KoryGainwell2021McKendree
Cayce Smith
26
Delta State DSU 2-1 , 0-1
27
Winner West Georgia UWG 3-0 , 1-0
Delta State DSU
2-1 , 0-1
26
Final
27
West Georgia UWG
3-0 , 1-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
DSU Delta State 3 3 14 6 26
UWG West Georgia 3 14 3 7 27

Game Recap: Football | | Fred Sington

Statesmen Edged by Wolves 27-26 in Top 25 Matchup

CARROLLTON, Ga. -- No. 18 the University of West Georgia (2-0) scored a touchdown with 4:42 left in the contest to edge the No. 22 Delta State University football team 27-26 on Saturday night Ra-Lin Field at University Stadium.
 
THE BASICS
Score: #18 West Georgia 27 | #22 Delta State 26
Records: Statesmen (2-1, 0-1 GSC) | Wolves (3-0, 1-0 GSC)
Date: Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021 | TOG: 3:02
Location: Ra-Lin Field at University Stadium | Carrollton, Ga.
Series: Statesmen lead the series 20-15
Get Social: Twitter - @DeltaStateFB | Facebook - DSUStatesmen | Instagram - DSUAthletics

HOW IT HAPPENED:
  • The Wolves took advantage of an early DSU fumble, taking a 3-0 lead on an Omar Cervantes 28-yard field goal at the eight-minute mark of the opening quarter. 
  • Delta State answered on a Connor Mantelli 32-yard field goal on the ensuing drive to tie the game, 3-3, with under two minutes to play in the first quarter.
  • Following a UWG turnover, Mantelli capped a seven-play, 42-yard drive with a 25-yard field goal to put the Statesmen in front 6-3 to begin the second quarter scoring.
  • UWG used 13 plays to drive 83 yards with 40 yards of the drive aided by Statesmen penalties to take a 10-6 lead on a Tyray Devezin one-yard run with 9:27 to go in the first half. 
  • A Parker Burleson punt pinned the Wolves on their one only to see UWG use 15 plays to drive 99 yards to extend the lead. Harrison Frost tossed a three-yard pass to Isaiah Miranda to extend the lead to 17-6 with 1:07 left in the first half. 
  • UWG had a chance to add to the lead on the final play of the half, but a Cervantes 47-yard field goal sailed wide left.
  • The Wolves were offsides on a punt keeping DSU's opening second-half drive alive. Deion Dampier scampered 11 yards to cap the drive and trail 17-12 following a failed two-point conversion with 8:38 left in the third quarter.
  • Ty Wood's interception on UWG's ensuing possession set up a Kory Gainwell one-yard run to put the Statesmen ahead. Patrick Shegog connected with Chancie Tidwell for the two-point conversion to put the Statesmen up 20-17 with 5:18 left in the third quarter. 
  • Cervantes nailed a 29-yard field goal with 20 seconds left in the third to tie the game 20-20 heading to the final quarter. 
  • Manny Barber picked off a Frost pass and returned it 23 yards put the Statesmen back in front 26-20 after the PAT missed wide right with 10:07 remaining in the game. 
  • Frost tossed a 21-yard scoring strike to Trevon Lambert to put UWG up 27-26 with 4:42 to go in the final quarter to keep the see-saw affair going. 
  • West Georgia ran out the clock after the Statesmen turned the football over on downs with 1:16 left in the fourth quarter.  
OFFENSIVE NOTEABLES:
  • Corintheus Edmonds led the receivers with eight grabs 59 yards.
  • Shegog completed 19-of-23 passes for 110 yards and rushed 19 times for 71 yards for the Statesmen.
  • Gainwell rushed nine times for 33 yards and a touchdown followed by Dampier with 10 carries for 29 yards a touchdown.
  • The Statesmen ran 65 plays for a season-low 260 yards.
DEFENSIVE NOTEABLES:
  • The Statesmen defense forced one fumble and intercepted two passes to finish the night plus two in the turnover battle. 
  • Barber recorded six tackles and an interception return for a touchdown. 
  • Barber's pick-six in the third quarter was the first for the Statesmen since Jakwon Lipscomb returned an INT for a touchdown at Grand Valley State in 2019.
  • Junior Faulk led the Statesmen with seven tackles along and had a pass breakup.  
SPECIAL TEAMS NOTEABLES:
  • Mantelli connected on a career-high two field goals with a long of 32 yards.
  • Burleson, the GSC's leading punter, punted four times for a 41.5 average with a punt downed inside the UWG five.
  • Gainwell returned six kickoffs for a 21.2 yards per return.
  • Robbie Evans returned a pair of punts for 24 yards with a long return of 17 yards.
OTHER NOTEABLES:
  • Delta State and West Georgia entered the game ranked in the AFCA Top 25 for the first time since Oct. 16, 2017.
  • Statesmen won the toss and deferred to the second half for the second time and are 2-1 in coin tosses in 2021.
  • Delta State was assessed a season-high 95 penalty yards on nine flags.
  • Head Coach Todd Cooley is now 2-2 against UWG since head coach David Dean took over the Wolves program four years ago.
UP NEXT:

Delta State remains on the road to play Jackson State University in the W.C. Gorden Classic on Saturday at 2 p.m. Veterans Memorial Stadium in Jackson, Miss.
 
Print Friendly Version