side.  The 7-play, 71-yard drive took just 2:40 off the clock and gave DSU a 49-27 lead. 

Dominque Wheeler's 70-yard interception return for a touchdown sliced into DSU's lead again, as VSU took advantage of yet another turnover to make it 49-34 with 10:08 to play.

After the Blazers held the Statesmen to a three and out, Jones hauled in his fourth touchdown pass of the game.  The scoring strike made it 49-41 with just 7:45 left in the fourth.

Needing a long drive, the Statesmen put together a 78-yard, 10 play march to answer the Blazers and put DSU back up by two scores, 56-41 on Richard Freelon's 7-yard run with 3:33 on the clock. 

The next three minutes would prove to be some of the longest in recent memory.  With 1:54 to play, Nobles completed his fifth touchdown pass of the night to Jones to make it 56-48. 

Jarvis York returned the ensuing onside kickoff 43-yards for a touchdown to extend the lead back to two scores with 1:48 to go, 63-48.

18 seconds later, Jones set a new Gulf South Conference record with his sixth touchdown reception of the game, a 1-yard grab from Nobles with 1:26 to go. 

DSU would fail to pick up the first down on the next possession, but punter Justin Holt coffin-cornered the Blazers at the 6-yard line with 29 seconds to play.  The Statesmen salted away the last few plays to seal the victory, 63-55. 

The two teams combined for 55 points in the fourth quarter.   

The Statesmen recorded 662 yards of offense on the evening, led by Sullivan's school-record 583 yards of total offense.  The Louisville, Miss., native completed 34-of-48 passes for 520 yards, including four touchdowns and three interceptions.  The former Northwest Mississippi CC transfer also rushed for 63 yards on 18 carries with two touchdowns. 

Sullivan's yards shattered the previous school mark of 508 yards set by Scott Eyster on Oct. 4, 2004 at Valdosta State.

Ricky Hunt turned in his best game as a Statesman, making 10 grabs for a career-high 206 yards and three touchdowns.  Hunt hauled in scoring plays of 23, 26 and 76 yards. He also tallied 36 yards on kick and punt returns for an all-purpose total of 242 yards. 

Patrick Bethley added six receptions for 80 yards and a 38-yard touchdown.

David Evans led the Statesmen with 11 tackles, including an interception that led to a DSU score.  Artavius Morgan added nine tackles, while Rory Island and Nick Houston finished with seven tackles each.  Trenton Warren added six tackles, an interception, two pass breakups and a key blocked kick.  Daniel Larocca also tallied 1.5 tackles-for-loss and a sack.

Valdosta State rolled up 515 yards of offense, as Nobles completed 31-of-52 passes for 351 yards and six touchdowns.  The Fitzagerald, Ga., native helped Jones establish a new GSC record for touchdown receptions with six. 

The Blazers also rushed for 164 yards on the night.  Austin Scott had 92 yards on 12 carries, while Cedric O'Neal added 64 yards on 11 rushes. 

Regginald Lewis led all Blazer receivers with 10 receptions.  Jones closed the night with 143 yards receiving on nine grabs with six scores.  Willie Downs added nine grabs for 109 yards.

Chris Pope led all defenders with 20 tackles and Justin Williams added 10.  Wheeler finished with two interceptions, but did not record a tackle. 

Delta State welcomes Concordia College to Parker Field-McCool Stadium next Saturday for Senior Day.  Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.  DSU will honor its band, cheer, cross country and football seniors prior to kickoff.  The game will be broadcast on the Statesmen Sports Network with the DSU Alumni Association Game Day Report.