FORT VALLEY, Georgia - Delta State University football began the 2014 season by picking up the road victory at Fort Valley State University, 56-13.  The game was delayed 50 minutes by a weather delay.

Fort Valley took the opening kickoff downfield and utilized the mobility of Malcolm Eady to take the early 6-0 lead with a one yard touchdown run.  Eady set up the scoring play with a scramble in the pocket before delivering a strike to Michael Blackmon who was brought down at the 5-yard line after gaining 25 yards. 

Delta State (1-0) responded as Tyler Sullivan directed the offense downfield and threw a beautiful pass to the front pylon that Casey Osborne was able to haul in for a four yard score.  Vince Sciorrotta connected for the extra point to take the 7-6 lead.

Landry Tullo forced a fumble on the next Wildcat possession that Jereco Beckwith recovered on the Fort Valley State 34 yard line.  Sullivan connected on three consecutive passes after a Ladarrell Hunt rush to find the end zone on a pass to Justin Leavy for 12 yards, Sciorrotta added the extra point to extend the lead to 14-6.  The Statesmen scores were separated by less than two minutes.

Delta State added one more first quarter score as Sullivan ran for a three yard score on the final play of the opening quarter for the Statesmen 21-6 advantage.

Timothy Foy found the end zone with 6:29 left to play in the first half from three yards out, with the extra point adding to the DSU lead 28-6.  Foy added a one yard plunge into the end zone with 3:31 left to play in the first half.  Delta State took the 35-6 score into the intermission.  Sullivan completed 16-of-23 passes for 187 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Sullivan connected with Osborne at the 12:47 mark in the third quarter from 10 yards out, adding to the Statesmen advantage, 42-6, after Sciorrotta's extra point.

Delta State added a long touchdown as Eddie McCadney rumbled from 45 yards to collect his first touchdown at Delta State to continue to unanswered scoring streak, as the Statesmen led 49-6.

Travis Champion entered the game and found Osborne for the 49 yard score to push the score to 56-6.

Fort Valley (0-1) added a fourth quarter score as backup quarterback Otis Brown found Bolden Davis for a 6-yard touchdown over the middle to cut the score to 56-13.

The Statesmen defense turned away one more Wildcat scoring attempt with a fourth down stand at the goal line with 23 seconds remaining in the game.

Sullivan ended the day 25-of-33 for 258 yards and three scores, Champion went 5-of-9 for 78 yards and one score.  Osborne hauled in 12 receptions for 136 yards and three touchdowns with Jarvis York adding five receptions for 51 yards.

Hunt paced the ground game with 54 yards on eight carries while McCadney rushed for 52 yards. 

Jon Knox racked up eight tackles to pace the defense, with Tullo wrapping up seven tackles and Artavius Morgan collecting six.  Tullo added a pair of tackles behind the line of scrimmage.   Lawrence Hopkins picked off one pass in his DSU debut and returned it 22 yards to set up a Delta State scoring drive in the first half.

Delta State will have the next week as a bye week before returning to Georgia to play at Valdosta State on September 20 at 6 p.m. in the Gulf South Conference opener for each school.