TIGERVILLE, S.C. – Four quarters were not enough for the Crusaders (4-5) of North Greenville University and Delta State University on Saturday, Nov. 4, as the Statesmen (7-3) claimed a thrilling 33-30 overtime victory on Homecoming/Senior Day at Younts Stadium. The overtime win was the first for coach Todd Cooley in his tenure at DSU.   
 
"There is absolutely no quit in this team and we are not dead yet," Cooley said after the thrilling victory. "We have a huge home contest next week versus Florida Tech for Homecoming and we need the entire DSU family to come support the Statesmen on Saturday at Parker Field-McCool Stadium at 2 p.m."
 
The victory kept Delta State's postseason hopes alive, after being ranked No. 7 in this week's NCAA Division II Super Region II rankings. The new poll will come out on Monday, Nov. 6 at 3:30 p.m.
 
"We know we are down to a one-game season and we have to stay focused on the team in front of us," Cooley added. "Florida Tech is an exceptional football team and we will have our hands full next Saturday."  
 
THE BASICS

• Score: Delta State 33, North Greenville 30 (Overtime)
• Records: Statesmen (7-3) | Crusaders (4-5)
• Date: Saturday, Nov. 4 | 2:30 p.m. EST Kickoff
• Location: Younts Stadium | Tigerville, S.C
• Attendance: 4,451
• Series: Delta State leads the all-time series 2-0
• Get Social: Twitter - @DeltaStateFB | Facebook – DSUStatesmen | Instagram – DSUAthletics

 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• After a Brandon Tillman interception set the Statesmen up at the NGU 20-yard line, three plays later Collin Willis rumbled for an 8-yard touchdown to put DSU up 7-0 with 12:58 to play in the first quarter.
• Delta State's defense forced another three-and-out on NGU's second possession of the game, setting up the Statesmen at their own 47-yard line after the punt. Willis connected with Chris Robinson for a 20-yard touchdown pass to put the Statesmen up 14-0 with 7:20 to play in 1^st quarter.
• North Greenville's Tracey Scott finally put the Crusaders on the scoreboard, rushing for a 32-yard touchdown with 10:51 to play in the 2^nd quarter. Scott's fourth touchdown of the season cut Delta State's lead to seven points, 14-7.
• With 1:07 to play in the half, Will Hunter connected with Christian Bruce on a 43-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 14-14.
• After holding the Statesmen to a quick three-and-out before the half, NGU's Matt Gravely gave the Crusaders their first lead of the game, 17-14, with 0.8 seconds remaining in the half on a 48-yard field goal.
• Neither team managed to put points on the scoreboard in the third quarter, as NGU maintained its 17-14 lead.
• On the first play of the fourth quarter, Hunter found Harold Hilton on a 4-yard touchdown pass to extend the Crusaders' lead to 10, 24-14 with 14:55 to play in the game.
• Delta State finally answered with 11:14 to play, as Robinson plunged into the endzone from three yards out to cut NGU's lead to 24-21. The drive covered 80 yards in nine plays in 3:23.
• With the Statesmen facing a 4^th-and-Goal from the 1-yard line trailing 24-21, Breck Ruddick fought his way into the endzone to give DSU a 27-24 lead with 27.7 seconds left in the game. Vince Sciorrotta's extra point attempt was blocked.
• After NGU drove to the DSU 34-yard line with 4.2 seconds remaining, Gravely nailed a 51-yard field goal as time expired to send the game into overtime tied at 27-27.
• On NGU's first possession of overtime, Gravely nailed a 35-yard field goal to put the Crusaders back up 30-27.
• It would be a short-lived advantage for the Crusaders, as LaDarion Peterson crashed-in from 5-yards out to give the Statesmen the 33-30 road overtime victory at Younts Stadium.

Offensive Notables:

• Both team ran 38 plays in the first half, with North Greenville amassing 212 yards of total offense and Delta State 169.
• DSU's Collin Willis was 11-of-14 passing for 83 yards and a touchdown, while Will Hunter completed 10-of-20 passes for 155 yards with a touchdown and an interception for the Crusaders.
• Delta State finished the night with 384 yards of total offense on 80 plays, while North Greenville amassed 438 yards on 74 plays.
• The Statesmen rushed for a game-high 252 yards, including 184 yards on 34 carries and a touchdown by Chris Robinson. LaDarion Peterson added 52 yards and a score.
• Collin Willis was 11-of-17 passing for 83 yards with a touchdown, while Breck Ruddick was 5-for-5 for 49 yards.
• Willis Chambers caught a career-high eight passes for 34 yards, with Robinson adding three grabs for 43 yards and a touchdown.
• Ashton Heard led NGU with 98 yards rushing while Tracey Scott rushed for 96 yards and a touchdown.
• Will Hunter finished the night with 257 yards passing on 19-of-33 attempts with a pair of touchdown and one interception.
• Christian Bruce caught seven passes for 131 yards and a score.
• After scoring the first 14 points of the game, the Statesmen closed regulation with the final 13 points.  

 
Defensive Notables:

• Brandon Tillman picked up his second interception of the year while making four tackles in the secondary.
• Tyrell Brown led the Statesmen with nine tackles and Landry Tullo finished with eight stops.
• Delta State tallied eight tackles-for-loss and three sacks in the win.
• NGU's Brandon Burger led all defenders with 11 tackles.    

 
Special Teams:

• Vince Sciorrotta finished the day 3-for-4 on extra point attempts.
• Sam Barge averaged 35.7 yards per punt on seven kicks, but allowed only one return by NGU.
• NGU's Gravely was 3-for-4 on field goal attempts, including a 51-yard kick to force overtime.

  
Up Next:

• The Statesmen return to Parker Field-McCool Stadium next Saturday, Nov. 11, as Delta State hosts Florida Tech for Homecoming. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. For a complete listing of Homecoming events and activities, please click here. Matt Jones, Philip Tang and Lane Quinton will have the call on the Statesmen Sports Network starting at 1 p.m. with the DSU Alumni Association Statesmen Gameday Report.