CLEVELAND, Mississippi – Delta State University opened the home portion of the 2018 schedule with a 21-10 loss to eighth-ranked Grand Valley State University on Saturday at Parker Field at McCool Stadium.
 
It was the first meeting between the Statesmen (0-2) and the Lakers (2-0) since the semifinals of the 2006 NCAA Division II playoffs. The Statesmen will make the return trip next season to Allendale, Michigan.
 
  
THE BASICS
Score: No. 8 Grand Valley State 21, Delta State 10
Records:  Lakers (2-0), Statesmen (0-2)
Date: Saturday, September 8, 2018 | 6:33 p.m. Kickoff | TOG: 2:50
Location: Parker Field-McCool Stadium (Cleveland, MS) | Attendance: 5,514
Series: GVSU now leads the series 2-0
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HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Statesmen defense forced a three-and-out on the opening possession, but a muffed punt allowed the Laker drive to continue. On the extended drive, a 33-yard GVSU touchdown pass was erased on a holding call. DSU forced another punt to keep the Lakers scoreless.
• The first score of the game came at the 3:05 mark of the first quarter on a 47-yard field goal by Delta State junior Taylor Crabtree to cap a seven-play, 32-yard drive that used 2:02. It was Crabtree's third and longest field goal of the season.
• The Lakers took a 7-3 lead at the 3:24 mark of the second quarter on a five-yard touchdown run by Chawntez Moss. That score was set up by a blocked punt to give the Lakers a starting field position of the Statesmen 23-yard line. The drive was also aided by a roughing the kicker penalty against the Statesmen on a field goal attempt.  
• The Lakers took advantage of another special teams miscue for the first score of the second half, an 11-yard touchdown pass from Bart Williams to Austin Paritee to put GVSU up 14-3 with 7:07 remaining in the third quarter. The Lakes started the drive at the Statesmen 22-yard line following a muffed punt.
• The Statesmen trimmed the Laker lead to 14-10 on a 45-yard touchdown run by freshman Patrick Shegog at the 2:41 mark of the third quarter.
• Bart Williams found Austin Paritee again for a 31-yard scoring strike with 12:01 remaining in the fourth quarter to put the Lakers up the final margin of 21-10.

 
OFFENSIVE NOTEABLES:

• Despite the loss, the Statesmen outgained the Lakers with a 325-313 margin in total offense yards. DSU outrushed GVSU 215, and GVSU won the passing battle 133-110.
• The Statesmen doubled the Lakers in first downs at 26-13.
• Patrick Shegog led the Statesmen passing attack, completing 12-of-30 attempts for 101 yards. Shegog also led the DSU rushing attack with 85 yards on 18 carries with one touchdown. Kelon Wilson added 65 rushing yards on 18 carries.
• Jake McDonald led the Statesmen receivers with three receptions for 32 yards.

 
DEFENSIVE NOTEABLES:

• The Statesmen held the Lakers offense to only one first down in the first quarter and a total of 97 yards in the first half.
• There was a combined total of 28 tackles for losses in the contest. GVSU led the category with 18 TFL. The Lakers also picked up four quarterback sacks in the game.
• DSU's Ovenson Cledanord tied GVSU's Dylan Carroll for the game high in tackles with 13.

SPECIAL TEAMS NOTEABLES:

• There were a combined total of 22 punts in the contest. Grand Valley's Collin Cribley had a total of 544 punting yards for an average of 45.3 per kick.
• Delta State's Taylor Crabtree was 1-for-3 on field goals. His career-long 47-yard made field goal opened the scoring late in the first quarter.

 
OTHER NOTEABLES:

• All three of the Laker scoring drives began within the Statesmen 30-yard line, all due to special teams miscues by the Statesmen with two blocked punts and one muffed punt.
• The start of the game was delayed 33 minutes due to lightning.

UP NEXT:

• The Statesmen have their longest road trip of the regular season next Sat., Sept. 15, traveling to Melbourne, Fla. to open Gulf South Conference play. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. CT and will be featured as the GSC-TV Game of the Week.