CLINTON, Miss. -- The 8th-ranked Statesmen (9-0 overall, 6-0 GSC) survived their latest test against in-state rival Mississippi College (4-5, 3-3) and brought the Heritage Bell Classic trophy back to Cleveland for the second straight year. The win also sets up a colossal meeting next week against #24 West Georgia (6-2, 4-2). The Statesmen win at MC guaranteed at least a share of the GSC championship, but a DSU win or a West Florida loss next Saturday would mean an outright title for the green and white.
"I'm proud of our guys. Mississippi College played a great game, we knew it was going to be a four-quarter battle, but we showed some resiliency and toughness," said Statesmen head coach Todd Cooley. "I'm thankful for everyone that came to the game. Hopefully we get just as good a crowd for homecoming next week. They were loud, they were awesome, and they made a difference."
THE BASICS
Score: #8 Delta State 52 | Mississippi College 38
Records: Statesmen (9-0, 6-0 GSC) | Choctaws (4-5, 3-3 GSC)
Date: Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022
Location: Robinson-Hale Stadium | Clinton, MS
Get Social: Twitter - @DeltaStateFB | Instagram - @DeltaStateFB
HOW IT HAPPENED:
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Delta State moves down the field with ease on their first drive of the game, which ends with a 1-yard scoring rush by Kory Gainwell. 7-0 Delta State.
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Mississippi College's flexbone is effective on their first drive, moving 75 yards in 14 plays. They tie the game at 7 on a 2-yard rush by QB John Henry White.
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Nick Herber split the uprights from 36-yards out with 1:23 left in the first. 10-7 Delta State.
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MC only needed three plays to go 75 yards and take the lead on an 8-yard rush by Cole Fagan. 14-10 Miss. College after the 1st quarter.
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Patrick Shegog ends the first drive of the second quarter for the Statesmen with a 20-yard rushing touchdown. 17-14 Delta State.
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A 33-yard fumble recovery return for score gives MC the lead back. 21-17 Miss. College.
- Kelvin Smith regains the lead for the Statesmen just before the end of the half on a 9-yard rush. 24-21 Delta State at the half.
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MC starts the second half with a 92-yard kickoff return, but only comes away with three points on a 32-yard FG by Ben Pledger. 24-24 tie.
- Gainwell gets the lead back for the Statesmen on a 6-yard run with 9:36 left in the third. He also rushed for 51 yards in the scoring drive. 31-24 Delta State
- MC's Marcus Williams scores on the Choctaws' ensuing drive from 8 yards out. 31-31 tie.
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The Choctaws regain the lead on a 51-yard rush by Fagan. 38-31 Miss. College.
- Shegog nails Jaylen Green from 27-yards out to tie the game up for the fourth time. 38-38 tie.
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Smith finds the endzone for a second time on a 5-yard run to start the scoring in the fourth quarter. 45-38 Delta State.
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MC is stopped on fourth down on their following possession. Delta State got the ball back at their own 33-yard line and burns five minutes of clock on a drive that ends with a 37-yard rushing score by Shegog. Delta State wins 52-38.
OFFENSIVE NOTABLES:
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Patrick Shegog was 13-for-23 for 138 yards with one touchdown pass and one interception. He also carried the ball 16 times for 127 yards and two touchdowns.
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Kory Gainwell carried the ball 20 times for 107 yards and two touchdowns.
- Kelvin Smith recorded 13 rushes for 85 yards and two touchdowns.
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Christian Malloy had 12 carries for 82 yards.
- Jaylen Green caught 2 passes for 32 yards and a touchdown.
DEFENSIVE NOTABLES:
SPECIAL TEAMS NOTABLES:
OTHER NOTABLES:
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Delta State out-gains Mississippi College 555-393 in total yardage.
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Delta State Football improves to 9-0 for the first time since 2000 (that team started the season 9-0).
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Statesmen win the Heritage Bell Classic for the 7th time since the rivalry restarted in 2014.
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Delta State Football can finish with no worse than a share of the GSC championship.
UP NEXT:
Next week is homecoming and the final conference game for Delta State as they host West Georgia (5-2, 3-2) on Saturday, November 5 at 2 pm.
