COMMERCE, Texas – No. 10 Delta State University used a big fourth quarter performance to take down No. 18 Texas A&M Commerce, 51-44, in a thriller at Memorial Stadium on Saturday night.
 
The Basics

• Score:  Delta State 51, Texas A&M Commerce 44
• Records: No. 10 Delta State (2-0), No. 18 Texas A&M Commerce (1-1)
• Date: Saturday, Sept. 12 | 7:00 p.m. (CST) Kickoff
• Location: Memorial Stadium | Commerce, Texas
• Series: Series tied 3-3

 
How It Happened
 
Offense:

• The Statesmen scored first with a three-yard rushing touchdown from D'Juan Bellaire, his first of the season, following Joreco Beckwith's first interception of the season. After a made PAT from Vince Sciorrotta, DSU took the early 7-0 lead with 11:40 left in the first quarter.
• Shortly after, A&M Commerce responded with a Richard Cooper 19-yard rushing score and a PAT to notch the score at seven apiece.
• In two consecutive possessions, the Lions converted on two field goals, a 31- and 23-yarder from Krister Martinez to go up 13-7.
• Sciorrotta sent a 35-yard field goal through the uprights to close out first-quarter scoring. The Lions held the narrow lead, 13-10.
• Second-half scoring started with a 17-yard pass from Harrison Stewart to Lance Evans to extend the Lions' lead to 20-10.
• Bellaire carried another three-yard rush across the goal line with 6:25 left in the half, but Sciorrotta's PAT was blocked to keep the score 20-16 in favor of Commerce.
• TAMC's Evans caught another pass from Stewart, this time for a 20-yard score to give the Lions the 27-16 advantage.
• DSU scored in the final seconds of the first half via Eddie McCadney's one-yard scamper to notch the score at 27-23 to head into the locker room.
• In third-quarter action, TAMC struck first with an Evans 15-yard touchdown to the corner of the end zone. The Lions held the score in their favor 34-23.
• The Statesmen answered quickly in their next possession marching 80 yards in nine plays, ending with a Tyler Sullivan two-yard rushing touchdown with 3:59 left in the third quarter. The Lions maintained the lead 34-30.
• TAMC's Chase Thrasher kicked a 44-yard field goal at the 2:56 mark to give the Lions the 37-30 advantage.
• Stewart connected with Darby Smith for a 65-yard score to open the final quarter of play, giving A&M Commerce the 44-37 lead.
• A 32-yard touchdown pass from Sullivan to Jarvis York with 3:36 to go tied the game for the third time.
• TAMU's Chase Thrasher missed a 48-yard field goal attempt with the game tied 44-44 with 2:09 remaining to set up the Statesmen's game winning drive.
• With the final seconds winding down, Sullivan connected with Collin Floyd for a 23-yard touchdown to give Delta State its first lead, 51-44, since the early minutes of the first quarter

 
Defense:

• Beckwith's two interceptions resulted in touchdowns for Delta State, one in the first quarter and one in the second.
• Wilson Curtis and Erin Brown contributed two huge back-to-back sacks at midfield late in the second quarter to stymie the Lions' offense.
• DSU's defense gave up the most points it has surrendered since 2013, but held A&M Commerce's offense to just 24 rushing yards, 162 passing yards, and one touchdown in the fourth quarter.
• Delta State combined for four sacks and a loss of 19 yards.

 
Special Teams:

• Sciorrotta went 6-of-7 in PATs and 1-for-1 on field goals with his 35-yard field goal at the 2:09 mark in the first quarter.
• Cody Mills and Sciorrotta handled kickoff duties to combine for 518 yards on nine opportunities.
• The left-footed kicker, Sciorrotta, moves up to No. 4 in the DSU record book for career scoring with 190. He passes Matt Dean (2008-11) with 184.

 
Key Stat

• Delta State's offense narrowly outplayed Texas A&M Commerce, running 97 plays for 591 total yards to the Lions' 87 plays on 560 total yards.

 
Game Changer

• Five penalties for 68 yards against TAMC played a factor in the closing minutes of the contest.

 
Notables

• Each team was perfect in red-zone conversions at the half, DSU 4-of-4 and TAMC 5-of-5.
• The last time the two squads met was on Sept. 13, 2013 at AT&T Stadium. The Lions took the win 45-37.
• Sullivan went 34-of-56 for 491 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions on the night.
• Jarvis York led the receiving core with eight grabs for 137 yards and one score.
• Bellaire led the run game with 22 carries for 87 yards and two touchdowns.
• Beckwith shined for DSU's defense with 10 tackles, six solo and four assisted, and two interceptions for 63 yards that resulted in touchdowns.

 
Up Next
Delta State returns home to Parker Field-McCool Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19 to take on Kentucky Wesleyan for Pig Pickin'. Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m.