LIVINGSTON, Alabama – Eddie McCadney had three rushing touchdowns and No. 20 Delta State University (6-1, 4-1 GSC) scored 21 points off West Alabama (4-4, 1-3 GSC) turnovers to earn a 45-24 win and spoil the Tigers' Homecoming Saturday night at Tiger Stadium.
McCadney, who rushed for 93 yards on 20 carries, became the first Statesmen to score three rushing touchdowns in a game since Trevor Wooden against West Georgia in 2012. The three touchdowns also moved the Cleveland, Mississippi, natives total to a team-high eight rushing touchdowns.
Tyler Sullivan threw two touchdowns passes and rushed for one, while completing 19-of-30 passes (63 percent) for 158 yards.
Patrick Bethley and
Justin Leavy caught four passes and
Casey Osborne,
Ricky Hunt and
Jarvis York D.J Holley had two receptions to lead the DSU receivers.
The two teams traded field goals on their first offensive possession. Vince Sciorotta, who made seven-of-seven on PATs, kicked a 30-yard field goal for a 3-0 Statesmen lead at the 9:21 mark before Mark Grant answered from 49 yards out to tie the game with 7:13 left.
Tyler Sullivan completed five-of-seven passes for 73 yards to lead Statesmen on a nine-play, 75-yard scoring drive. Sullivan completed a 20-yard touchdown pass to
Ricky Hunt for a 10-3 lead at the 2:01 mark of the first.
The defenses set up touchdowns for both teams in the second quarter. Javonta Martin intercepted a DSU pass at the DSU 34 that led to a Kyle Caldwell to Tyshaan Alston six-yard touchdown to tie the game 10-10 with 10:53 to go the second quarter.
Justin Holt's 46-yard punt pinned the at the nine and two plays later
Randall Boyd recovered a Javae Swindle fumble at the UWA two. A Sullivan two-yard quarterback sneak on the next play gave the Statesmen a 17-10 lead with 8:02 remaining.
After a UWA punt, the Statesmen scored twice to close the first half. An
Eddie McCadney 40-yard run capped a five-play, 55-yard drive and gave DSU a 24-10 lead with 4:33 left.
Jon Knox recovered a fumble at the UWA trhree to set up a McCadney three-yard run and a 31-10 halftime lead.
Delta State added to the lead on its opening possession of the third quarter following a LaDarrell Hunt 32-yard run to the UWA 2. Two plays later after a penalty,
James Johnson caught a seven-yard touchdown pass from Sullivan for a 38-10 lead.
Daryl Collins returned a Holt 67-yard punt 87 yards for a touchdown to cut the DSU lead to 38-17 heading into the final quarter. The touchdown marked just the second third quarter score against the Statesmen with both scores coming on opponent non-offensive possessions.
The Statesmen started its third offensive drive of the night inside the UWA five when
Trey Shaw intercepted a Caldwell pass and returned it to the UWA two. DSU needed just one play to take advantage of the turnover, scoring on a McCadney two-yard run and a 45-17 lead with just over 12 minutes remaining.
UWA added the final score on a Collins six-yard touchdown reception from Caldwell with 1:35 left.
The Statesmen had 316 yards of offense on the night, 205 yards rushing and 158 yards passing while the DSU defense limited the Tigers to 316 total yards, 156 in the second half.
Delta State played the game in honor of fallen Statesmen
Adrian Dinkins, who passed away in a one car accident last week in Ridgeland, Mississippi.
The Statesmen return home to host No. 3 North Alabama Saturday at 6 p.m. at Parker Field-McCool Stadium.
