CLEVELAND, Miss. -- North Greenville University (4-3, 1-2 GSC) scored a touchdown and two-point conversion and then held Delta State University (2-5, 0-4 GSC) on on fourth down in double overtime to capture a 42-34 win on Saturday at Parker Field-McCool Stadium.
 
THE BASICS
Score:  North Greenville 42 | Delta State 34 (2OT)
Records: Statesmen (2-5, 0-4 GSC) | Crusaders (4-3, 1-2-)
Date: Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021
Location: Bazemore-Hyder Stadium | Valdosta, Ga.
Series: Delta State leads 3-2
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HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Rico Owens II scored on a four-yard run to cap a 10-play, 65-yard drive to put the Statesmen in front 7-0 with 8:21 left in the first quarter.
• Josh Edwards caught a five-yard pass from Bryce Fields with 3:48 left in the first quarter to tie the game, 7-7.
• Owens dove in from one-yard out to forge the Statesmen to a 14-7 lead at the 10:22 mark of the second quarter.
• Colin Karhu made a 26-yard field goal at the 9:26 mark and a 49-yard field with three seconds left in the half to cut the DSU lead to 14-13.
• The Statesmen scored 10 points in the third quarter to build a 24-13 lead.
• Connor Mantelli made a 22-yard field goal at the 6:41 mark and Deion Dampier scored on a 30-yard run with 3:01 left in the third quarter.
• Mathew Martin hauled in a 91-yard touchdown and 71-yard touchdown pass from Bryce Fields to give NGU a 27-24 lead with 5:40 remaining.
• Mantelli nailed a 42-yard field goal to tie game 27-27 with 2:59 left in the contest to send the game to overtime.
• Tremell Withrow caught an 11-yard pass from Cole Kirk in the first overtime period to give the Statesmen a 34-27 lead.
• The Crusaders answered on a Semaj Lakin on-yard run to send the game to a second overtime tied at 34-34.
• NGU took the lead in the second extra period on another Lakin one-yard run. Fields completed a pass to Christian Bruce for the two-point conversion to make the score 42-34.
• The Statesmen were unable to move the ball on their possession of the second overtime as Kirk was sacked to end the game.

OFFENSIVE NOTEABLES:

• The Statesmen ran a season-high 105 plays and amassed 513 yards of total offense.
• Dampier rushed 20 times for 159 yards and one touchdown.
• Owens scored two touchdowns and had 91 yards on 20 totes.
• Kirk completed 32-of-53 passes for 282 yards, all season and career-highs for the freshman.
• Withrow had a career-high 10 receptions and a career-high 104 yards and a touchdown receiving.
• Dohnte Meyers had seven catches for 79 yards.

DEFENSIVE NOTEABLES:

• Dante Williams recorded double-figure tackles for the second time this season with 11 tackles, six solo tackles, and pass break.
• Tim Williams followed with a career-high 10 tackles, a tackle for loss and a half a sack.
• The Statesmen recorded eight tackles for loss that included 4.5 sacks.
• Sherrod Page recorded his team-leading third interception.

SPECIAL TEAMS NOTEABLES:

• Mantelli connected on 2-of-3 field goals, with a season-long 42-yard to send the game to overtime.
• Parker Burleson punted six times for 33.5 yards per punt with three pinned inside the NGU 20.
• Kory Gainwell returned two kickoffs for 51 yards and Robbie Evans had one punt return for 20 yards.

OTHER NOTEABLES:

• Dampier's 159 yards rushing marked the first Statesmen 100-yard rusher since Breck Ruddick tallied 154 against West Georgia on Nov. 9, 2019.
• Sirvares Snow blocked the Statesmen's second punt this season.

UP NEXT:

Delta State travels to No. 10 West Alabama on Saturday, Oct. 23 at 4 p.m. at Tiger Stadium in Livingston, Ala.