Elisabetta Zengaro
0
Albany State Univ. ASU 1-3
40
Winner Delta State Univ. DSU 4-0
Albany State Univ. ASU
1-3
0
Final
40
Delta State Univ. DSU
4-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
ASU Albany State Univ. 0 0 0 0 0
DSU Delta State Univ. 6 21 10 3 40

Game Recap: Football | | Caroline George

Statesmen Defense Stymies Rams in 40-0 Defeat

CLEVELAND, Mississippi – The No. 5 Delta State University football team shutout its first NCAA Division II opponent since 2006 in a 40-0 victory over Albany State on Saturday afternoon at Parker Field McCool Stadium.

The Basics
  • Score:  Delta State 40, Albany State 0
  • Records: No. 5 Delta State (4-0), Albany State (1-3)
  • Date: Saturday, Sept. 26 | 2:00 p.m. (CST) Kickoff
  • Location: Parker Field-McCool Stadium | Cleveland, Miss.
  • Series: Statesmen lead 2-0.
 
How It Happened
 
Offense:
  • On the opening drive of the contest, the Statesmen offense marched 78 yards in 10 plays, resulting in a two-yard rushing touchdown from signal caller, Tyler Sullivan. A failed two-point conversion made the score at 6-0 just 2:59 into the contest.
  • DSU's first possession of the second quarter finished with Sullivan finding James Johnson on an out-route for the score. The Green-and-White went up 13-0 following a Vince Sciorrotta PAT.
  • Greg Sims' second interception of the season was brought back for a 40-yard touchdown at the 10:31 mark, giving DSU the 20-0 advantage.
  • Justin McArthur picked up his first touchdown of the season, as he ran up the middle untouched from 12 yards out, to make the score 27-0 with 7:20 to go in the first half. The score marked McArthur's first touchdown since the 2013 season after an injury benched him last year.
  • A Statesmen scoring drought was shattered when Sciorrotta sent a 36-yard field goal through the uprights at the 8:26 mark in the third quarter, providing DSU with the 30-0 lead.
  • Cleveland product Eddie McCadney picked up his third touchdown of the season, on a four yard rush, with 1:27 remaining in the third quarter. A made PAT from Sciorrotta notched the score at 37-0.
  • Sciorrotta extended the DSU lead to 40-0 with 4:05 left in the contest with a 45-yard field goal, two yards shy of his career-long 47 yards that he knocked through the uprights a year ago versus Central State. 
Defense:
  • ASU's best scoring opportunity of the first half came on the opening play of the first quarter when quarterback Caleb Edmonds fumbled at the DSU one yard line.
  • Rams kicker Stephan Whitehead missed a field goal from 25 yards out with 25 seconds remaining in the first half.
  • Sims' interception in the second quarter brought DSU's total to nine.
  • The defense held the Rams to 128 rushing yards, a team that entered the contest averaging 144 yards per game.
  • With the final seconds winding down, Albany State turned the ball over on downs inside the six-yard line on its last possession to secure the shutout.
 
Special Teams:
  • Sciorrotta went a perfect 4-for-4 on PATs and 2-for-2 in field goals. He has made 14 of his last 16 attempts, dating back to last season.
  • Punter Cody Mills averaged 48 yards on two punts.
 
Key Stat
  • Entering today's contest, Albany State's defense had allowing just 134 yards passing per game, one of the nation's top contenders. Sullivan and company passed for 340 yards.
 
Game Changer
  • Delta State's defense made the necessary strides in the red-zone, as the Rams were 0-for-3 in red-zone conversions.
 
Notables
  • The Green-and-White have outscored their opponents 190-69 in 2015.
  • Delta State held a  471-341 advantage in total offense.
  • The last time DSU shut out a Division II opponent was Nov. 11, 2006 in a 53-0 win over Arkansas-Monticello. Delta State also shutout Southern Arkansas 22-0 that season.
  • DSU had the narrow upper hand in rushing yards 131-128.
 
From the Coach
"The defense played well all day—only thing I'm upset about is our three turnovers. We've got to go back to work. That's unlike us. We don't need to be doing that, but I thought we came out. We were ready to play, and I was very, very proud of the defense right from the beginning today."
 
"Next week is going to be tough. It's our first Gulf South Conference game, but we just have to keep getting better. You know we've got a big loss today upfront with Jonathan Steube. We've got to figure out what we're going to do there but hey, we are 4-0. We expected to be 4-0, and we're doing what we're supposed to do. Now we've got to try to get better and get ready for a tough Florida Tech team here next week."

Up Next
Delta State will open Gulf South Conference play against Florida Tech at Parker Field-McCool Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 3. The matchup serves as the GSC Game of the Week and will be televised on ESPN3. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
 
 
Print Friendly Version