Delta State’s football season came to an end in round two

Story from DSU Athletics:
CLEVELAND, Miss. — Delta State’s season comes to an end in the second round of the NCAA Division II football playoffs in a rematch against the team they shared the GSC regular season title with, the Valdosta State Blazers. The Statesmen held the lead with 7:58 left  in the fourth quarter, but the Blazers scored 10 unanswered, including a tying field goal with 2:42 left and a go-ahead field goal with just 9 seconds left.

The Statesmen end their season as back-to-back GSC championships for the first time since 2010-2011. Delta State also boasted a conference-best 14 All-GSC selections.

THE BASICS
Score: Delta State 31 | Valdosta State31
Records: Statesmen (10-2, 8-1 GSC) | Blazers (12-1, 8-1 GSC)
Date: Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023
Location: Parker Field at McCool Stadium | Cleveland, MS
Get Social: Twitter – @DeltaStateFB | Instagram – @DeltaStateFB

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Blazers got the ball to start the game and ate up over 4 minutes of clock with an 8-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a 3-yard scoring run by Bud Chaney. 7-0 VSU.
• Christian Malloy evened the score two drives later with a 4-yard TD run five plays into the drive. 7-7 tied.
• VSU regained the lead on their next drive, a 7-play, 77-yard drive that ended with another Chaney score from 2 yards out. 14-7 VSU after the first quarter.
• A DSU fumble gave the Blazers the ball back, who again took over 4 minutes off the clock for an 8-play drive that ended with a 1-yard scoring rush by quarterback Sammy Edwards. 21-7 VSU.
• Delta State’s quarterback, Patrick Shegog, answered with a scoring rush of his own on the following drive from 38 yards out to pull DSU back within one score. VSU drove down to the Delta State 20 with 8 seconds left in the half, but a strip-sack by Timaje Porterrecovered by William Carter on the next to last play of the half ended the scoring threat. 21-14 VSU after the second quarter.
• Delta State was forced to punt on their first drive of the second half as VSU failed to convert a fourth-and-one chance. DSU tied the game 6 plays later after Shegog hit Jaylen Green for a 4-yard passing TD. 21-21 tied after the third quarter.
• VSU opened the scoring in the fourth with a 2-yard pass from Edwards to Rodney Bullard to regain the lead. 28-21 VSU.
• Christian Malloy scored 10 plays later on a 7-yard rush to tie the game with 10 minutes left. 28-28 tied.
• An Edwards fumble caused by Ahmir Taylorgave the Statesmen the ball back two plays later at the VSU 12. The Statesmen were forced to settle for an 18-yard field goal from Nick Herber, the Statesmen had taken their first lead of the game with just 7:58 left in the game. 31-28 DSU.
• The Blazers killed over 5 minutes of clock and watch kicker Estin Thiele nail a 46-yard field goal to tie the game once again with 2:42 left. 31-31 tied.
• Delta State got the ball back at their own 12 after the kickoff and were forced to punt three four plays later. The Blazers started from the DSU 47 and scored just three plays later on a 24-yard pass from Edwards to B.K. Smith with 9 seconds left. The Statesmen tried several laterals with the remaining time, but with no success as the Blazers claimed the win. 38-31 final.

OFFENSIVE NOTABLES:

• Patrick Shegog completed 9 of his 15 pass attempts for 106 yards and one touchdown. He also carried the ball 15 times for 122 yards and a score.
• Christian Malloy carried the ball 11 times for 30 yards and two TDs.
• Kelvin Smith rushed 10 times for 72 yards.

DEFENSIVE NOTABLES:

• Marlon Windham recorded a game-high 11 tackles with 1.5 TFLs.
• Jarvis Townsend recorded 9 tackles.
• Timaje Porter recorded 4 tackles, including a strip-sack.
• William Carter recorded 8 tackles with 0.5 TFLs and a fumble recovery.

SPECIAL TEAMS NOTABLES:

• Nick Herber made all 4 of his PATs and an 18-yard FG.
• Parker Burleson kicked off 6 times for an average of 59.2 yards per attempt with a touchback.
• Robbie Evans returned 4 kickoffs for 85 yards.

OTHER NOTABLES:

• DSU out-rushed VSU 223-102.
• Statesmen return men averaged 23.4 yds per kickoff return.