CLEVELAND, Miss. – The No. 20 Delta State University Statesmen (4-1, 1-0 GSC) defeated the Hawks of Chowan (1-3, 0-1 GSC) 54-9 at Parker Field-McCool Stadium to open Gulf South Conference play.
 
Delta State went 81 yards on 7 plays that resulted in an 18-yard KJ Smith rushing touchdown to give DSU the early 7-0 lead in the first quarter.
 
In Delta State's next possession, Smith found the endzone again for a 7-yard rush, extending the Green-and-White lead to 14-0.
 
Chowan got on the board with a made field goal to open the second quarter, cutting their deficit to 14-3.
 
The Statesmen scored three more times on consecutive possessions, closing out the first half with a 35-3 lead. Cole Kirk found Neno Lemay over the middle for a 16-yard reception. Qualon Farrar then rushed for a 1-yard score, followed by a 48-yard pass from Kirk to Jaylen Green.
 
DSU carried the momentum into the second half. With Chowan threatening early in the third quarter, Ahmir Taylor came up with a sack, forcing a fumble and giving the Statesmen the ball in the red zone. Delta State soon found the endzone on a short Kirk pass to Green, extending the DSU lead to 42-3.
 
Nick Herber found the uprights at the 3:06 mark in the third quarter on a 25-yard field goal to give the Statesmen the commanding 45-3 lead.
 
Chowan scored on the opening play of the fourth quarter. Delta State's special teams joined in the scoring when Jonathan James blocked his second kick of the game and Tavian Moore recovered the fumble, returning the extra point 80 yards for a two-point score. The Statesmen led 47-9 early in the fourth quarter.
 
Freshman running back Nick Clark added some insurance points when he rushed for a 3-yard score, his first career touchdown, putting the Green-and-White up 54-9 with 9:47 left in the game.
 
Offensively, the Statesmen recorded 463 yards of total offense, 248 on the ground and 215 in the air. Nine different receivers made catches with Lemay and Michael Carley grabbing three passes each and Green and Curtis Rearden grabbing two each.
 
Defensively, Delta State forced two fumbles, recovering both, while Omarion Foster and Isaiah Kelsey recorded their first career interceptions as Statesmen. Amir Taylor and Demetric Barnes each added a sack.
 
Statesmen return to action on Saturday, Oct. 12, as they face West Florida at PenAir Field in Pensacola. Kickoff is slated for 4 p.m.