In a battle of the two top teams in Division II No.1 ranked UNA got upset by the No. 2 ranked Delta State in overtime last night at Braly Stadium.

The Lions (6-1, 0-1) had a 24-14 lead in the fourth quarter with 6:10 left in the game and drove the ball to the DSU 28 before Lee Chapple’s pass was intercepted on a screen play and was returned to UNA 35. Delta State (7-1, 1-0) went down and scored seven plays later, trimming the lead to just three.

“We had a chance to shut them out, and we called a safe play in a screen pass, but they made a big play and turned the tide on us,” said UNA head coach Terry Bowden.

The Statesmen then kicked an onside kick, but the Lions recovered it on the DSU 36 with 4:56 to go in the game. The Lions were unable to get a first down and were forced to punt. The Lions punter Michael Schuster pinned the Statesmen on their own one-yard line with 2:02 left in the game.

The Statesmen then moved the ball 89 yards as time expired and got a game-tying 27-yard field goal from Matt Dean to force overtime. Delta State won the toss and chose to go on defense in the first overtime.

The Lions were forced to kick a 31-yard field goal, but it was missed by Nathan O’Jibway, leaving the door open for DSU.

The Statesmen then covered the 25 yards, and Brant Botill scored the game-winning touchdown with a final score of 30-24.

“The players fought hard and put themselves in the position to win the game, but, in the end, Delta State made some plays and won the game,” Bowden said.

The Lions were outgained by the Statesmen 512 yards to 345 yards for the game.

UNA got on the board first in the second quarter with a four-yard touchdown run by Demetrius Goode, giving the Lions a 7-0 lead with 11:08 left in the second quarter. It was set up by a Chapple pass to Mo Miliam for 43 yards to the DSU four.

The Statesmen then responded on the next drive with a drive of six plays on 76 yards, tying the game up at seven with 7:32 left in the half. An unsportsmanlike penalty was called on the Statesmen, moving the kick-off back to the 15.

Starting on their own 48, the Lions followed up with another touchdown from Goode from six yards out, giving the Lions a 14-7 lead with 3:48 left in the half.

The Statesmen then drove the ball to the UNA 13, but safety Bryan Thomas intercepted a pass at the goal line, giving the Lions a 14-7 lead at the half.

The Lions then received the second half kick-off and, on its first possession, drove the ball down to the DSU 12, but ended up with a 26-yard field goal from O’Jibway making it 17-7.

Delta State answered right back with an eight-play 87-yard drive as DSU quarterback Micah Davis hit Tim Smith for a 27-yard touchdown on a third-and-nine play, making the score 17-14 with 4:39 left in the third. Janoris Jenkins was then ejected from the game following an unsportsmanlike penalty on the touchdown.

UNA then opened the fourth quarter of play with a Chapple touchdown pass to Miliam for 20 yards, giving the Lions a 24-14 lead with 11:54 left in the game. That drive started after UNA stopped DSU on fourth-and-one at the UNA 41.

The Statesmen then started their comeback with the interception on the screen pass and won the game in overtime.

“We went into their place and beat them 31-7 in the regular season last year, and they grew from it and beat us in the playoffs and played for a national championship,” Bowden said. “So, we are going to have to learn from this as well as move forward and try to do the same.”

Chapple finished the game 20-of-34 passing with 220 yards and a touchdown. Miliam had eight catches, 125 yards and a touchdown. Goode finished with 92 yards on 17 carries and two touchdowns.

Davis for DSU finished with 29-of-41 passing with 339 yards throwing for one touchdown and running for another.

The Lions will be back Oct. 27 at West Alabama with kick-off scheduled for 7 p.m.