FLORENCE, Ala. – The Statesmen football team of Delta State University suffered a tough 43-17 loss to No. 14 North Alabama on a rainy Saturday afternoon at Braly Municpal Stadium.

The Basics

• Score: Lions 43, Statesmen 17 
• Records: NR/No. 25 Delta State (5-4, 1-4 GSC), No. 21/14 North Alabama (6-2, 4-1 GSC)
• Date: Saturday, Oct. 31 | 1:30 p.m. (CDT) Kickoff
• Location: Braly Municipal Stadium | Florence, Ala.
• Series: Lions lead the series 32-26-1.

 
How It Happened
 
Scoring:

• Delta State's offense and defense combined for a quick score in the opening minutes of play. Following a recovered fumble from Randall Boyd, Tyler Cameron found Darius Powell for a 12-yard score through the left side of the end zone. A made PAT from Vince Sciorrotta notched the score at 7-0 in favor of DSU at the 13:53 mark in the first.
• In their next possession, the Lions used six plays to march 64 yards in 1:55 on their first score. UNA's Wingo rushed for the eight-yard score, coupled with a failed PAT attempt by Kevin Henke made the score 7-6 with 11:58 to go in the first quarter.
• A 26-yard field goal by Vince Sciorrotta with 30 seconds left on the clock closed out the first quarter scoring, giving the Green-and-White a 10-6 advantage.
• North Alabama answered with two touchdowns on consecutive possessions, spanning less than two minutes, to go ahead 20-10 over DSU with 13:47 left in the half.
• Wingo's 16-yard pass to Lee Mayhill at the 7:58 mark in the second quarter extended UNA's lead to 27-10.
• Another rushing touchdown from Lamonte Thompson and a 46-yard field goal from Henke gave the Lions the 36-10 advantage, going into the locker room.
• Although neither team scored in the third quarter, North Alabama scored nine seconds into the fourth on a 29-yard run by UNA's Diamond Simmons to give the Lions the 43-10 lead.
• With the final seconds ticking off the clock and the Lions threatening at DSU's one-yard line, De'Koven Ware forced a fumble that was picked up by Tayvon Benjamin and returend 95 yards, cutting the deficit to 43-17.

Defense:

• Boyd's fumble recovery on UNA's offensive first possession was a direct result of Delta State taking the early lead.
• Although the Statesmen gave up 43 points to the Lions, the defense held North Alabama below its season averages in rushing, passing and total offensive yards.
• Benjamin's fumble recovery for a touchdown marked the third defensive score for Delta State this season.

 
Special Teams:

• Boyd's blocked PAT in the second quarter marked his second of the season and sixth for the team. The Statesmen have blocked PATs in five of the nine games.
• Sciorrotta went 1-for-1 in field goal attempts and 2-for-2 on PATs.
• Cody Mills punted eight times for 329 yards, an average of 41.1 yards and a long of 58 with two downed inside the 20-yard line.

 
Key Stat

• Delta State suffered a three-quarter scoring drought. The Statesmen scored off of Sciorrotta's field goal at the 30-second mark in the first quarter and not again until Benjamin's touchdown after a fumble recovery at the 44-second mark in the fourth quarter.

 
Game Changer

• The punt attempt that slipped through the fingers of Mills resulted in a fumble recovered by North Alabama. The turnover led to a touchdown that gave the Lions a 17-point advantage.

 
Notables

• Delta State only accounted for 23 yards of total offense in the first quarter.
• DSU's offense recorded a season-low for total offense (219 yards).
• North Alabama's defense held the Statesmen to 219 yards of total offense, only the second time this season Delta State has not totaled over 300 yards.
• The 29-point deficit marks the largest margin of defeat since the Green-and-White lost at West Alabama, 48-14, in 2013.

Up Next
Delta State returns home on Saturday, Nov. 7 to host Valdosta State for homecoming and senior day at 4 p.m.