KoryGainwell2021McKendree
Cayce Smith
33
Winner Delta State DSU 1-0
10
Kentucky State KYST 0-1
Winner
Delta State DSU
1-0
33
Final
10
Kentucky State KYST
0-1
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
DSU Delta State 16 10 7 0 33
KYST Kentucky State 7 0 3 0 10

Game Recap: Football |

Defense Leads Statesmen to Season-Opening Win on Saturday

FRANKFORT, Ky.  -- Kory Gainwell finds the endzone twice as the Statesmen defense holds Kentucky State to just two scores in Delta State's 33-10 season-opening win on Saturday, despite the Thorobreds winning the time of possession battle by 27 minutes.
 
THE BASICS
Score: Delta State 33 | Kentucky State 10
Records: Statesmen (1-0, 0-0 GSC) | Thorobreds (0-1, 0-0 SIAC)
Date: Saturday, Sep. 3, 2022
Location: Alumni Stadium | Frankfort, Ky.
Get Social: Twitter - @DeltaStateFB | Instagram - @DeltaStateFB
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
  • Delta State strikes early with a 61-yard touchdown pass from Cole Kirk to Todd Lee Battle to take a 7-0 lead at the 12:24 mark of the opening quarter.
  • Kory Gainwell adds on with 8:41 left in the quarter on a 2-yard touchdown scamper, but the PAT is blocked to keep the Statesmen lead at 13-0.
  • Thorobred rusher Kendon Walker scores on a 49-yard run with 5:05 left in the first to cut the DSU lead to 13-7.
  • Statesmen kicker Nick Herber then split the uprights twice, once from 27 yards out with 1:40 remaining in the first and again with 13:17 left in the second to put DSU up 19-7.
  • Delta State takes a 26-7 lead after Kelvin Smith's 7-yard run for score with 8:36 left in the half.
  • Gainwell finds the endzone again on a 1-yard run to give the Statesmen a 33-7 lead with 9:23 left in the third.
  • Kentucky State caps the scoring for the night with a 38-yard field goal from Mason Molique to make the DSU lead 33-10.
OFFENSIVE NOTABLES:
  • Kelvin Smith led the Statesmen on the ground with 8 carries for 50 yards and a score.
  • Kory Gainwell carried the ball six times for 33 yards and two scores.
  • Cole Kirk was 15-for-23 for 174 yards with one score and one interception while also carrying the ball twice for 37 yards. 
  • Tyler Kennedy had three catches for 23 yards.
  • Todd Lee Battle caught one pass for a 61-yard touchdown.
  • Alfonso Franklin carried the ball seven times for 37 yards.
  • The Statesmen ran 52 plays for 338 yards, 174 passing and 165 rushing.
DEFENSIVE NOTABLES:
  • Ty Goldsmith led the Statesmen with 7.5 tackles with one tackle for loss.
  • Marlon Windham led the team in TFLs with 3.5, 6.5 total tackles for the sophomore.
  • Statesmen defense combined for 11 tackles for loss.
SPECIAL TEAMS NOTABLES:
  • Kicker Nick Herber 2-for-2 on his field goal attempts from 27 and 34 yards out.
  • Parker Burleson averaged 39 yards per attempt on his two punts.
  • Burleson also recorded three touchbacks in his seven kickoffs with an average of 61.6 yards per kickoff.
OTHER NOTABLES:
  • Statesmen score all of their 33 points in six-straight possessions.
  • Delta State wins big despite only holding the ball for 16:21 compared to 43:39 for Kentucky State.
UP NEXT:
 
Delta State travels to Lebanon, Illinois to take on the McKendree Bearcats next Saturday, September 10 at 1pm.
 
 
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