ROME, Ga. – No. 17 Delta State University (4-0, 2-0 GSC) rolled up 504 yards of offense, 234 on the ground and 270 in the air, to earn a 54-20 win over Shorter University (0-4, 0-2 GSC) on Saturday, Sept. 23 at Barron Stadium. The game was called with 10:35 left in the fourth quarter due to several lightning strikes in the area.
THE BASICS
- Score: No. 17 Delta State 54, Shorter University 20
- Records: Statesmen (4-0, 2-0 GSC) | Hawks (0-4, 0-2 GSC)
- Date: Saturday, Sept. 23 | 12:00 p.m. CT Kickoff
- Location: Barron Stadium | Rome, Ga.
- Attendance: 1100
- Series: Delta State leads the all-time series 5-1
- Get Social: Twitter - @DeltaStateFB | Facebook – DSUStatesmen | Instagram – DSUAthletics
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Statesmen scored on their first three possessions of the first quarter with Vince Sciorrotta connecting on a 20-yard field on DSU's opening possession to cap a 14-play, 68-yard drive.
- Chris Robinson scored a pair of rushing touchdowns to finish off the next two offensive possessions. Robinson scored on a 24-yard run with 4:11 left in the first and a four-yard run to give the Statesmen a 17-3 lead at the end of the opening quarter.
- A Barnett Baily 90-yard kickoff return set up a Brady Hammel 26-yard field goal with 2:55 to go for the Hawks only score in the opening quarter.
- The Hawks scored their first touchdown of the day on a 51-yard pass from Tyler Pullum to Elijah Gilbert to cut the deficit to 17-10 with 10:41 left in the second quarter.
- Tyler Harrell caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from Breck Ruddick to extend the Statesmen lead to 24-10 with 7:47 remaining in the second.
- Pullum hooked up with Kartez Carr for a 40-yard touchdown to pull the Hawks to within seven-points, 24-17, with 4:00 minutes to play in the first half.
- A 33-yard Robinson run set up a LaDarion Peterson 11-yard rushing scored with 2:38 left in the second to give the Statesmen a 31-17 lead at intermission.
- The Statesmen outscored the Hawks 16-3 in the third quarter to take a 47-20 lead into the final stanza. Kevin White sacked Pullum in the end zone on the SU's opening offensive possession for a safety to give the Statesmen a 33-17 lead. Gary Fletcher caught a 65-yard touchdown pass from Ruddick at the 8:09 mark and Kam Myers hauled in a 37-yard scoring strike from Ruddick with 7:16 left in the quarter to increase the lead to 40-17.
- Hammel closed the third quarter scoring with a 31-yard field to make the score 47-20 with 27 second to go.
- Freshman Trey Roberson scampered in from 17-yards out to push the lead to 54-20 to start the fourth quarter scoring.
Offensive Notables:
- Robinson recorded his second straight 100-yard rushing performance, rushing for a season-high 118 yards and two touchdowns. Robinson had 131 all-purpose yards and caught two passes for 13 yards.
- The 118-yard performance was the second straight 100-yard game on the ground for the Bude, Miss., native.
- Ruddick completed 19-of-27 passes for a career-high 272 yards and three touchdowns.
- The Green-and-White eclipsed the 500 total offense yard mark for the first time since rolling up 573 yards against Kentucky Wesleyan in 2016.
- Fletcher's 65-yard touchdown catch was the first of his career.
- Roberson 17-yard touchdown run was the Mobile, Ala., native's first collegiate touchdown.
Defensive Notables:
- Devontae Wilson intercepted a Pullum pass in the third quarter and Ovenson Cledanord caused a fumble that was recovered by Brandon Tillman to start the fourth quarter, both setting up Statesmen touchdowns.
- Johnquavious McBride recorded nine tackles to lead the Statesmen.
- White's sack for a safety was the first safety for the Statesmen since Fort Valley State on Sept. 3, 2015 in the Fort Valley, Ga.
- The Statesmen held Shorter to 302 yards of offense, including a season-low 40 yards on rushing.
Special Teams:
- LaDarion Peterson returned three kickoffs for 89 yards to eclipse the 1000-yard kick return barrier. Peterson now has 1,086 career return yards.
- Vince Sciorrotta made all seven of his extra points and connected on a 20-yard field in the first quarter for 10 points on the afternoon. The Cummins, Ga., native adds to his school record sand now sits at 280 career points.
Key Stats:
- The Statesmen had a season-high 504 yards of total offense and 234 yards on the ground.
- The Statesmen forced a pair of turnovers in the second half and are now plus-six on the season
Game Changer:
- Delta State scored on its first five possession of the game and two of its first three possessions of the third quarter.
Up Next:
- The Statesmen remain on the road against instate rival Mississippi College at 7 p.m. in the annual Heritage Bell Classic in Clinton, Miss. The game will the Florida Gulf Coast GSC TV Game of the Week on ESPN 3.
