MELBOURNE, Fla.  – The Delta State University football team (0-3, 0-1 GSC) could not dig itself out of an early 21-0 deficit, falling to Florida Tech (3-0, 1-0 GSC) 30-12 on Saturday at Panthers Stadium.
 
The Panthers struck for three touchdowns in the first five minutes of the first quarter and added a late first half touchdown on the way to the win.
 
Freshman Patrick Shegog tossed a 22-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Harrell in the second quarter and Darren Gardenhire returned an interception 15-yards for a touchdown in the third quarter for DSU's scoring on the evening.
 
The Statesmen start a season 0-3 for the first time since 2002.
 
  
THE BASICS
Score: Florida Tech 30, Delta State 12
Records:  Panthers (3-0, 1-0 GSC), Statesmen (0-3, 0-1 GSC)
Date: Saturday, September 15, 2018 | 6:05 p.m. Kickoff | TOG: 3:10
Location: Panthers Stadium – Melbourne, Fla. | Attendance: 1500
Series: Series tied 3-3
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HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Panthers scored three times in the first five minutes the contest to build a 21-0 lead.
• Romell Guerrier caught a 41-yard touchdown pass from Trent Chmelik on FIT's first possession and Antuwan Haynes scampered 69 yards for a touchdown to make it 14-0 at the 12:21 mark of the first quarter.
• FIT recovered a fumble on the kickoff following its second score. Austin Evarts rushed into the end zone from 11 yards away to put the Panthers up 21-0 with 10:54 left in the first quarter
• The Statesmen got on the board on a Patrick Shegog to Tyler Harrell 22-yard touchdown pass to cut the lead to 21-6 with 10:40 left in the second quarter. 
• FIT added to the lead returning a fumbled snapped on DSU's PAT for two-which increased the lead to 23-6.
• The Panthers drove 99 yards in 14 plays capped by an Evarts 21-yard run for a 30-6 lead at halftime.
• Darren Gardenhire returned a Chmelik pass 15-yards for a touchdown to cut the deficit to 30-12 with 1:45 to go in the third quarter.

 
OFFENSIVE NOTEABLES:

• Shegog completed 15-of-33 passes for 112 yards and a touchdown and had 38 rushing yards on 22 carries.
• Harrell caught five balls for 45 yards and a touchdown and Jakaylen Jackson had five catches for 28 yards.
• Kelon Wilson had 28 yards on four carries with a long run of 13 yards.
• John McInnis had two catches for 18 and 15 yards, two of the Statesmen's three longest offensive plays of the game.
• FIT's Chmelik completed 19-of-38 passes for 184 yards and a touchdown.
• Guerrier finished with a game-high 10 catches for 127 yards and a touchdown.
• Haynes led the Panthers' rushing attack with 88 yards on 14 carries and a score.

 
DEFENSIVE NOTEABLES:

• Brandon Tillman led DSU with eight tackles, four solo stops, and a pass break up.
• Ovenson Cledanord followed with seven tackles, six of which were solo tackles.
• Vada King and Dante Williams had six tackles apiece.
• The Statesmen defense did not yield a point in the second half and posted the only score by either club when Gardenhire returned an interception 15-yards for a touchdown.
• The interception was Gardenhire's his team-high second interception this season.

SPECIAL TEAMS NOTEABLES:

• Cody Mills punted a career-high 11 times for a 45.2-yard average.
• FIT returned a fumbled snapped on a DSU extra point attempt for a two-point conversion following Harrell's touchdown.

 
OTHER NOTEABLES:

• Delta State starts a season 0-3 for first time since 2002 when the Statesmen started 0-3 under first-year head coach and current GSC TV analyst Rick Rhoades.
• The Statesmen fell to 12-7 in Gulf South Conference openers and 3-3 under head coach Todd Cooley.

UP NEXT:

• The Statesmen play host North Greenville for their annual Pig Pickin Game on Saturday, Sept. 22 at 6 p.m.