Chancie_Tidwell_WestAlabama_2021
35
Winner Delta State DSU 3-5 , 1-4
30
West Ala. UWA 6-2 , 3-2
Winner
Delta State DSU
3-5 , 1-4
35
Final
30
West Ala. UWA
6-2 , 3-2
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
DSU Delta State 14 7 14 0 35
UWA West Ala. 3 14 6 7 30

Game Recap: Football | | Fred Sington

Statesmen Spring Upset of No. 15 West Alabama, 35-30

LIVINGSTON, Ala. -- The Delta State University football team held No. 15 the University of West Alabama out of the end zone on two un-timed downs to escape with a 35-30 win on Saturday afternoon at Tiger Stadium.
 
THE BASICS
Score: Delta State 35  | #15 West Alabama 30
Records: Statesmen (3-5, 1-4 GSC) | Tigers (6-2, 3-2 GSC)
Date: Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021
Location: Tiger Stadium | Livingston, Ala.
Series: Delta State leads 37-27-3
Get Social: Twitter - @DeltaStateFB | Facebook - DSUStatesmen | Instagram - DSUAthletics

HOW IT HAPPENED:
  • A 56-yard Cole Kirk pass to Chancie Tidwell set up a Statesmen score on the opening possession of the game.
  • Rico Owen bulldozed in from one-yard out to stake the Statesmen to a 7-0 lead with 12:53 left in the first quarter.
  • Gabe Dunkle connected on a 47-yard field goal to get West Alabama on the board trailing 7-3 with 8:53 left in the first quarter.
  • The Statesmen answered on their ensuing possession on a Kory Gainwell 30-yard run to build the lead to 14-3 with 7:53 left in the opening quarter.
  • UWA's next drive stalled after a Marvin Terry sack and Sirvares Snow blocked a Dunkle 37-yard field goal attempt to keep UWA off the board.
  • Demetrius Battle started the second quarter scoring on a two-yard run to cut the deficit to 14-10.
  • Kirk tossed a five-yard touchdown pass to Dohnte Meyers to increase the lead to 21-10 with 11:34 remaining in the second quarter.
  • Jack Daniels and Tyriq Martin then hooked up for a 93-yard touchdown as UWA trailed 21-17 with just over 10 minutes left in the first half.
  • Dunkle missed a 52-yard field goal attempt with six seconds left in the half as the Statesmen carried a 21-17 halftime lead.
  • Sherrod Paige intercepted a McDaniel's pass and raced 33-yards for a touchdown and a 28-17 lead just 32 seconds into the third quarter.
  • UWA had first and goal at the DSU two-yard line but the Green-and-White held and forced a Dunkle 22-yard field goal to make the score 28-20 DSU with 7:32 left in the third quarter.
  • The Green-and-White defense again held strong in the red zone, forcing a Dunkle 33-yard field goal that trimmed the lead to 28-23 with 3:55 to go in the third quarter.
  • Kirk found  Meyers for 27 yards on fourth and three at the UWA 34 to set up a Rico Owens three-yard run to give the Statesmen a 35-23 lead heading to the fourth quarter.
  • Ta'Bryious Webb raced 34-yards up the middle for a UWA touchdown to dwindle the DSU down to 35-30 with 13:40 remaining in the fourth quarter.
  • Junior Faulk forced and recovered a Caeleb Bass fumble after a 15-yard catch at the DSU 31 to end a UWA drive with 2:45 left in the fourth quarter.
  • Delta State was unable to pick up a first down giving the Tigers possession with 1:47 to go at the UWA 19.
  • The Statesmen picked off a pass in the end zone but were called for an illegal substitution penalty to set up the first un-timed down.
  • Delta State stopped Battle at the DSU two on the first un-timed down, but a defensive penalty set up the final un-timed down.
  • The Statesmen defensive front stopped Battle for the second time to hold on for the win.
OFFENSIVE NOTEABLES:
  • Cole Kirk completed 14-of-25 passes for 225 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
  • Kirk's interception ended a string of 107 pass attempts without an interception for the freshman.
  • Owens rushed 12 times for 33 yards and two touchdowns.
  • Meyers finished with four catches for 43 yards and a touchdown.
  • The Statesmen finished with 313 total yards, 225 passing, and 88 rushing.
DEFENSIVE NOTEABLES:
  • Paige's pick-six in the third quarter was his GSC-leading fourth of the season.
  • Paige's pick-six was also DSU's second this season. Manny Barber had a 23-yard pick six at West Georgia on Sept. 18, 2021.
  • The Statesmen forced three turnovers in the game and lead the GSC and rank third in the country with 21 turnovers gained on the season.
  • Dante Williams recorded 13 tackles, 10 solos, to surpass the 200-career tackle mark. Williams has 202 career stops, 30 shy of moving into the top 10 in career tackles.
SPECIAL TEAMS NOTEABLES:
  • Snow's block of Dunkle's 37-yard field goal attempt was the Statesmen's fourth blocked kick of the season, which leads the GSC and ranks third in the nation.
  • Parker Burleson averaged 42.5 yards on a season-high nine punts with two downed inside the 20 and two of 50-plus yards.
  • Burleson now has seven punts of 50-plus yards on the season, entering the game ranked second in the GSC.
  • Gainwell returned six kickoffs for 163 yards.
OTHER NOTEABLES:
  • The Statesmen have won the last two meetings with UWA in the series while ending a three-game losing streak at Tiger Stadium.
UP NEXT:

Delta State returns home to host Shorter University for Homecoming on Saturday at 2 p.m. 
 
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