CLEVELAND, Miss. - In the first meeting between the Mississippi schools since the 1995 season, Delta State University won the game 27-3 to claim the seventh Gulf South Conference Championship.  DSU won the prior titles in 1998, 2000, 2007, 2008, 2010, and 2011.

Delta State (9-1, 6-1 GSC) got on the scoreboard first with a eight yard scoring run from D'Juan Bellaire after a seven-play, 71-yard drive covering 1:54 on the opening drive for the Statesmen.  The extra point from Vince Sciorrotta gave DSU the early 7-0 lead.

Following four straight drives that ended in punts by each team, Mississippi College (1-9, 0-7 GSC) started at their own 21 and drove 74 yards over 16 plays before a turnover on downs at the DSU5.  The Choctaw drive took 10:29 off the clock but resulted in no points.

Delta State advanced the turnover 85 yards over nine plays before Sciorrotta connected on a 27-yard field goal to give the Statesmen a 10-0 lead.  Mississippi College got on the scoreboard with five seconds left in the first half as Hunter Estess connected on a 27-yard field goal for the Choctaws. 

The Statesmen held a slight edge over the Choctaws in total yards in the opening half, 209-203.  Mississippi College held the ball for 21:45 in the opening half compared to just 8:15 for Delta State. 

Delta State scored on the opening drive of the second half as Tyler Sullivan found Justin Leavy on a post pattern from the right slot for a 20-yard touchdown.  Sciorrotta added another extra point to extend the Statesmen lead to 17-3 after a drive that covered 70 yards on nine plays.

Sullivan added a 14-yard touchdown passes to Ricky Hunt at the 7:48 mark in the fourth quarter after marching DSU 44 yards over six plays in just 1:43.  Sciorrotta added the point after and a 31-yard field goal with 2:44 remaining in the game to cap the scoring at 27-3 as Delta State clinched the GSC title.

Sullivan went 23-for-34 for 295 yards and a pair of touchdowns.  Eddie McCadney carried the ball 17 times for 108 yards.  Casey Osborne hauled in eight passes for 86 yards and Rory Island recorded a career-high 15 tackles, including two for loss and a sack. Richard Nash also eclipsed the double-digit mark with 12 tackles, one for a loss.

Two Choctaw defenders recorded double-digit tackles as Reggie Bennett had 17 stops and Kaleb Coleman recorded 12 tackles. 

Delta State outgained the opponent 532-256, with the Statesmen rushing for 237 yards.  Delta State went 5-for-6 in the red zone while also converting 5-of-13 third down attempts.  DSU was on the short side on the time of possession battle, 37:56-22:04.

The 2014 NCAA Division II Football Playoff Brackets will be announced during the NCAA selection show on Sunday at 4 p.m.  Fans are invited to watch the broadcast on the scoreboard at Parker Field - McCool Stadium from the Dorgan Center located in the south end zone with the doors opening at 3 p.m.