Box Score

CLEVELAND, Miss. – The Delta State University football team scored the second most points in school history Saturday, Nov. 9 on Senior Day, as the Statesmen (7-2) rolled to a 77-0 victory over Concordia College in front of a crowd of 3,123 at Parker Field-McCool Stadium.

The 77 points were the most scored by the Statesmen since Delta State's 84-0 victory over Illinois-Chicago in 1969 at Parker Field-McCool Stadium.  The victory also kept the Statesmen perfect at home on the season at 4-0.

"Proud of the way we played today defensively," DSU head coach Todd Cooley said.  "We played the type of game we needed to today against Concordia and I'm honored to have had the pleasure of coaching such a great group of seniors. With that said, we still aren't done yet."   

Prior to the game, Delta State Athletics honored its seniors in band, cheer and football.  The senior Statesmen football players included: Kenny Barnes (SS), Marshall Burgin (LB), Adrian Dinkins (DE), Reed Falkner (TE), Richard Freelon (RB), Dominique Hersey (C), Andre Luscious (LG), Fred Marshall (FS), Trenton Warren (CB) and student-assistant coach Jasper Williams.  

After Ricky Hunt returned a Concordia punt 72-yards to the 23-yard line, the Statesmen took a quick 7-0 lead with 8:44 to play in the first as Tyler Sullivan connected with Jarvis York on an 11-yard touchdown pass.  The drive covered 23 yards on six plays in 1:44. 

The Statesmen defense forced the Hornets to punt on their next possession, but Ken Gray knifed through the Concordia special teams to block the attempt, scooping up the loose ball and returning it 15 yards for the score.  Vince Sciorrotta knocked through the PAT to make it 14-0 with 6:56 to go in the first quarter.

Delta State added to its lead with 3:09 to go in the first, as Michael Davison rumbled into the endzone from three yards out to make it 21-0.  The drive was set up by Fred Marshall's interception at the Concordia 23-yard line. 

With the Hornets looking to mount a comeback in their fourth possession, the Statesmen defense once again held them to a three-and-out, forcing a Concordia punt. 

The Statesmen struck with efficiency in their next possession.  In just two plays, Sullivan found Casey Osborne in the back of the endzone for a 21-yard touchdown with 10 seconds remaining in the quarter for a 28-0 lead.  The drive covered 58 yards in less than a minute and Sciorrotta's PAT was good. 

DSU's defense forced its second turnover of the game, as Kenny Barnes recovered Terrell Edwards-May's fumble at the 41-yard line of Concordia. 

Two plays into the second quarter, Ricky Hunt hauled in a 29-yard touchdown pass from Sullivan to put the Statesmen up 35-0 with 14:27 to play in the half.  Sciorrotta's PAT was good. 

With 9:20 to go in the second half, Dandrick Jackson stepped in front of Jeremy Buffington's pass and returned it 18-yards for the touchdown.  Jackson's interception gave the Statesmen a 42-0 lead after Sciorrotta's PAT.

The Hornets had their second botched punt attempt of the day, as Tobias Griffin's snap sailed over the head of the punter Edrick Toeran, who fell on the ball at the 8-yard line. 

The Statesmen cashed in on the next play, as Richard Freelon powered in for the 8-yard touchdown.  With 6:32 to go in the half, Delta State led 49-0. 

Another Hornets turnover, a Romelo Wilson interception, setup DSU's last score of the half, as Timothy Foy rushed for a 4-yard touchdown to put the Statesmen up 56-0 with 1:21 to play in the half.  Sciorrotta's PAT was good.

The Statesmen closed out the half with 255 yards on just 31 plays, while holding the Hornets to a mere 35 yards on 38 plays.  Sullivan completed 7-of-13 passes for 178 yards and three touchdowns, while Osborne finished the half with 115 yards receiving and a score on five grabs. 

Delta State forced six turnovers in the first half, including three interceptions and three fumbles. 

DSU tacked on its first score of the third quarter, as D'Juan Bellaire capped a one-play drive with a 3-yard touchdown run.  The drive was setup by Marshall Burgin's blocked punt that started the drive at the Concordia 3-yard line.  Sciorrotta's PAT made it 63-0 with 6:58 to play in the third. 

After the Hornets turned it over for the eighth time in the game, Justin McArthur scored his fifth rushing touchdown of the season, a 12-yard scramble with 5:25 on the clock in the third.  Matthew Wiley's PAT put the Statesmen up 70-0. 

On the Hornets' final drive of the third quarter, Concordia drove the ball the deepest into DSU territory it had all game at the 33-yard line.  The Green-and-White defense bristled, as Burgin picked off Buffington's pass and returned it to the Concordia 36-yard with 30 seconds left in the third. 

The Statesmen quickly turned the turnover into points, as Bellaire scored his second touchdown of the half with 9:13 left in the game.  Wiley's PAT gave the Statesmen a 77-0 lead. 

Delta State finished the game with 387 yards on 48 plays, including 196 yards rushing and 191 yards passing.  Concordia had 142 yards on 57 plays, including 127 through the air.  The Hornets rushed for a mere 17 yards on 29 carries. 

McArthur led the Statesmen on the ground with 77 yards on 11 carries, including a touchdown.  Bellaire finished with 60 yards and two scores on six rushes, while Foy had 36 yards and Davison 12. 

The Statesmen did not attempt a pass in the second half.  

Defensively, the Statesmen were led by Barnes with six tackles and one tackle-for-loss.  Wilson Curtis, Jereco Beckwith and Dekovan Ware had five stops each.  Marshall Burgin had two tackles, but picked off one pass and blocked in punt in his final game at Parker Field-McCool Stadium.        

With a week left in the Gulf South Conference race and a three-way tie atop the table, the Statesmen will travel to the University of West Georgia next Thursday, Nov. 14 for the GSC-TV Live Game of the Week.  Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. CST. 

A victory by the Statesmen would give Delta State a share of its fifth league title in seven years and the first in coach Todd Cooley's tenure.  The Green-and-White captured GSC titles in 1998, 2000, 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2011.     

The game will also be broadcast on the Statesmen Sports Network beginning at 5:30 p.m. with the DSU Alumni Association Statesman Game Day Report. Matt Jones, Philip Tang and Mark Williams will have the call.