STEPHENVILLE, Texas – Tarleton State (1-0) used a 21-point third quarter on its way to a 44-13 win over the Delta State University (0-1) football team in the season opener for both teams, on Thursday at Memorial Stadium.
 
Zamari Manning caught two touchdown passes in the first half and the Texans returned two Statesmen interceptions for touchdowns in each half.
 
The Statesmen suffered their first loss in a season-opener under sixth-year head coach Todd Cooley, falling to 5-1.
 
THE BASICS
Score: Tarleton State 44, Delta State 13
Records:  Texans (1-0) | Statesmen (0-1)
Date: Thurs. August, 30 | 7 p.m. Kickoff | TOG: 2:56
Location: Memorial Stadium | Stephenville, Texas| Attendance: 4,781
Series: Delta State leads the series 3-1
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HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Tarleton State got on the board on the third play from scrimmage when Ben Holmes hit Zimari Manning for a 70-yard touchdown. The extra point missed wide left to keep the score 6-0 with 1:11 gone off the first quarter clock.
• Taylor Crabtree knocked home a 24-yard field to put the Statesmen on the board, trailing 6-3 with 8:13 left in the first quarter.
• Manning added his second touchdown of the evening, hauling in a Holmes pass before slipping through would-be tacklers for a 65-yards score and a 13-3 lead.
• Crabtree kicked a 39-yard field goal to pull the Statesmen down 13-6 with 6:14 remaining in the second quarter.
• The Texans added 10 points over the final 1:27 of the half for a 23-6 halftime lead. Joanly Martinez nailed a 36-yard field goal and Prince Robinson returned an interception 36 yards with 47 seconds to go in the second quarter.
• Tarleton scored three times in the third quarter to build a 37-6 lead. D'Anthony Hopkins scored on a two-yard run with 7:02 left and Daniel McCants raced 56 yards with 3:51 remaining.
• Jai Edwards returned an interception 76 yards for TSU's third score of the third quarter and a 44-6 Texan lead.
• Kelon Wilson capped a six-play, 69-yard drive with a 10-yard run with 3:35 left in the fourth quarter to close the scoring on the evening.

 
OFFENSIVE NOTEABLES:

• The Statesmen finished with 326 yards of total offense, gaining 253 thru the air and 73 on the ground.
• Breck Ruddick completed 20-of-38 passes for 180 yards and an interception.
• Wilson had six carries for 32 yards and touchdown as the leading rusher for the Statesmen.
• Freshman Robbie Evans carried five times for 21 yards and had two catches for 15 yards in his DSU debut.
• Corintheus Edmonds caught six passes for 38 yards and Brandon Rodgers was one of four Statesmen with three catches for a team-high 54 yards.
• Freshman Patrick Shegog complete 5-of-8 passes 34 yards in his first game as a Statesmen.
• Manning had three catches for 144 yards, including touchdowns 70 and 65 yards in the first half.
• Ben Holmes had 196 yards passing, completing 8-of-16 passes with two scores.
• McCants finished with 14 carries for 145 yards and a touchdown.

 
DEFENSIVE NOTEABLES:

• Edwards led Tarleton State with eight tackles and an interception return for a touchdown.
• Robinson led three Texans with seven stops along with a 76-yard interception return for a touchdown.
• Chandler Ector and Ovenson Cledanord had eight tackles apiece to lead the Statesmen defense.

SPECIAL TEAMS NOTEABLES:

• Taylor Crabtree made field goals of 24 and 36 yards in his first game after transferring to Delta State from East Mississippi Community College.
• Senior Cody Mills punted six times for a 51.5-yard average, including a career-long 76-yard punt.

 
OTHER NOTEABLES

• The Statesmen suffered their first loss in six season openers under sixth-year head coach Todd Cooley, falling to 5-1.
• DSU fell to 3-1 against Tarleton State and 1-1 at Memorial Stadium in Stephenville, Texas.

UP NEXT:

• The Statesmen host No. 10 Grand Valley State University for their home opener on Sat, Sept. 8 at Parker Field-McCool Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.