CLEVELAND, Mississippi – The Delta State University football team capped the 2018 season with a 28-21 homecoming victory over Mississippi College on Saturday at Parker Field-McCool Stadium. The win is Delta State's seventh consecutive over the Choctaws. DSU is now 55-29-1 all-time in homecoming games and 22-15-2 versus the Choctaws.

Patrick Shegog turned in his best individual rushing performance of his career for the Statesmen in the win over MC. The Batesville native finished the contest with 203 rushing yards on 22 carries for an average of 9.2 yards per carry. He added 90 yards through the air with two passing touchdowns.

As a team, the Statesmen posted a season-best 304 rushing yards on 47 carries.

DSU also honored 23 seniors prior to Saturday's kickoff that participated in their final collegiate game.
  
THE BASICS
Score: Delta State 28, Mississippi College 21
Records:  Statesmen (2-8, 2-6 GSC), Choctaws (3-7, 1-6 GSC)
Date: Saturday, November 10, 2018 | 2 p.m. Kickoff | TOG: 2:19
Location: Parker Field-McCool Stadium | Attendance: 5,432
Series: Statesmen lead 22-15-2
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HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Statesmen averaged just over 10 rushing yards per carry on the first scoring drive, capped by a 12-yard touchdown run by Kelon Wilson with 7:11 remaining in the opening quarter.
• On the second play of the second quarter, the Statesmen went up 14-0 on a nine-yard touchdown pass from Patrick Shegog to Leon Green to cap a nine-play, 58-yard drive.
• The Choctaws got on the board with 2:29 remaining before halftime on a four-yard touchdown rush by Aaron Feazelle to cap a six-play, 84-yard drive.
• Following an interception, the Choctaws tied the game with 1:31 remaining before the break on a 27-yard touchdown pass from Feazelle to Ja'Mori Mark.
• The Statesmen opened the second half scoring on the first drive of the third quarter, capped by a four-yard rushing touchdown from Kelon Wilson.
• Shegog found Leon Green again for a touchdown pass, this time an 18-yard strike to give the Statesmen a 28-14 lead with 2:39 remaining in the third quarter.
• The Choctaws answered with 10:51 remaining in the fourth quarter to trim the DSU lead to 28-21 with a one-yard touchdown run on fourth and goal by Tiberis Lampkin to cap a 12-play, 56-yard drive.

 
OFFENSIVE NOTEABLES:

• Kelon Wilson's rushing touchdown midway through the first quarter was his team-high seventh rushing score of the season. He added another early in the third quarter.
• Shegog's touchdown pass to Leon Green early in the second quarter was his ninth of the. It was Green's third receiving touchdown of the year.
• Shegog recorded the longest rush of the season for the Statesmen midway through the second quarter at 59 yards.
• Shegog ended the game 10-for-14 on passing with 90 yards and two touchdowns. He added 22 carries for a career-high 203 rushing yards for an average of 9.2 yards per carry.
• Kelon Wilson added 24 carries for a career-high 99 rushing yards in the win.

 
DEFENSIVE NOTEABLES:

• DSU's Darren Gardenhire came up with his team-high fourth interception of the season at a key time with 1:40 remaining in regulation.
• David Herrington led the Statesmen with 13 tackles, including two for lost yardage. Chris Pickett and Vada King each added eight tackles in the win.
• Ovenson Cledanord had the Statesmen's only sack in the win, giving him 4.5 for the season.

SPECIAL TEAMS NOTEABLES:

• Taylor Crabtree, DSU's kicker, recorded his first career punt against MC midway through the fourth quarter, pinning the Choctaws at their own eight-yard line.
• Crabtree was 4-for-4 on extra-points in the win over MC, and ends the season at 23-for-25.

 
OTHER NOTEABLES:

• DSU is now 55-29-1 all-time in Homecoming games and undefeated against MC on the occasion.
• The Statesmen have now defeated MC in eight consecutive meetings, and improve to 22-15-2 overall in the all-time series.