CLEVELAND, Miss. —The Delta State University football team outscored visiting Tarleton State 27-3 over the first three quarters to earn a 34-16 win in its season opener, on Saturday at Sellers Stadium-Parks Field.

THE BASICS
Score:  Delta State 34, Tarleton State 16
Records: Delta State 1-0  | Tarleton State 0-1
Date: Saturday, September 2nd ; 2:00 p.m. CT Kickoff
Location: Sellers Stadium ; Cleveland, Miss.
Series: Delta State leads 3-0

HOW IT HAPPENED
Offense

7:22, 1st Quarter
Statesmen senior cornerback Devontae Wilson intercepted a pass from Tarleton State junior quarterback Derek Kiser in the right corner of the Delta State end zone, running it back all the way to give the Statesmen a 6-0 lead and their first score of the 2017 season.

7:21, 2nd Quarter
Delta State senior running back Chris Robinson ran untouched into the left corner of the end zone from five yards out to give the Statesmen a 13-0 lead over the Texans.  The 80-yard drive was sparked by a 44-yard pass from DSU junior quarterback Breck Ruddick to sophomore wide receiver Leon Green. The Statesmen then strung together two consecutive running plays— a 14-yard rush from Ruddick and a 11-yard rush from senior wide receiver Kam Myers— to set up Robinson's score.

2:54, 2nd Quarter
Tarleton State followed with a 74-yard drive, but Delta State held the Texans to a field goal after two crucial pass break-ups by freshman defensive back Ty Woods and junior defensive back Brandon Tillman in the Delta State end zone.

1:38, 2nd Quarter
A little more than a minute later, the Statesmen responded when senior running back LeDarion Peterson fought through the heart of the Texans' defensive line for a 4-yard touchdown and increased the Delta State margin to 20-3.  A 34-yard rush up the middle by Robinson provided the catalyst on the 82-yard drive, moving the Statesmen from their own 34-yard line to the Tarleton State 32-yard line.  Robinson's run was followed by a 15-yard sideline interference penalty on the Texans.

6:15, 3rd Quarter
The Statesmen struggled to convert on their first two possessions of the second half, including a fumble by Peterson, before Delta State senior Jamoral Graham ignited the team with a 26-yard punt return to the Tarleton State 27-yard line.  On the very next play from scrimmage, Ruddick connected with sophomore wide receiver Marquis Carter on a screen pass to give the Statesmen a 27-3 margin

11:58, 4th Quarter
Ruddick capped off a 63-yard drive with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Green on the right side of the end zone.  The drive began when senior safety Johnquavious McBride intercepted a pass from Kiser at the Delta State 6-yard line, halting what was a methodical 7-play, 45-yard drive by the Texans.  The interception was the first of McBride's Delta State career; the redshirt senior transferred from Missouri Southern before last season.

6:06, 4th Quarter
Tarleton State senior quarterback Zed Woerner lofted a 22-yard pass to junior wide receiver Savon Rollison in the left corner of the end zone for the Texans' first touchdown of the game, cutting the Statesmen's lead to 34-10.  Delta State started the defensive stance from a disadvantage, incurring two consecutive unsportsmanlike penalties for 30 yards after an interception of DSU senior quarterback Collin Willis' pass and a late hit by Tarleton State led to multiple player ejections.

2:39, 4th Quarter
The Texans struck again on their next possession, when Jeff Thomas made a leaping grab to the left side of the end zone.  The 30-yard touchdown pass from Woerner shaved the Statesmen's advantage to 34-16 after a failed two-point conversion attempt.

Defense
McBride and senior middle linebacker Landry Tullo each notched 7 solo tackles on the day; Graham added six tackles, two of those for a loss of 11 yards.

The Statesmen had two interceptions with a total of 131 return yards.

Special Teams
Senior kicker Vince Sciorrotta converted on 5-of-6 point-after attempts.

Freshman punter Sam Barge made his debut for the Statesmen, averaging 37.5 yards on 6 punts, with a long of 49 yards.

KEY STATS:
Robinson racked up 111 yards on 15 rushes, while scoring his 25th career touchdown as a Statesman.

Ruddick completed 11 of his 16 pass attempts for 151 yards and two touchdowns.  His longest pass of the day was the 44-yard connection to Green.

Green had two receptions on the day for a game-high 55 yards, including his first career touchdown.

GAMECHANGER:
Wilson's 100-yard return marked the longest interception return for a touchdown in Statesmen history; the previous long was 96 yards by Chuck Thomas in 1937.

UP NEXT:
The Statesmen take on Chowan University at home next Saturday; kickoff will be at 2 p.m. CT.