October 13, 2001

Delta State tops Southern Arkansas 28-7

Cleveland, Miss.-The defending NCAA Division II national champion, Delta State University, limited Southern Arkansas University to 151 total yards and went on to defeat the Muleriders 28-7 here Saturday. DSU, shocked by No. 1Valdosta State University the previous week 70-12, rebounded with a stingy defense that kept SAU bottled up in poor field position most of the game, capitalized on three lost 'Rider fumbles and an interception, gave up only seven first downs and kept the ball almost twice as long, 39:24 to 20:26.

The 'Rider defense was put in a bind time-after-time but battled gamely to keep SAU in contention. DSU finished with 15 first downs and 297 total yards with the aid of excellent field position. The Statesmen also had a big advantage in specialty team's in punting average and the 'Riders fumbled a punt late in the second period that set up DSU's third touchdown and put the 'Riders behind 21-0 at the half.

Fullback Rico McDonald's two-yard touchdown run on fourth down gave DSU the lead for good with 3:23 left in the first quarter to cap a drive that had to cover only 48 yards. McDonald attempted a two-point conversion run that failed after SAU was penalized half-the-distance to the goal. The Statesmen made it 14-0 in the second period on a two-yard run by slotback Mario Purifoy. The Statesmen had to drive only 15 yards after a DSU punt put SAU on their two and an SAU punt and face mask penalty on the 'Riders. Purifoy then completed a two-point conversion pass to quarterback Josh Bright, 14-0, only 5:50 left in the half.

The 'Riders still had a shot until DSU scored again with only 1:13 to go in the half. After an exchange of punts, SAU's Donald Butler fumbled a punt on the 'Rider nine with linebacker Tedrick Polk getting the recovery for DSU. On third and six, McDonald scored and Blake Koenigsberger added the PAT, 21-0.

SAU's hopes were rekindled with 3:03 left in the third stanza when quarterback Ted Williams threw deep to wide receiver Edwin Skipper for 52 yards and a touchdown. Saul DeLa Cruz' extra point kick narrowed it to 21-7.

Delta put it away with 7:19 remaining in the game on a four-yard scamper by McDonald. Once again, DSU had to cover only six yards following a fumble by fullback Randy Givens that was recovered by tackle Erik Thomas of Portland, Ark., on the six. Koenigsberger's toe ended the scoring.

McDonald was the game's leading rusher with 97 net yards on 32 carries and three touchdowns. SAU's leading rusher of their flexbone offense, Torrance Jones, netted only 28 yards on nine carries. Bright completed only one pass in eight attempts for 43 yards while Williams completed only five of 19 for 79 yards and had one picked off.

DSU cornerback Shelton Belton had five tackles but the Statesmen defense did not get many chances since their offense ran 71 plays to only 51 for the 'Riders. SAU's All-GSC linebacker Eddie Key had 17 tackles, 12 of them solos and two for two yards in losses. Cornerback Jordan Babineaux had 12 tackles, 11 unassisted and one for a three-yard loss. Defensive end Joey Robinson had 10 total tackles, eight unassisted with two for nine yards in losses.

DSU improved to 5-1 for the season and to 4-1 in the Gulf South Conference while SAU fell to 2-4 overall and to 2-3 in the GSC. The 'Riders meet Arkansas Tech University in a Homecoming game in Magnolia Saturday, October 20, at 2:30 with members of the 1951 Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference champion Muleriders being honored.