CLEVELAND, Miss. – The No. 24 Delta State University football team held No. 17 West Georgia to a season low 281 yards in a 17-7 victory, on Saturday, Sept. 16 at Parker Field-McCool Stadium.  The Statesmen (3-0, 1-0 GSC) reversed what was a five-game losing streak against the Wolves and won their conference opener for the first time since 2014.   
 
THE BASICS

• Score: No. 24 Delta State 17, No. 17 UWG 7
• Records: Statesmen (3-0, 1-0 GSC) | Wolves (2-1, 0-1 GSC)
• Date: Saturday, Sept. 16 | 2:00 p.m. Kickoff
• Location: Parker Field-McCool Stadium | Cleveland, Miss.
• Attendance: 5,255
• Series: Delta State leads the all-time series 19-13.  Before Saturday's victory by DSU, the Wolves had won the last five meetings between the two schools.
• Get Social: Twitter - @DeltaStateFB | Facebook – DSUStatesmen | Instagram – DSUAthletics

 
HOW IT HAPPENED
1st Quarter, 7:30

• On their second offensive possession of the game, the Statesmen put together a methodical 16-play, 75-yard drive, which ended in a 22-yard field goal by senior kicker Vince Sciorrotta and gave DSU an early 3-0 edge.  The scoring drive was kept alive by a 16-yard rush from quarterback Breck Ruddick on a crucial third down, which advanced the Statesmen to the Wolves' 20-yard line.

2nd Quarter, 13:50

• West Georgia managed the first touchdown of the game, when running back Travis Custis ran through the center of the Delta State defensive line from 7 yards out for the score and a 7-3 lead for the Wolves.  Quarterback Willis Candler connected on a 20-yard pass to wide receiver Thomas Lester to help UWG into the red zone for the first time and set up the touchdown.

2nd Quarter, :01

• The Delta State offense struck with one tick left in the second quarter, as Ruddick found wide receiver Tyler Harrell on a 13-yard pass to the left sideline.  Diving for the pylon, Harrell just barely made it into the end zone for his first reception of the season.  Sciorrotta connected on the PAT to give the Statesmen a 10-7 lead going into halftime.  A 24-yard pass from Ruddick to wide receiver Kam Myers highlighted the 6-play, 59-yard drive.

3rd Quarter, 2:02

• Ruddick handed off to Ledarion Peterson four straight times in the red zone; on the fourth, the senior running back bounced off multiple tackles and muscled his way through the Wolves' defensive line for a 7-yard touchdown and his fourth score of the 2017 season.  Of the Statesmen's 47 yards on the drive, 37 came on the ground.  Sciorrotta again tacked on the PAT, increasing DSU's lead to 17-7.

                                            
Offensive Notables:

• Robinson broke the century mark for the third time in three games, rushing for 106 yards on 25 carries Saturday.  The senior running back also accounted for one of the Statesmen's two touchdowns.
• Delta State racked up 383 total yards against the Wolves.  Entering Saturday's contest, the Statesmen were ranked fifth offensively in Division II, averaging 301 yards per game.
• Ruddick was 27-for-41, passing for 141 yards and distributing the ball to 10 different Statesmen receivers.  The junior quarterback added 64 yards on the ground.

 
Defensive Notables:

• The Delta State defensive line held West Georgia to just 17 total rushing yards in the first quarter, a new season low for UWG.  Entering Saturday's contest, the Wolves' run game was ranked in the top-ten nationally in yards per game.
• Junior transfer Dante Williams had the first fumble recovery of his Delta State career, scrambling for the ball after defensive end Zane Samuel forced it out of UWG quarterback Willie Candler's hand midway through the second quarter.
• West Georgia made it into Delta State territory only three times in the first half.
• Defensive end Eric Sadler had a big day for the Statesmen, notching 4 tackles, including a crucial sack of UWG's Candler just when the Wolves were driving at the end of the second quarter.
• Safety Tyrell Brown made a leaping interception in the left corner of the Delta State end zone with 10:30 left in the third quarter to halt a productive second half opening drive by the Wolves and keep the Statesmen's 10-7 lead secure.  The INT was the senior's first of the season.
• Senior Johnquavious McBride had team-high ten tackles, all of which were solo wrap-ups.
• Ovenson Cledanord sealed the win for the Statesmen, intercepting a pass from Candler at the DSU 6-yard line with 1:09 remaining in the game.  Last week's GSC Defensive Player of the Week, Cledanord also had six tackles on the day, including two for a loss of yards.

 
Special Teams:

• Vince Sciorrotta continues to add to his Delta State scoring record.  The senior kicker made a 22-yard field goal and was 2-of-2 on PATs Saturday, bringing his career points total to 270.

Other Notes:

• Offensive tackle George Roberts, defensive tackle Brandon Gaddy, and kicker Vince Sciorrotta served as captains Saturday.
• Delta State recognized active service members and military veterans Saturday as part of Military Appreciation Day.

 
Key Stat:

• The Delta State defense penetrated the Wolves' offensive line repeatedly, tallying four sacks and 11 tackles for a loss in Saturday's upset.

 
Game Changer:

• On third down-and-goal with 14:46 remaining in the fourth quarter, Delta State linebacker Keith Flanigan sacked Candler for a loss of ten yards and pushed the Wolves from the DSU 7-yard line to the 17-yard line.  West Georgia kicker Trey Wiggins then missed the subsequent 34-yard field goal attempt, turning the ball over on downs and preserving the Statesmen's 10-point lead.

Up Next:

• The Statesmen travel to Shorter University next Saturday, Sept. 23, for their first road game of the season and second conference match-up.  Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. in Rome, Georgia, and will be televised on ESPN3.