Lions take 20-12 win at Delta State

The Lions pulled off a 20-12 road win against Gulf South Conference rival Delta State tonight, bringing their overall record to 3-1, with a GSC record of 1-0.

 

“It was a thrill for those kids to win this,” said head coach Bobby Wallace. 

 

The game was back and forth through all four quarters. In the opening drive of the final quarter, the Statesmen drove the ball to UNA’s 13 yard-line. The Lions kept them away from the goal line three times, leaving the Statesmen 4-3 on the UNA 6 yard-line.

 

With 10 minutes left in the game, the Statesmen received a facemask penalty. After the penalty, the team kicked a field goal, bringing the score to 13-12 in favor of the Lions.

 

The Lions scored a touchdown in the ensuing drive, bringing the score to 20-12. Three drives later, Delta State started on their own 22 yard-line with 1:13 left in the game. Trevor Wooden threw a pass that was intercepted by the Lions’ Delvin Ervin.

 

“On the play before my coach had told me to play tighter coverage, so I pressed (harder) that play,” Ervin said.

 

The first quarter saw no scores from either team. In the second quarter, the Statesmen scored a touchdown on the first play of the half, but missed the extra point. The Lions answered with a rushing touchdown from Chris Coffey in the next drive, making the score 7-6.

 

At halftime the Statesmen led UNA 9-7, after scoring a field goal in the last five seconds of the half. The Lions held the Statesmen from a touchdown at the 3 yard with 49 seconds left in the half.

 

The third quarter saw a 79-yard rushing touchdown from Lamonte Thompson and missed extra point from Michael Schuster. The score gave the Lions a 13-9 lead before going into the final quarter.

 

The Lions will now focus their attention on Shorter, who the team will play at Braly Stadium Sept. 29 at 6 p.m.