CARROLLTON, Georgia – The No. 2 West Georgia football team scored 21 unanswered points in a 34-24 victory over visiting Delta State in the Gulf South Conference opener for both teams on Saturday at University Stadium.
 
The Basics

• Score: No. 2 West Georgia 34, Delta State 24
• Records: Wolves (3-0), Statesmen (1-2)
• Date: Saturday, Sept. 17 | 2:00 p.m. (ET) Kickoff
• Location: University Stadium | Carrollton, Ga.
• Series: DSU leads 18-13.
• Get Social: Twitter - @DeltaStateFB | Facebook – DSUStatesmen | Instagram – DSUAthletics

How It Happened
 
Offense:

• The Statesmen opened the scoring just 6:51 into the contest, when Zane Samuel blocked a punt and returned it 16 yards for a touchdown. Cody Mills' extra point was blocked.
• Mills gave the Statesmen a 9-0 lead, when he connected on a 31-yard field goal with 1:41 remaining in the opening quarter.
• Mills extended the DSU lead to 12-0 with a 37-yard effort with 13:33 left in the half.
• The hosts scored their first touchdown of the game when Will Gardner floated a pass to Walter Hibbler from 14 yards out, cutting the lead to 12-6 with 5:38 left until halftime.
• West Georgia took the lead, 13-12, 2:18 later on a blocked punt by Marcus Sayles that was returned for a touchdown by Laronji Vason.
• After trailing 13-12 at the half, the Statesmen responded, when facing fourth and goal, Chris Robinson plunged in from one yard out. The two-point conversion failed, giving DSU an 18-13 lead with 8:40 left in the third quarter.
• With 4:47 left in the third quarter, D'Juan Bellaire was stopped on fourth and one at the UWG 45.
• The Wolves took advantage, scoring 21 unanswered points on three straight touchdown passes by Gardner.
• The Statesmen scored the final points of the contest with 5:46 remaining on a one yard run by Bellaire. The two-point conversion pass attempt by Tyler Sullivan carried Justin McArthur out of bounds, making the score 34-24 with 5:46 left.  
• After two straight incomplete passes, Sullivan was sacked for the fifth time in the game on fourth and nine from the UWG 49.
• On the last drive of the game, DSU defensive lineman Brandon Gaddy was injured. He was taken to a local hospital for precautionary reasons.

Defense:

• Wilson Curtis led DSU with seven tackles, including five solo stops, a tackle for loss and an interception. Landry Tullo had six tackles, while Joreco Beckwith, De'Quan Rddick, Devontae Wilson and Chandler Ector had five stops apiece.
• After allowing just one sack over the first two games, UWG sacked Sullivan five times.

Special Teams:

• Mills punted four times for an average of 41 yards. He also had a fake punt pass for 45 yards.
• Four kicks were blocked in the game, including two punts.

 Key Stats:

• Sullivan was sacked five times.
• All four Gardner touchdown passes were at least 14 yards.
• The Statesmen were 5-of-18 on third down and 3-of-6 on fourth down.

Game Changer

• Following a failed run on fourth and one by the Statesmen, with 4:47 left in the third quarter, UWG scored 21 straight points.

Notables

• Robinson now has six touchdowns this season.
• The last time the Statesmen started 1-2 was in the 2012 season.
• The Statesmen have failed to throw a touchdown pass in two straight games.
• UWG has claimed five straight victories over DSU.
• Bellaire now has 17 career touchdowns.

 Up Next

The Statesmen welcome Shorter University for a Gulf South Conference contest. DSU will also be celebrating its 31st Pig Pickin Barbeque Festival.