UNA Falls to 27-10

FLORENCE – A dominating performance by Delta State’s defense and an offensive effort that put up 496 yards led the Statesmen to a 27-10 win over North Alabama in the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Division II playoffs at Braly Stadium.

Delta State, now 12-2, advances to meet Grand Valley State in the NCAA semifinals while North Alabama ends its season at 11-1. The Lions downed the Statesmen 17-10 back on October 21 by playing solid defense and controlling the ball on offense. This time the Statesmen turned the tables and held the ball for 38 minutes and held UNA to just 148 total yards – with 68 of those coming on the Lions final possession.

Delta State scored on its first possession, led 13-3 at the half and 27-3 with less than three minutes to go, when UNA mounted its only touchdown drive.  North Alabama gained just 14 yards rushing on 20 carries and passed for 134 yards on 14-of-30 passing. Delta State rolled to 269 rushing behind Stephen Davis, who picked up 104 yards on 14 carries.

DSU quarterback Scott Eyster completed 26 of 35 passes for 227 yards and two TDs. Jeremy Ricks pulled in nine passes for 126 yards and two scores.Delta State received the opening kickoff and marched 68 yards in just five plays for a touchdown. Eyster passed 12 yards to Ricks for the touchdown and the Statesmen were on the board at the 12:17 mark of the first quarter. Sid Halliday added the extra point to make it 7-0.

Delta State scored again at the 7:44 mark of the second period on a 15-yard pass from Eyster to Ricks but Halliday’s kick attempt was wide.

The Statesmen were driving for possibly a third score when UNA’s Keldrick Docher picked up a fumble and raced 65 yards to the DSU six- yard line. The Lions offense couldn’t move from there, however, and Yuta Fukuda came on to kick a 24-yard field goal with just three seconds left in the half.

Delta State remained dominant in the second half as Eyster scored on a 23-yard run after he was flushed out of the pocket with 2:30 left in the third. Halliday’s kick made it 20-3. A one-yard Ben Stallings TD run with 2:42 left made it 27-3.

UNA got it’s only touchdown with just six seconds left in the contest when quarterback A.J. Milwee passed 12 yards to Jason Messing for the score. Scott Shurden’s kick made the final count 27-10.