CLEVELAND – Delta State’s 28-3 victory over Southern ArkansasThursday night in the Gulf South Conference TV Game of the Weekproved to be long on defense and short on drama. The No. 7Statesmen (4-0, 3-0 GSC) rolled to a 28-0 lead before putting awaythe Muleriders (2-3, 1-2 GSC) with a near-perfect second halfdefensively.

After Clarence Wright returned the opening kickoff 55 yards tothe Statesmen 35 yard line for the Muleriders, the SouthernArkansas offense found little success against the Delta Statedefense. Despite gaining a first down on third and 12 to the 25,the Muleriders stalled, turning the ball over on downs at the 25yard line.

The Statesmen marched down the field, helped by a passinterference play on third down, which gave the Statesmen a firstdown at the Southern Arkansas 49 yard line. Dedrick Wilson thenrushed for 24 yards to the SAU 25. On third and 12, Wilsonconnected with Chad Schroeder, giving the Statesmen first and goalat the three yard line. An offsides penalty by SAU moved the ballto the two yard line, where Wilson ran in for the first points ofthe game. Trey Adams added the extra point, giving the Statesmen a7-0 lead, and it was all Delta State from that point on.

Ben Stallings’ first rushing touchdown of the season put theStatesmen up 14-0 with 2:32 left in the second quarter. Trey Adams’extra point was good. DSU covered 84 yards on seven plays in 2:45for the score.

Southern Arkansas would mount a drive deep into DSU territory,but successive penalties stalled the drive and the Muleriders wereforced to punt.

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