CLEVELAND, Miss.  -- Home-field advantage proved to be a major factor on Saturday night as the #8 Statesmen move to 3-0 on the season with a 35-7 win over Mississippi Valley State. The crowd of 5,000+ helped cheer on the Statesmen as they blanked the Delta Devils in the second half while scoring 29 points of their own.

THE BASICS
Score: #8 Delta State 35 | Mississippi Valley State 7
Records: Statesmen (3-0, 1-0 GSC) | Delta Devils (0-2, 0-0 SWAC)
Date: Saturday, Sep. 16, 2023
Location: Parker Field at McCool Stadium | Cleveland, MS
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HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Delta State received the opening kickoff and marched to the MVSU 5-yard line, but needed a 19-yard field goal from Nick Herber to get on the scoreboard with 11:52 left in the first. 3-0 Delta State.
• A three-and-out forced a Devil punt, but DSU would turn the ball over on downs on their next drive. Punts on the next three drives would give Delta State the ball just before the end of the second quarter. Delta State would add points at the start of the second with a 24-yard field goal make from Herber. 6-0 Delta State.
• Valley found the scoreboard on their next drive of 11 plays and 58 yards. Quarterback Ty'Jarian Williams kept it himself for the MVSU score. 7-6 MVSU at halftime.
• The Devils got the ball to start the second half, but were forced to punt after a three-and-out. Patrick Shegog found Todd Lee Battle in the endzone 8 plays later from 13 yards out to cap a 55-yard drive. 12-7 Delta State.
• Delta State would score once more to cut into the Chowan lead just before the end of the half. Shegog hit Jaylen Green from 34 yards out to end a 4-play, 75-yard drive. 18-14 Hawks at the halftime break.
• Valley was forced to punt once again, and Herber extended the Statesmen lead six plays later from 16 yards out. 15-7 Delta State.
• Delta State got the ball back one more time in the third quarter and only needed two plays to score after a 52-yard rushing score from Kelvin Smith. 22-7 Delta State after three quarters.
• An interception gave the Statesmen the ball back with 13:56 left in the game. Shegog found the endzone 8 plays later from 9 yards out to cap the 56-yard drive. 29-7 Delta State.
• Shegog found Christian Malloy for a passing touchdown with 6:00 left in the game to extend the Statesmen lead. Valley stalled on fourth down on their final drive, as the Statesmen would run out the clock to end the game. 35-7 Delta State final.

OFFENSIVE NOTABLES:

• Patrick Shegog completed 18 of his 34 pass attempts for 254 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also rushed 16 times for 90 yards and a score.
• Kelvin Smith carried the ball 9 times for 79 yards and a score. He also led the team in receiving yards with just one catch for 64 yards.
• Todd Lee Battle caught two passes for 47 yards and a touchdown

DEFENSIVE NOTABLES:

• Adrian Hill was tied for the team lead with 6 tackles, including one for loss
• Demetrius Swilley also recorded 6 tackles, including half a sack
• Malik Jones made 2 tackles and recorded and interception
• Mark Robinson recorded 5 tackles, including a sack

SPECIAL TEAMS NOTABLES:

• Nick Herber made three field goals from 19, 24, and 16 yards out
• Parker Burleson punted twice for 46 and 41 yards. He also racked up 416 yards on his 8 kickoff attempts.
• Robbie Evans returned two punts for 36 yards

OTHER NOTABLES:

• Statesmen out-gain MVSU 510-156 in total yardage
• DSU picks up 25 first downs while holding MVSU to 12
• Delta State's defense holds the Devil offense to an average of 1.0 yard per rush

UP NEXT:

Delta State is back at Parker Field at McCool Stadium for the 2023 Pig Pickin' Game against the Shorter Hawks. Kickoff on Saturday, September 23 is scheduled for 6:00 pm.