The Delta State University Statesmen broke open a
20-13 halftime lead with 36 unanswered second-half
points to take a 56-13 victory over the University of
Arkansas at Monticello Boll Weevils (1-10, 1-8 GSC) on
Military Appreciation Night at Convoy Leslie-Cotton Boll
Stadium.
After the Weevils went three and out on the opening
drive, senior Sam Wisener stripped the ball from Radale
Pearson and recovered at the UAM 40 yard line. The
Weevils marched into Statesmen territory but were unable
to get past Delta State's 41 and were punted away.
Pearson redeemed himself on DSU's next drive by
capping off a seven play, 96 yard drive with a 40 yard
touchdown run to give the Statesmen an early 7-0 lead.
The Statesmen extended their lead to 14-0 on their very
next drive as Scott Eyster connected with Mike Wallace
on a 66 yard touchdown strike to finish a four play, 61
yard drive.
The Boll Weevils responded on their next drive as
John L. Williams picked up a two-yard touchdown run to
cap a nine play, 59 yard drive. After a personal foul
penalty, Albert Urbina missed the extra point and the
Weevil deficit was 14-6.
The Statesmen opened the second quarter with another
scoring drive, marching 50 yards downfield on nine
plays, finished off by a 27-yard field goal by Bryan
Walker to push DSU's lead to 17-6. The Weevils answered
immediately as Williams capped a nine play, 61 yard
drive with a 23 yard touchdown run to pull the Weevils
to within 17-13.
DSU pushed their lead to 20-13 on the very next drive
as Walker kicked his second field goal of the day from
26 yards, and the Statesmen would carry that lead into
halftime.
Unfortunately for the Weevils, the second half
belonged to the Statesmen who reeled off 36 unanswered
points to seal the victory.
DSU scored early and often in the third quarter,
scoring first on the opening drive with a 17-yard
touchdown strike from Eyster to Chad Ridley to push the
lead to 27-13. After stopping the Weevils on fourth
down, the Statesmen surged ahead again as Eyster
connected with Ridley on a 35-yard strike to give Delta
State a 34-13 lead.
A.J. Davis picked up a three yard touchdown run with
nine seconds remaining in the third quarter to extend
the Delta State lead to 41-13.
The Statesmen forced a turnover on UAM's first drive
of the fourth quarter and were able to capitalize on
both the turnover and a costly holding penalty to push
ahead 49-15 after a one yard run by Steven Davis. DSU
scored their final touchdown on their next drive as
Jazmond Burks found the end zone after a five yard run
to set the DSU lead at 56-13.
Williams eclipsed the 1,000 rushing yard barrier in
the first half, ending the day with 23 carried for 116
yards and two scores. Anthony Rodriguez had his best
passing game of the season, going 16-of-33 for 212
yards. Von Mixon added seven catches for 80 yards.
DSU's Eyster was an amazing 22-of-30 for 325 yards
and three touchdowns while Pearson picked up 180 yards
on 21 carries. Ridley had seven catches for 115 yards
and two touchdowns while Robert Davis had nine catches
for 95 yards.
 |
The loss ends the season for the Boll Weevils who
finish with a record of 1-10 and a 1-8 Gulf South
Conference mark.
Have a comment? Please e-mail us.
