CLEVELAND, Mississippi - No. 19 Delta State University defeated No. 3 North Alabama at Parker Field - McCool Stadium in a matchup of the top two teams in the Gulf South Conference, 33-28.  Delta State outrushed the visitors to hold the time of possession advantage, 36:33 - 23:27.

Following a pair of punts on the first two possessions for Delta State (7-1, 5-1 GSC), the Statesmen were given a short field after Artavius Morgan intercepted the North Alabama quarterback at the North Alabama 37.  Vince Sciorrotta connected on the 25-yard field goal with 4:29 remaining in the opening quarter for the first score of the game. 

After a North Alabama (7-1, 4-1 GSC) punt, Tyler Sullivan marched the Delta State offense 71 yards in 9 plays over 2:59 that culminated in a D'Juan Bellaire seven-yard scoring run.  Vince Sciorrotta added the point after to give DSU the 10-0 advantage with 6:54 until halftime.

On the ensuing North Alabama drive, Randall Boyd stopped the UNA quarterback on 4th down to cause a turnover with 5:04 until halftime.  Eddie McCadney followed James Johnson into the end zone from one yard out to cap an 11 play - 61 yard drive to give Delta State the 17-0 advantage into halftime.

North Alabama found the end zone on the second play of the second half with a 77-yard scoring play as Luke Wingo connected with Delvon Carpenter.  Taylor Pontius added the point after to put the Lions on the scoreboard, 17-7.

Late in the third quarter Sullivan threw his third interception of the game to Philbert Martial.  Martial fumbled the return and the ball and was recovered by Michael Gibbs to keep possession for the Statesmen.

Following a pair of punts and two interceptions on the first four drivse of the third quarter, Sciorrotta connected on a 29-yard field goal with 8.9 seconds left on the clock.  Before the kick, Delta State drove 58 yards in nine plays while running 2:26 off the clock.

Wingo connected with Carpenter for a second touchdown, this time from 21 yards out, making the score 20-14 with 12:42 remaining in the game. 

Delta State answered on the ensuing drive as Bellaire added another rushing score, this one from 14 yards, with 9:12 left on the clock after a nine play 45 yard drive.  The point after was wide, leaving Delta State with the 26-14 lead.  North Alabama answered by returning the ensuing kick 89 yards for the touchdown to close the gap to five points, 26-21.

Following the return, UNA attempted the onside kick that Josh Pinkston recovered with 8:54 remaining.  Justin Holt delivered a punt the was downed at the North Alabama 3-yard line by Tayvon Benjamin.

Trailing late in the game, the Lions elected to go for it on 4th down and inches from their own 12 yard line.  Landy Tullo knifed into the backfield and stopped the play for a one-yard loss.    McCadney scored his second rushing touchdown on the first play after the turnover, giving Delta State the 33-21 lead with 5:15 remaining.

North Alabama added a late touchdown when Mingo found Dre Hall in the back corner of the end zone with 3:09 remaining in the game after a nine play drive that covered 75 yards. 

Delta State marched 75 yards to run out the clock with seven rushing plays and one pass to complete the home victory. 

Sullivan ended the day 26-for-38 passing with 241 yards and three interceptions.  Casey Osborne hauled in nine receptions for 101 yards.  Sullivan also led the rushing attack with 66 yards.  Bellaire rushed for 62 yards  and two touchdowns while McCadney rushed for 36 yards and a pair of scores.   

Defensively, the Statesmen were paced by eight tackles from Rory Island and six stops by Richard Nash.  Delta State ran 92 plays for 410 yards compared to 69 plays for 344 yards.  The Statesmen converted 10-of-20 third-down conversions and were 1-for-1 on fourth-down.  Delta State scored of 6-of-7 trips inside the red zone.

The Statesmen will return to the field on Nov. 8 when Concordia College visits Parker Field - McCool Stadium at 2 p.m.