Box Score VALDOSTA, Georgia - Delta State University football used a strong effort from the special teams unit to jump to an early first quarter lead, that would hold up in a battle between two Gulf South Conference rivals. A blocked PAT and two forced fumbles on back-to-back kickoffs led to Statesmen touchdowns giving DSU a 21-6 after the opening quarter.

Valdosta State and Delta State swapped punts on the opening drives to begin the game. The Blazers found the end zone with their second possession when quarterback Jake Medlock rushed for a six yard score. Anthony Pistelli had his point after try blocked when a high snap gave time for Jordan Howard to rush around the right side of the offensive line and lay a hand on the kick.

Tyler Sullivan responded by going 5-for-6 on the ensuing Statesmen drive as he connected with Casey Osborne on a 37 yard touchdown down the right sideline. Vince Sciorrotta connected on the extra point to give DSU the 7-6 lead.

Mark Moore had his kickoff fielded by Vincent Dallas at the 3 yard line and returned to the VSU 12 before Jon Knox delivered a hit that knocked the ball loose from the returner. Artavius Morgan recovered the fumble for Delta State at the Blazers 14 yard line.

Sullivan took the ball in from five yards away on the third play of the drive after D'Juan Bellaire ran on the previous two plays for nine yards. Another Sciorrotta PAT extended the lead to 14-6.

Valdosta State fumbled the ball away again on the following kickoff, as Nick Davis was stripped by Ronnie Smith after a 41 yard return, Joreco Beckwith recovered for the Statesmen at the VSU 44.

The Statesmen offense scored quickly, as Sullivan found Justin Leavy on the first play from scrimmage for a 44 yard score. After Sciorrotta added his third PAT stretching the lead out to 21-6, with just under seven minutes left to play in the opening quarter.

Pistelli connected on a 26 yard field goal after one minute of play expired in the second quarter, making the score 21-9. Pistelli added a career-long 49 yard field goal following a Sullivan interception to draw the score to 21-12. A quarterback change for the Blazers saw Kaleb Nobles enter the game. Nobles led Valdosta State to the end zone with 4:21 remaining in the second quarter on a pass to Donovan Bolden from 10 yards out. Pistelli's PAT drew the Blazers within two, 21-19.

Timothy Foy added a three yard score of the left side of the offensive line before Sciorrotta added another PAT to move the lead back to nine, 28-19, with 1:37 until halftime.

Valdosta State engineered a 12 play, 77 yard drive that found the end zone on the final play of the half as Nobles found Austin Scott from one yard out. Pistelli added his second PAT to cap the halftime score, 28-26.

Delta State (2-0, 1-0 GSC) received the ball to start the second and marched 75 yards in nine plays capping with Bellaire's 12 yard rush off the left side. The PAT from Sciorrotta moved the score to 35-26 after just over three minutes off the clock.

VSU responded with a strong drive before Richard Nash picked off Nobles pass at the DSU nine yard line with 9:21 remaining in the third quarter to turn away the Blazers after eight plays covered 57 yards and had the Blazers set up at the Statesmen 15 yard line.

After picking up a first down following the turnover, Sullivan connected with Osborne on an 85 yard score up the right sideline. Sciorrotta added another PAT to give DSU the 42-26

advantage with 8:10 left in the third quarter. The reception marked a career-long for Osborne, eclipsing the 84 yard haul at North Alabama last season.

Delta State would be backed up to their own 13 before Sullivan connected with Rod Davis for 40 yards up the home sideline. The drive stalled out outside of the red zone and settled for a Sciorrotta FG attempt that fell short from 42 yards away. The score remained 42-26 as action moved to the final quarter. Sciorrotta would miss wide right on the next drive from 35 midway through the fourth quarter after the Statesmen drove 72 yards over 14 plays.

The Statesmen defense rose to the occasion forcing an incomplete pass on 4th and three from the DSU 31 yard line with 5:58 remaining.

Following a Statesmen punt, Nobles drove the Blazers (2-1, 0-1 GSC) offense 45 yards in just four plays with a 31 yard scoring pass to Chris Anderson. DSU denied the two point conversion and led by 10 with 3:45 left on the clock, 42-32.

Romelo Wilson cemented the Statesmen victory as he intercepted Nobles in the left flat and raced 31 yards to the end zone. Sciorrotta connected on the point after to move the score to 49-32.

Sullivan ended the day 41-for-64 passing for 502 yards and three scores, the 41 completions marks a Delta State single-game record. Osborne eclipsed the 100 yard receiving plateau for the third straight game dating back to last season and second to start this year with nine receptions for 192 yards while finding the end zone twice. The back-to-back 100-yard performances marked the first time a Statesman has accomplished the feat since 2009, when Trevar Deed did the same on the road at North Alabama and West Alabama. Leavy hauled in five receptions for 100 yards while Ricky Hunt and Jarvis York each had seven receptions.

Bellaire rushed for 86 yards on 19 carries to lead the ground attack. The Statesmen rushed 37 times for 120 yards. The Delta State offense ran 101 plays for 622 yards.

Wilson Curtis and Knox led the defense with seven stops a piece, with Curtis adding two tackles for loss, including a sack. The Statesmen defense forced four turnovers, two interceptions and two fumbles.

Delta State will host Central State on September 27 at 6 p.m. in the Annual Pig Pickin' game from Parker Field-McCool Stadium