CLEVELAND, Miss. - Delta State fell short in the return game versus West Georgia, 37-27, in the second round of the NCAA Division II Playoffs.  The Wolves were the only team to defeat the Statesmen in the regular season, picking up the 24-16 victory on Oct. 18 in Carrollton.

Following a Delta State punt on the opening possession, West Georgia drove 31 yards in six plays resulting in a Seth Hinsley touchdown run from one yard out.

Delta State (9-2, 6-2 GSC) answered as Tyler Sullivan found a diving Casey Osborne in the end zone for a 28 yard scoring pass.  The drive covered 75 yards in seven plays.  Vince Sciorrotta tied the game, 7-7, with the extra point.

West Georgia(11-2, 5-2 GSC)  responded as Danarius Appling rushed to the right side for the 18 yard score after a 33 yard drive in six plays to retake the 14-7 lead.

As Delta State lined up on second down, Ricky Hunt slipped on his route and Sullivan's pass was intercepted by Marcus Sayles at the DSU36 at returned to the 12 yard line.  West Georgia started the first three drives inside of Delta State territory.  Dallas Dickey found Shaq Hall for the six yard scoring pass, with the extra point giving the Wolves a 21-7 first quarter advantage.

The Statesmen responded by marching 75 yards in ten plays over 3:18 as Eddie McCadney rushed up the middle from one yard out.  West Georgia blocked Sciorrotta's PAT to hold the lead to 21-13.  The ensuing kickoff was dropped by the wind before West Georgia could return it and De'Koven Ware picked it up at the UWG30 for another DSU possession.

Delta State covered the distance in seven plays before Sullivan connected with D'Juan Bellaire from six yards for the score.  Sciorrotta added the point after to cut the margin to one point, 21-20.

West Georgia was forced to punt on the next drive, but a pair of personal fouls penalties on the Statesmen start the drive at their own 35 yard line.  Sullivan marched the Statesmen 65 yards in 10 plays before finding Justin Leavy on the nine yard scoring pass on 4th and one.  Sciorrotta's kick gave DSU the 27-21 advantage and gave the Statesmen 20 unanswered points.

Another Delta State turnover set the Wolves up with a short field.  West Georgia added a 34 yard score from Hinsley on 4th and short but a bad snap on the point after tied the game, 27-27 with 2:29 remaining until halftime.  Sullivan tossed his third first half interception, but West Georgia was unable to convert on 4th down on a toss to the end zone with 25 seconds left in the first half. 

At halftime, DSU outgained UWG 301-150 yards with the Statesmen rushing for 113 yards on 27 carries.

West Georgia took the opening kickoff of the second half and marched down the field before Dickey threw a pass to the near pylon that Cedrick Tillman intercepted, his first of the season.  Delta State was unable to move the ball and had to punt into the wind.  The kick from Justin Holt was downed at midfield.

Brandon Lucas scored the first points of the second half with a 10 yard rush up the middle, giving the Wolves the 34-27 lead.  West Georgia covered 50 yards in 10 plays over 3:44.

Following each team swapping punts, DSU drove 59 yards in 11 plays before failing to convert 4th down from the nine yard line of West Georgia trailing 34-27.  The Wolves drove 78 yards in 16 plays before Hunter Heck added a 30 yard field goal to stretch the lead to ten points, 37-27, with 4:44 to play.  Delta State fumbled the ensuing kick with West Georgia grabbing the loose ball at the Delta State 26. 

West Georgia ran four plays to run off 1:41 before turning the ball over on downs without gaining a yard.  Delta State took over, tailing by ten and drove 33 yards over five plays.  Jarvis York was pulled down one yard short on fourth down at the West Georgia 41 yard line with 2:11 to play.  The Wolves were able to kneel on the ball four times to run out the clock and pick up the road playoff victory.

Sullivan ended the day completing 21-of-38 passes for 260 yards with a trio of touchdowns and interceptions.  York, Leavy, and Hunt each had four receptions with York leading the group with 51 yards receiving.  Osborne covered 43 yards to break 1,000 yards receiving on the season, giving him1,007 receiving yards in 11 games.  Bellaire rushed eight times for 56 yards, with McCadney rushing for 42 yards.

Rory Island topped the Statesmen defense with nine tackles, including a pair of sacks. Wilson Curtis, Trey Shaw, and Landry Tullo each added eight tackles. 

With the loss the Statesmen are now 14-7 in NCC postseason play, including 8-3 at Parker Field-McCool Stadium.